Quicking Switching between metering modes on the 580EXII??

I like to use my external light meter as much as possible to dial in the best expose using my 7D + 580EX II Speedlight. However I have found myself in situations where the lighting situation might suddenly change and I dont have time to take a new meter setting.

I find myself fumbling to quickly transition from External mettering on my flash to ETTL mode.

Perhaps I have missed someting but is there any possible way to set up my camera or flash so I can quickly transition from Extenral Metering to to ETTL.

I thought I might be able to do it with using the Custom Settings on my camera but it turns out that the external flash settings on the camera will not be associated with a profile.

.. Switching to full automatic Mode on the camera will automatically switch flash to ETTL modde.. but I don't use any of the automatic settings. The only settings I use on my camera anymore is Manual and BULB, once in a while Tv.. the rest are uneeded.

Pushing the "mode" button on the back of the 580 shouldn't take too long to switch it back and forth between manual and ETTL.

Mode button on the flash will only change between "E"xternal "M"anual and Multi. This is after you have set the C.Fn. 5 to 3.

No, there is no faster way than changing the custom function.
Whether it's done quicker via the camera's menu system of directly on the flash is up to you to judge.

Perhaps try to use the cameras flash spot metering capability in E-TTL II mode as an alternate way of working, which may suit you just as well, if you try it? Then changing is faster, since it's just a question about using the FEL button or not.

And you're right - the flash's custom functions are stored in the flash itself, not in the camera. That's why they aren't registered in any C-position.

Thought so... atleast I was able to add Flash Control to My Menu settings.

BaghdadFred wrote in post #12403275
I like to use my external light meter as much as possible to dial in the best expose using my 7D + 580EX II Speedlight.

I find myself fumbling to quickly transition from External mettering on my flash to ETTL mode.

"External Metering" on the speedlight has nothing to do with using an external light meter.

The only mode that makes any sense with an external light meter is Manual (on the flash), and using an external meter when the flash is ON camera is not very practical as the flash-subject distance is most likely constantly changing.

How can you possibly do this with an external light meter? You'd have to take an ambient reading and then a flash reading. That doesn't appear to be an efficient way to work when the flash is mounted on-camera.

PixelMagic wrote in post #12409503
How can you possibly do this with an external light meter? You'd have to take an ambient reading and then a flash reading. That doesn't appear to be an efficient way to work when the flash is mounted on-camera.

Agreed. A reading from a Sekonic flash meter (for example) is only valid for a specific light source->subject distance (along with flash power/modifiers, ISO, and f/stop)

So while you could put the flash in manual (1/2 for example), set ISO to 200, pop off a test flash and have the meter give you an f/stop to use, you would have to remain in the SAME spot and keep the flash pointing to the same spot. Also, I'm not sure HOW you could pop the test flash off and get yourself/the meter into the scene unless you give the meter for the subject to hold (or sit it somewhere) while you HOLD the camera in the EXACT position you will be using for shooting.

If the flash is OFF camera, this is not a problem because (unless your light stand has legs that move on their own ) the light->subject distance will not change. Once the flash is ON camera, E-TTL works much better.

I think the OP has a few misunderstandings about light metering and flash use.

My guess is that he doesn't understand what External Metering means in the context of Canon flashes and cameras.

External metering means that the flash calculates the required light output independent of the camera's metering. With Custom function 5:2 selected the camera communicates the ISO and aperture information to the flash; with Custom Function 5.3 selected the user manually inputs the ISO and aperture into the flash. But the bottom line is that with external metering selected the flash uses its own metering capability to calculate its output. It certainly doesn't mean using a hand-held meter to calculate the correct exposure.

egordon99 wrote in post #12409568
Agreed. A reading from a Sekonic flash meter (for example) is only valid for a specific light source->subject distance (along with flash power/modifiers, ISO, and f/stop)

So while you could put the flash in manual (1/2 for example), set ISO to 200, pop off a test flash and have the meter give you an f/stop to use, you would have to remain in the SAME spot and keep the flash pointing to the same spot. Also, I'm not sure HOW you could pop the test flash off and get yourself/the meter into the scene unless you give the meter for the subject to hold (or sit it somewhere) while you HOLD the camera in the EXACT position you will be using for shooting.

If the flash is OFF camera, this is not a problem because (unless your light stand has legs that move on their own ) the light->subject distance will not change. Once the flash is ON camera, E-TTL works much better.

I think the OP has a few misunderstandings about light metering and flash use.