550EX not happy on 5D Mk II - is it me?

I'm using the 550EX on my 5D2, but can't get the flash to work as I think it should. All flash images (on P for instance) are underexposed (maximun throw about 3 metres, ISO200) but all exposures are 1/60 at f/4, regardless of scene or distance, as if the sync is slightly wrong.
The key may be that I can't get to External Speedlite Control C.Fns. I can get to Flash function settings, but when I try Flash C.Fn Settings I get the message "This menu cannot be displayed. Incompatible flash or flash's power is turned off". I get the same message when I try to Clear all Speedlite C.Fns.
Before you ask, the flash is in the hot shoe, switched on and fully charged with fresh batteries, and works fine on my old 10D.
Is the 550EX actually NOT compatible with the 5D Mk II? Seems I can only use it on manual. I have a call out with Canon at the moment, but only head-scratching from them so far.
Can anyone shed any light?

Alan,

It's possible that the cameras default "fill-flash" programme favours those settings and adjusts the flash output to suit the particular subject distance. Maybe one way to prove if this is whats happening would be to switch to fully manual operation and see what shutter speed the camera sets?

It must also certainly be the case that the 550EX is not completely integrated with the 5D Mk2 as you suggest, the flash was designed for use with cameras like the the 1V, 3, D60 and D30. Long before the current full frame digitals.

Forgot to add: I use the 550EX on a 5D2, I have no other flashgun. But while I don't demand a lot from the flash it does seem to do all the basics.

My 550EX seems to be perfectly happy on my 5D2, except for setting the flash custom functions via the camera, looks like that worked only on a couple of the high end film bodies. You can still set them in the flash, so it's just a convenience issue. (And they have nothing to do with camera's shutter speed selection anyway.)

When using flash, the 5D2 uses shutter speed between 1/60-1/200 in P mode to avoid blurring the ambient light exposure. WIth camera C.Fn I.7, you can adjust whether it uses 1/60-1/200 or longer speeds in Av mode. Either way the flash exposure seems very accurate.

AlanX wrote in post #7447733
I'm using the 550EX on my 5D2, but can't get the flash to work as I think it should. All flash images (on P for instance) are underexposed (maximun throw about 3 metres, ISO200) but all exposures are 1/60 at f/4, regardless of scene or distance, as if the sync is slightly wrong.
The key may be that I can't get to External Speedlite Control C.Fns. I can get to Flash function settings, but when I try Flash C.Fn Settings I get the message "This menu cannot be displayed. Incompatible flash or flash's power is turned off". I get the same message when I try to Clear all Speedlite C.Fns.
Before you ask, the flash is in the hot shoe, switched on and fully charged with fresh batteries, and works fine on my old 10D.
Is the 550EX actually NOT compatible with the 5D Mk II? Seems I can only use it on manual. I have a call out with Canon at the moment, but only head-scratching from them so far.
Can anyone shed any light?

I would shoot the camera in "M" and the flash in ETTL.

AlanX wrote in post #7447733
works fine on my old 10D.

The 5D Mk II uses E-TTL II, an updated version of E-TTL which the 10D had. They are different in how they bias the exposure. That is the only legitimate basis I can think of to cause any exposure differences between the two cameras.

Depending on the scene, sometimes switching to Average rather than Evaluative E-TTL leads to more predictable exposures. Also be aware that if the FEC on the flash is set to anything other than zero, it will override the camera's FEC setting.

Regardless which camera you're using, I concur with the above suggestions to use M mode with flash so you can control the ambient exposure.

I don't have the manual with me, but there is a section that talks about the fact that certain functions do not work with older flashes. A friend of mine has a 580ex and it doesn't work with it. At this time, it only works with the 580ex II and I think the 430ex II.

Thanks, everyone, for all your valuable feedback. There were some flash settings that I couldn't find until I looked under Exposure in Custom functions, instead of under External Speedlite Control where I expected to find them. So I thought my missing functions were in the inaccessible menus. All set up now, though underexposing somewhat (but correctable). Thanks for the advice on using M and letting the flashgun work in ETTL.

lefturn99 wrote in post #7461322
I don't have the manual with me, but there is a section that talks about the fact that certain functions do not work with older flashes. A friend of mine has a 580ex and it doesn't work with it. At this time, it only works with the 580ex II and I think the 430ex II.

I have a 580EX and never heard that it would not work with the 5D2. I don't have a 5D2 YET. But concerned if my flash would not work with it.

Anyone heard of this before and if so will there be a firmware fix?

Download the manual. It's on page 105. It's not that other ex series flashes won't work, it's just that some in camera functions are not available.

Ok people, please read carefully.

ALL EX SERIES CANON SPEEDLITES ARE COMPATIBLE WITH ALL EOS CAMERAS, FILM OR DIGITAL.

I'll write that again, for those who may have missed it the first time.

ALL EX SERIES CANON SPEEDLITES ARE COMPATIBLE WITH ALL EOS CAMERAS, FILM OR DIGITAL.

Now that does not mean that all features of every EX series Speedlite or every EOS camera is available with every combination. Here are some examples:

1) Autozoom automatic adjustment for crop factor: First introduced on the 580EX. Works with the 1D Mk II and later cameras, which are designed to report their crop factor to the flash.

2) Adjustment of flash settings via camera menu: First introduced with the 580EX II and 1D Mk III (I think). This feature won't work if you have an earlier flash or an earlier camera.


But...
A 550EX will work just as well on today's cameras as it did on the cameras in production when it was being sold.

I've noticed no 2nd Curtain with 550ex and 5DMII....that is frustrating. Can anybody confirm if there is an over ride or it just won't work. Thanks.

_______________
Chuck Dee - AKA Chris
"A good photograph is knowing where to stand." -Ansel Adams
www.bellissimofoto.com
www.dallasweddingphoto​s.com

I've figured it out with the manual over ride on the flash.

_______________
Chuck Dee - AKA Chris
"A good photograph is knowing where to stand." -Ansel Adams
www.bellissimofoto.com
www.dallasweddingphoto​s.com

[QUOTE=chuckdee;147912​84]I've noticed no 2nd Curtain with 550ex and 5DMII....that is frustrating. Can anybody confirm if there is an over ride or it just won't work. Thanks.

Yes, you can use 2nd curtain with a 550EX. You won't find it in the on-camera menus, though. You have to use the settings on the flash itself. I suggest reading the manual. I prefer the 550EX over the 580ex II. I own two of them.

[QUOTE=sambarino;14791​848]

chuckdee wrote in post #14791284
I've noticed no 2nd Curtain with 550ex and 5DMII....that is frustrating. Can anybody confirm if there is an over ride or it just won't work. Thanks.

Yes, you can use 2nd curtain with a 550EX. You won't find it in the on-camera menus, though. You have to use the settings on the flash itself. I suggest reading the manual. I prefer the 550EX over the 580ex II. I own two of them.

Wow don't mean to sound stupid but what does this 2nd curtain mean?

AlanX wrote in post #7462006
Thanks, everyone, for all your valuable feedback. There were some flash settings that I couldn't find until I looked under Exposure in Custom functions, instead of under External Speedlite Control where I expected to find them. So I thought my missing functions were in the inaccessible menus. All set up now, though underexposing somewhat (but correctable). Thanks for the advice on using M and letting the flashgun work in ETTL.

With flashes older than about 2007, you can't control the flash menus from the camera itself. That's why you got the error under External speedlite control. Download a manual and go through the settings on the flash itself and make sure nothing is set weird. Also obviously check manual/ETTL and slave/master settings.