dan_woodlief1 Posted December 11, 2004 Share Posted December 11, 2004 I just got a new 20D a week ago. Last night I was playing around with it and was focusing on something that was too close. I had the built in flash up. The flash was giving a series of rapid bursts, and it sounded very strange, an electrical sound, almost like a short. It happens everytime I repeat this. Has anyone else experienced this? Is it normal, or does this sound like an electrical problem? I plan to contact Canon about it on Monday, but would like to hear from others first. I really want to be able to return it to B&H and get another in time for Christmas if I have a problem. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beauh44 Posted December 11, 2004 Share Posted December 11, 2004 Dan, Is it possible you're pressing the DOF button, located beside the lens? That will cause the camera to emit what you describe - it's the modeling light feature. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan_woodlief1 Posted December 11, 2004 Author Share Posted December 11, 2004 I only pushed the shutter button. This could very well have been the modeling light, but does it usually make a sound like that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul - Posted December 12, 2004 Share Posted December 12, 2004 It's Canon's idea of AF assist. Annoying, isn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_phan Posted December 12, 2004 Share Posted December 12, 2004 That's normal. It's the 20D's pop-up flash going into autofocus assist mode by flashing stroboscopically. If you have a Canon shoe-mount flash like the 550EX or 580EX, it will do the same thing when you press the depth-of-field preview button. But in that instance, it's the hotshoe flash going into modeling light mode. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobatkins Posted December 12, 2004 Share Posted December 12, 2004 It's AF assist. If you have a shoe mounted flash with built in IR AF assist (i.e. most speedlites), that will overide the annoying popup flash strobing. I believe the flash only pops up and does this in the so called "idiot modes" (or "program modes"). In the creative modes you have to pop it up manually if you want to AF in darkness. I'll bet it's in the manual if you look hard enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul hart Posted December 12, 2004 Share Posted December 12, 2004 Yep - middle of page 68, and the foot of page 93. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil vaughan - yorkshire u Posted December 12, 2004 Share Posted December 12, 2004 And YES the sound is normal, electronic flash units generally go from loud to very loud, if you listen to them. Theres generally a few thousand volts going into the flash tube, so as it breaks out of the switch (capacitor) you can hear it. (OK not technically the correct language, but the story's true). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
awindsor Posted December 12, 2004 Share Posted December 12, 2004 Luckily this can be switched off via a custom function. My 50/1.8 focuses fine in low light but the camera will use the built in flash for AF assist. I have the camera set for AF assist only with external flash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eosdoc Posted December 12, 2004 Share Posted December 12, 2004 The custom function that controls the AF assist feature only applies to the Creative modes. If you want to override the popup flash in any Basic mode, use this low tech approach from <a title= "EOS Documentation Project" href= http://eosdoc.com >EOSdoc</a>:<BR> <a target=loser href= http://eosdoc.com/manuals.asp?q=NoPicPopup >http://eosdoc.com/manuals.asp?q=NoPicPopup</a> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan_woodlief1 Posted December 12, 2004 Author Share Posted December 12, 2004 I appreciate all the responses. I didn't see it in the manual, but I guess I just missed it. I wasn't surprised by the flash, only the noise. I have been using EOS cameras for years and had never heard it like that before. I guess the conditions were never quite right for me to hear it. I rarely use the pop up flash inside. Thanks for easing my mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon_austin Posted December 12, 2004 Share Posted December 12, 2004 With the 20D (and 10D), it's even easier: just select the Flash Off mode. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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