10d - two questions

Two question for current 10D owners:
1)When using e-ttl flash, do the subjects notice the two distinct flashes? I ask because when I use my Elan II no-one notices, but when I use external flash with my G3, it usually records the eyes of the subject half closed in reaction to the first flash, due to longer interval between flashes. Does e-ttl flash work with manual mode, in G3 it does not, which is stupid!
2) Shutter lag. Have you missed any shots due to shutter lag? Again I reference my current cameras. Haven't missed too many with Elan, missed lots with G3.

Thanks for your time.

1) The E-TTL seems to work on my 10D just as it does on my Elan IIE.

2) I have missed any shots because of the delay. I've seen the actual time published in several places on the web, and I think it certainly is something you can live with.

I don't know much about the flash-system, but I can tell you that in my first month with the 10D, I haven't missed any shots due to shutter-instant =) What shutter-lag? When I press it the whole way down after exposure have been set, it snaps. I think maybe I can fool it into shooting, just by thinking hard enough about pressing the shutter =) Haven't been shooting moving subjects with this yet, and since this is my first SLR, you might take it for what it's worth. But if the shutter flaps as soon as you hear the mirror-slap, then it's as instant as anything I can imagine..

If you're thinking of gettng a 10D, the only difference you'll see between your Elan and a 10D is that your lenses have a bit smaller field of view because of the crop factor of the sensor. Everything in the viewfinder is cropped too. This takes a little getting used to.

Other than this crop factor and lack of eye control focus (if you have it), both are EOS cameras and are functionally the same.

Make sure you're not using the "2nd curtain" for flash sync. If you are, set it to 1st curtain and see if that improves your "blinking eye" situation.

I had this problem big time on my Oly 3030z... on the Rebel its gone. Dont see it at all. (I know its the rebel but same TTL system)

I could not get a picture of my daughter with her eyes open with my G3. I have had no problem at all with the 10D. I noticed it with the first picture I took of her - eyes were open!

Shutter lag - have to agree with the others - What shutter lag??

Have fun!!

Jackie

When I shoot weddings, I'll have a bride and groom posed together. Then I announce something like this:

"OK. At the count of three. One, two, ...

I lied."

I get zero closed eyes.

Unfortunately, the joke can be used only once.

---Bob Gross---

The shutter lag on the 10D is no noticeably different that on any decent SLR. The mirror still has to move up and out of the way, so all SLR's have a bit of lag. The 10D is certainly better than my medium-format SLR's, whose mirrors are much bigger and take longer to move. One of the appeals of rangefinder cameras like the Leica or twin-lens reflex cameras like the Rolleiflex is the lack of shutter lag, though even the later Leicas have to flip the metering sensor out of the way.

I've missed lots of shots because of the lag, but not because of the 10D's lag in particular. There's a certain amount of anticipation required for all SLR's. The 10D will be more like your Elan than the G3. The G3 has to retask the sensor from viewing mode to taking mode, and this is what takes the time, near as I can tell. The 10D's sensor is primed and ready just for making the image.

As to E-TTL, I wasn't even aware that the 550EX flash used a preflash until I was on a job and tried to meter my flash output to check things. This was long before I bought the 10D. The preflash is always the same, and always about 1/20 the normal output. My meter readings were all way off, and I thought the flash was defective. I got through to a Canon pro consultant, and he got a good chuckle out of it as he explained it to me. I put the flash meter back in the case and just let the flash do its thing. With the 10D, it's no problem--you can check the results immediately. My point is that if I couldn't distinguish the two flashes, I don't think your subjects will see them.

As your subjects if they saw a red flash. If they did, shoot again--their eyes were closed.

Rick "noting that some people are unbelievably fast blinkers" Denney

When I was taking pics I didnt notice it, but when I had a friend taking some pics for me I DID notice the quick double flash.

In good light without flash- Like the others said, "what shutter lag?"

I have noticed when taking pics indoors with flash, the camera needs a focus lock before it will release. Shooting the indoor motocross, I need to follow a subject for a second or two before I can snap a pic. No instant pic when I push the button.

-Pete