420EX and shutter lag

I just got back from shooting a lot of pics at my daughters dance rehersal.

I was using the 420EX for the first time. These pics are for personal use (though I will give a CD to the instructor) so I really was experimenting.

I noticed a *lot* of shutter lag compared to without the flash. I was missing a lot of shots because of it. One can anticipate a short lag , but this lag seemd to be up to a half second.

I tried putting the camera in manual flash mode, and tried pressing the * button to lock flash exposure, thinking it was a flash pre-fire metering that was slowing me down. It didn't seem to help.

Any advice or tips when shooting some action with the 420EX to improve shutter lag?

Thanks!

Dave,

I am guessing the problem is that the G3 is having difficulty with focus. The 420EX has a focus assist light, but apparently the G3 does not make use of this function.

I have been intending to ask Canon if this is something that can be enhanced in a later firmware upgrade, but have not had time yet.

Meanwhile, one solution is to use manual focus. Not a very good solution, I admit.

Maybe someone can suggest a better solution. I seem to recall someone, on this forum, saying they used a flashlight to help the G3 focus. Maybe I am mistaken.

Bruce

Someone else suggested that the continuous focus mode helped to avoid the "freezing" (which happens under low-light conditions especially when the lens is in the telephoto range). Haven't tested that though.

Odd. I shoot almost exclusively with the 420EX, playing with the flash strength settings to achieve correct lighting. I can't recall feeling any frustration due to shutter lag because of the flash.... plenty due to slow AF and occasionnaly flash recycle time (when batteries get weak), though. How does the 420EX affect shutter lag? I can fire it off whenever I press the shutter button, regardless of whether the shot it IF or OOF.

Confused

-DS

Well, it isn't an autofocus issue, I was either using manual focus or half-pressing and getting a good focus lock.

With the flash off, half-pressed for focus lock, there is almost no shutter lag. Certainly fast enough that I could shoot kids in action. With the flash on, same composition, with focus lock, there is a noticeable lag, such that I would have to anticipate action. HOWEVER, even with the lag it's still pretty fast, faster than I remember my old A40.

I think it's something to do with the exposure. I just made a couple of test shots and by pressing the * button for Flash Exposure lock seemed to speed things up a little, but that only works for the next shot. I don't think the camera will retain the flash lock for subsequent shots.

Full manual didn't speed things up either.

I don't think there is a problem here, it must be just the way it is.

Thanks for you input.

dtrayers,

You wouldn't by chance have red-eye reduction turned on, would you? I have mine turned off and I've never noticed any prolonged shutter lag when I use the 420EX. However, whenever I use the flash, the G3 is always set to P so I can't vouch for any other settings.

No, red eye was off, and autofocus lamp was off.

Thanks for the suggestion, though.

The pilot lamp and E-TTL lights, i put the selector on high-speed.
When shooting in P mode you cannot see anymore the flash options.
When shooting in one phase (press the button once) there is a delay (autofocus), this delay is for me the same with the 420ex or with the internal flash. When shooting in focus lock mode , first depress the button half way and wait untill the autofocus square becomes green, then pressing the button produce a small delay but exactly the same as with the internal flash. This is due to the computation/calibratio​n done to adjust the flash, easy to see with your remote command, you see two flashes.
With the internal flash in manual mode there is no delay, one staight flash (except that the generated click coming too late).
With the external flash in E-TTL mode the flash still need a calibration (pre flash), in manual mode there is no delay (only one flash but the click sound is still too late).
So this delay seems quite normal but for shure is too long in a hurry!