CF# 4-1 & speedlite

Everywhere I read, it says not to focus & recompose with the speedlite. However, if you have your AF & AE separated on CF# 4-1, can you focus & then recompose since the AE is on the shutter & the AF is star button? I'm pretty sure you can, but just want to check. Thanks!!!

Related question: with Cf4-1, how do you get Flash Exposure Lock?

With speedlite, on 20D: I was told by Canon that if you press AE (halfway down shutter) then, press the button to the right of the star button, you have a 6 second FEL. Jump in & correct me if wrong. Thanks!

The answer would depend on which camera you are talking about. With the cameras that use ETTL-II, it really shouldn't matter if you focus and recompose because ETTL-II does not use the AF focusing point for determing the flash exposure.

However, if you have a DRebel, 10D or other ETTL models, then focus and recomposing may be an issue if both focusing is tied to the shutter release. With CFn04-1, focusing and recomposing won't be an issue because at the time you press the shutter button, the camera won't know where your focusing point is (by virtue of the fact that you won't be pressing the "*" button when you are taking the picture) and, hence, won't take the focusing point it into consideration. The camera will actually end up using Average ETTL mode for determining the flash exposure.

Thanks, again, Leo! That is what I thought, but wanted to make sure!