Trouble with the 550 and a D30

I have a 550EX and I have it on a D30 with a Tamron 28-70 2.8 lens.

The trouble is when I put the camera on TV mode and I have the flash on, my F-stop blinks on the camera at 32, as if the camera is trying to select an f-stop higher than 32 but it cant because that's as high as the lens goes. Then when I shoot the photo the app. selected is in fact 32 (from the info) and the photo is way under exposed.

The flash is set to manual mode, 1/16th power.

It doesn't matter if I have the high speed sync on or not, or what the shutter speed is...bulb to 4000, it still selects 32 as the app.

So I tried switching the camera to M mode and then I can select the app. and the shutter speed just fine.

Can I not use the flash with the TV mode? What's going on here?

This is not the normal user problem. The normal problem for normal power is that the camera's exposure settings (before the shot) will be blinking the aperture number (low number) or showing a potential underexposure. But then the flash fires and the settings used were a little different and it is normally exposed.

I would think that since you are jamming the flash down to 1/16th power (which is not much), then the camera's settings should be closer to normal for without flash. That f/32 does not sound normal. Without knowing exposure details, this can't be solved. For example, the ISO will change the other settings a lot.

Are you just trying to do fill flash?

---Bob Gross---

What happens in Tv when the flash isn't on the camera? The same thing? What happens if you use P mode?

Ok, Tv mode when flash not on, normal no problem. Tv mode when flash is in TTL mode, no problem...TV mode when flash is in manual or multi mode...the camera tries to select a 32 f-stop. ISO makes no difference, shutter speed makes no difference, flash output power makes no difference.

Camera in P mode, camera slects 200 shutter...and a blinking 32...when a picture taken? F32 selected photo way under exposed.

In full auto mode, of course the flash goes back to TTL and thus the problem disapears.

It's only when the flash is on Manual or Multi, and the Camera is on TV or P.

Also, in AV mode no matter what the F-stop, the camer selects 200 as the shutter speed...overexposed or under exposed it will only fire at the sync speed of 200.

Any of this making any sense?
Does it make any difference whether the camera or flash are turned on first? Or if the flash is on before mounting?

This problem has happend twice, Everything from shutting the flash off

PS, master or slave mode doesnt make a difference either.

Lens doesnt matter either...tried 3 different ones

This is deffinetly a flash problem...with a little more playing around...when I take a picture, the exposure confimation light doesnt come on...while the flash recharges itself the camera goes back to f2.8 but once the flash is powered up and the pilot light comes on it goes back to a blinking 32.

Are you trying to shoot a flash subject at very close range? That would explain f/32 maybe.

---Bob Gross---

Hi shuttering
Yes you can use the flash in TV mode but .
You need to set the camera's picture taking mode to TV then set the shutter speed to anywhere between 30 seconds to 1/200th (or the top syc speed)
Next set the 550 ex flash to ETTL focus the subject and take your shot.

Just set my D60 up as you had above and guess what it does the same ..blinks f32 at me, not designed to work that way.
Check it out in the 550 ex manual page 29 and 30.
Cheers
Martin (Huckaback Photo)

Just a thought
with the flash in Manual mode you can adjust the output settings.
make sure you set the camera to AV or M.
press the mode button on flash and sellect M
then the SEL / SET button.
then the + or - to set the desired flash out put.
next press the SEL / SET button again and the manual flash output display will stop blinking and then will remain displayed.
set the focus on camera and take the shot, also need to check range / distance.

Cheers
Martin (Huckaback Photo)

OK, yeah, I guess that actually makes sense. If I'm using the TV mode, the camera is supposed to select the App, but if there is no preflash because I'm in manual mode on the flash...how could the camera pick the app?

I guess I didn't really think about that.

Thanks for the help.

Hi
what I have actually quoted you is the details as printed in the Canon instruction books.
I do use the D60 with the 550 flash as a back up to my 1D Mk 2 with the 580 flash.
and it appeared to me you were trying to do something the system will not allow.
do you have the handbook , sure theres so much in there you may never need, but is essential in my view.
Glad to be of help

Martin (Huckaback Photo)

Yeah, I have the hand book, and I've read over most of it. I just didnt read the part about TV correctly.

It says you have to use TTL when using the TV mode. You cant use Manual or Multi.

Thanks again Martin.