Why can't I bracket?

[jeremy_smith]

Could someone please tell me why I'm unable to bracket exposures

when I have a flash attached (and on)? Specifically, I'm using a

550EX on a bracket and an Elan 7N body. Turn the flash off, and

bracketing works as usual. Turn it on, and bracketing is disabled

and the camera uses the same exposure for each shot. I tried this

in a variety of modes--mostly Av and P. Hope this isn't an

exceptionally dumb question. Thanks for your help!

[les]

Are you using Flash Exposure Bracketing ?

If not,how do you know that it does not work ?

With the flash being the main light source, the difference in background exposure may be negligible despite bracketing (Av mode will exposure the background, while flash will provide the light for the subject).

So, if you are not using Flash Exposure Bracketing, your subject will always be exposed properly, with negligible difference in the background.

 

The P mode - I am not even sure that in P mode bracketing works at all - never crossed my mind to use bracketing in P mode.

[phule]

<< The P mode - I am not even sure that in P mode bracketing works at all - never crossed my mind to use bracketing in P mode. >>

 

While I've never tried this with a flash unit attached, exposure bracketing works fine in P mode.

[damien_james]

You can't normally bracket while using flash. You have to use Flash Exposure Bracketing (as noted above) on flash or through the camera. And bracketing works in P mode.

[awindsor]

It clearly states in the manuals of Canon cameras that you cannot bracket on ambient light conditions with a flash. The 550EX does do FEB which varies the flash exposure.

 

I don't know what you want to do with AEB but given that the flash has to recharge so you should be able to use the QCD to dial in manual EC. Assuming the light level is low there will be minimal effect on the exposure of the flash illuminated subject, the effect will be confined to the parts of the photo where ambient light is the principal light source. EC should not affect flash exposure.

 

I believe the reason that Canon decided not to allow AEB on the camera when flash is used is because of the delay while the flash recharges. If you take the second picture too quickly the flash will fire at reduced power potentially underexposing the shot.

[jeremy_smith]

Thanks everyone! The big problem is that I almost never use flash for my photography--I'm merely renting the 550EX for a day here and there to prepare for a special event in about a month; hence I have no manual for the flash and I'm basically learning by feel and from what I can learn here and on photonotes. Your answers are a great help. --JS

[whayne_padden]

But surely in fill flash mode, bracketing the ambient light exposure would be of use and the flash will just vary it's output to suit. You may want to see the results of darker ambient epxosure say when you are shooting a flower. In normal flash only FEB makes sense though as stated.

[jim_simon3]

Here is the best I can do for copying the pages from the 550EX manual. You should be able to piece it together.

 

4. FEB (Flash Exposure Bracketing)

With FEB, you can obtain bracketed flash shots of the subject while the

background exposure level remains the same. Three bracketed flash shots

can be taken: Correct exposure, decreased exposure, and increased

exposure. The three shots can be bracketed up to ±3 stops in 1/3-stop

increments (or 1/2-stop increments with some cameras). After all three

bracketed flash shots are taken, FEB is canceled automatically.

Press the <sel/set > button and

select .

� Pressing the <sel/set > button changes

the blinking setting in the following loop:

� The icon and flash exposure bracketing

display will blink.

� If the icon appears, press the

<sel/set > button again.

Press the <+ > or <- > button to set

the flash exposure bracketing

amount.

38

Press the <sel/set > button.

� The 550EX�s LCD panel display will be

similar to the figure on the left.

Focus the subject.

� When the shutter button is pressed halfway,

the FEB setting is displayed on the

viewfinder's right.

1

2

3

4

(Off)

FEB (Flash Exposure Bracketing)

Check that the subject is within the

flash range displayed on the 550EX�s

LCD panel.

Check that the [lighting bolt]icon is displayed in

the viewfinder, then take the picture.

Take the remaining two bracketed

shots. (If necessary, repeat steps 4

to 6.)

Correct exposure. Decreased exposure by 1 stop. Increased exposure by 1 stop.

� The film advances according to the camera�s current film advance mode.

� Before taking the picture, make sure the flash is ready by checking that the 550EX�s

pilot lamp is red or the icon is displayed in the viewfinder. The (single-frame)

film advance mode is recommended.

� In the , , or (continuous shooting) film advance mode, the next bracketed

picture will not be taken if the flash is not ready. (You can still take a picture in the

normal AE mode if you release your finger from the shutter button and press it

completely.) When the flash is ready, you can continue taking the bracketed flash

shots.

� With Type-A cameras other than the EOS-1D, 1V, and 3, bracketed flash shots cannot

be taken while the flash is not ready. (You can still take pictures in the normal AE

mode before the flash recharges completely.) When the flash is ready, you can

continue taking the bracketed flash shots.

� FE lock and FEB can be used in combination.

� If FEB has been set and flash exposure compensation is set with the 550EX, the FEB

amount will shift in accordance with the flash exposure compensation amount.

Custom Function CF-1 can prevent the FEB setting from canceling automatically after the three

bracketed flash shots are taken. See page 113.

Custom Function CF-2 can change the sequence of the bracketed flash shots. See page 113.

CF

CF