420EX compatible with my 30D ?

[ericlabrecque]

Hi, i've just upgrade from a 300D to a 30D. i also have a 420EX flash that work

fine with my 300D. But when i use it with the 30D there is a lot of picture that

are underexpose. It it because of the E-TTL / E-TTL II compatibility ?.

 

Another question, the viewfinder on my 30D seems to have a little grain in it

compare to my 300D, Is it normal ? Is it because of the mirror type ?

 

Help would be very appreciated.

Thanks

 

Eric Labrecque

[phoneguy]

The 420EX is fully compatible with the 30D. Using ETTL / ETTL II, the combo tends to underexpose a little. About 2/3 of a stop. Read the Eos Flash Guide found <a href="http://www.photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/">Here</a> it will help get you through it....Mike

[ericlabrecque]

Wow Mike what a very helpfull link ! Thanks it answer all my E-TTL / E-TTL II question :-)

 

Eric

[PuppyDigs]

The focusing screen in the EOS 300D and 10D appear extremely smooth, even with slow

zooms. However the Precision Matte used in the EOS 20D, 30D and 5D has a gritty texture

meant to aid in manual focus. It becomes painfully apparent with lenses slower than F2.8.

Personally I prefer the smooth grainless look of the older screen but such is progress.

[jim_larson1]

The difference in exposure is TOTALLY a function of the difference in the camera flash metering system.

 

The 300D is ETTL. ETTL will heavily bias exposure to the focus point.

 

The 300D is ETTL-II. ETTL-II averages exposure across the entire frame, BUT will limit flash output to prevent overexposing any of the flash metering zones.

 

The 420EX is 100% fully ETTL-II compatible.

 

BUT, where as the 420EX will support all seven of the 300D AF points, the 420EX will not support the four "diagonal" focus points of the 20D/30D/5D.

[steve_dunn2]

<p>The 420EX doesn't support the four diagonal points if you manually select them. However, if you have the camera set to pick a focus point automatically, the AF assist beam may (depending on focal length and subject distance) still cover them. Not something you'd want to bet on, though.</p>

 

<p>As for the exposure, with E-TTL II, exposure also depends on whether or not your lens returns distance information. <a href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00GPLS" target="_blank">I was surprised when I accidentally discovered just how significant distance information is in E-TTL II's calculations.</a></p>