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Canon 550EX flash and focusing


barry_harbroe

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I just went full digital and have started using a Canon 1D MarkII.

Focusing is very fast using a EF 28-70 F2.8 lens (also have a Canon

EF 70-200mm f2.8L IS USM Lens). Without flash focusing is great. At

a wedding last weekend I tried the 550Ex flash for the first time.

Focusing is very slow and once you press half way down on the

shutter button and release, the time to re-focus is way to long. The

camera is set to P (program) the Flash to ETTL. What am I doing

wrong. If you have people moving at all you can't re-focus. Almost

all pictures were not filled in well and needed manual brightening

in Photoshop. My nephew using an Nikon D100 and their flash had no

problem. I like to sometimes use fill-in flash for low light

situations of moving cyclist's. Will I have the same problem? I

understand you can sync the flash to shutter speed, but I want quick

response for a re-flash!

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It would be helpful if you posted a picture as an example. It may possibly a defective flash or camera, but I suspect since you just went full digital, try shooting a few more events and read the manuals as well. I think with practice, your pictures will get better. If you are an experienced photographer, maybe manual or Aperture priority would get you better results.
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I'm afraid it sounds like you might have to hit the manual there Barry. I don't own a 1D MK II (but wish I did); it sounds like you're either not emitting an autofocus assist beam from your 550EX or perhaps have the camera in AI Servo mode if people moving are throwing things off? It's hard to tell. The auto-focus assist beam in your flash is linked to the active focus point in your camera. If you just want fill flash, most people use Aperture priority mode as opposed to Program; but there needs to be enough ambient light for that. As you can see, things get a little complicated with flash. If you don't have a manual see this link: http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/ In fact, it's a good link even if you do have a manual. Good luck!
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<p>Beau has probably nailed it. If you're in AI Servo mode, there is no AF assist beam - it doesn't make a lot of sense to have it, because if you've told the camera the subject is moving continuously (which is what AI servo is all about), then the AF assist beam would have to be on continuously, which would drain the batteries, annoy the subject, and mess up ambient metering. Of course, if you have people moving, you might want to be in AI servo, in which case you have to deal with the fact that AF performance drops if there isn't enough light for the AF system to do its job well. Or you could go into one-shot mode and either refocus manually (your lens has full-time manual focus override), or release and re-depress the shutter release button to re-active AF.</p>

 

<p>The use of flash and the use of the AF assist beam are, for the most part, separate issues. If you haven't disabled the flash, it will fire, providing fill flash if there's enough (or almost enough) ambient light, and being the main light source if there's not enough ambient light.</p>

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Hi Barry,

 

You have several problems, the most obvious is that you have an amazeingly capable

camera that you have set up in an idiot proof point and shoot mode, that is why your

results look like a point and shoot pic.

 

First you must read all about the way ETTL works, it is VERY different in P mode to all

the other modes, P mode is by far the worst for flash pics. The often quoted EOS flash

guide is the most informative.

 

The focusing is again dependent on mode and available light/contrast. In a dim room

with low contrast in AI mode it will not focus at all. In One Shot the assist beam

should come on.

 

If you use fast shutter speeds with flash indoors where there is low light you will not

as a rule get well exposed backgrounds.

 

The answer to all your problems is in your manuals, I know they are long and boring

but you need to read them.

 

I was in a similar situation a year or so ago when I went AF and the truth is even now I

only have a reasonably good understanding of how the automation works, but more

importantly when it won't work.

 

Take care, Scott.

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oh also I hate the 550. before the mark 2 I had the d-100 with a sb-80dx the flash proformed so much better about twice as fast, I got the 550 with the Mark2 and its was aweful. I had to get a turbo power pack to make mine preform properly. might want to try that too. made the difference for me
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Do a google search for Metz 54 MZ3 and trade that useless Canon apology for a flash unit in on one once you have read things up a bit.

 

Camera mounted flash is not Canons strong point no matter what EOS lovers tell you. I am a 10D and D60 user.

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Take the time to *really* know:

 

1) digital medium

2) your camera

3) your flash

4) ALL of your equipment

 

here's a couple of links of two very well know PJs using the same setup as you have.

 

www.filmlessphotos.com (he especially uses Canon flashes exclusively!)

 

www.dg28.com (he uses both Canon and Lumedyne)

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