dennis osipiak

(If you have a chance..check my post from last night.."Defective

equipment??")

First off thanks to all, especially Bill E., Jim S. Beau and others

who answered in the middle of the night ..literally. I just got in

from my wedding last night, reviewed the images I photo'd, and I

wasn't a happy camper. Even though my film work covered the same

photos as my new digital stuff it was still unsettling to have this

$2500 problem. Didn't sleep much myself.

Today I tried a few things to fill in a few more pieces to this puzzle:

I hooked up my Metz Ct60 on auto (auto for the flash unit that is) and

set the Canon 20D for MANUAL, ISO 400, Camera at F8 (the correct

setting for the auto on the METZ at my ISO of 400), 1/200th. I took 4

photos indoor and everything seems to be exposed fine, histogram is good.

I then placed the Canon 580EX on my stroboframe bracket ( and yes I

did have the hot shoe accessory cord connecting the flash to the

camera hot shoe).I set the Canon 20D to MANUAL as before with the

Metz, camera at same ISO 400,one exposure at F8 and one exposure at

F6. Photos were like they were yesterday when I was on 'P' and those

on Full auto, still weak and underexposed. This makes think something

is wrong with the flash (580EX) or the cameras COMMUNICATION with it,

because as I said last night.. the built in camera flash also produces

these weak results. Tommorrow or Tuesday I hope to get another Canon

speedlite to confirm that its the communication or the flash. I will

also try to borrow a friends 20D to see if my 580 EX is ok.

By the way..not to comnplicate issues but I did look at all of

yesterdays flash work and a FEW, (3-4), were ok but most were not.

Ans the few that were ok were take 20 seconds apart at the same

settings as the majority that were under.

One last question..really important..aside from all this technical

stuff, whats the chances that Canon itself and/or my dealer (Hunts

Photo out of Mass.) will replace this 2 week old camera (or flash)?

Getting a repair when its defective out of the box doesn't set well

with me. Has anyone been in a simailar situation?

Thanks so much again...I'm count on the professional friends I'm

making on this forum. Hopefully happier times and postings will lay in

the future....Dennis

Bear with me..the first of many posts I'm afraid.

First my background...32 years of wedding photography..1000+ weddings

(film w/various mamiya cameras.. C330 and RB67))..excellent

results..good business reputation.

Bought a canon 20D, 17-85 IS lens, canon speedlite 580EX, off camera

shoe and other accesories.

Results so far have been average to poor so far.(Thank God I've shot

film as a primary while I'm testing this setup) On straight auto,

indoors photos have been underexposed almost to the point of wondering

if the flashes are working properly (used the built in for some ,

580EX for most). I've also have shot "P" mode and changed both the

ISO and also played with exposure compensation from 1/3 to 2/3 to 1

more stop open. Outside photos seem pretty good but flash again

doesn't seem to be doing its job of filling in shadows. Histograms

outside are pretty good also.

This makes me think the 580EX flash is the problem but that wouldn't

explain why the photos with the built in flash aren't good. Could

there be a communication problem with the camera and the flash units?

To try to solve this I'm trying many things..

#1 Asking for the forums advice

#2. I hope to borrow another studios EX flash to try it with 20D and

/or another Canon 20D to try with MY 580EX.

#3. Could I run my Metz 60 CT2 with the 20D and if so how do I set the

camera and /or Metz flash? (Flash sync cord? and speeds/apertures on

metz's AUTO setting?)

I'm not familar with how to post some sample photos for you folks,

but if you tell me how maybe you could figure something out from them.

In any event do the best you can from the info given/ and or ask

questions. With a couple of previous posts this forum has been

exceedingly knowlegeable and helpful...looking for more of the same.

Hope the holiday weekend doesn't limit the number of members seeing

this. Thanks in advance..Dennis

I appreciate the help from Ed Ingwald and others re: transfer of

images from Canon20d to the computer. (message from 3/18) I'm

interested in the adapter that was spoken about but not sure how it

connects or "plugs into" the back of the computer. (regular PC not a

laptop). Does the adapter fit some serial or parallel port? USB?...

or do I knock out a plate for a PCI card slot and add a card?? This

Delkin CardBus CF adapter seems like a faster option than a regular

adapter. The Compact flash card fits into the adapter and then how

does the adapter attach?

Thanks

Dennis

Just purchased Canon d20 with 17-85 for my wedding business (32

years). My first 'dip' into the digital pool from film.

Although my purchase was from a reputable Pro store and camera is USA

warranty etc, one book was ALL Spanish..the EOS software text. It's

going back but for now I need info on connecting the camera to my Dell

computer and downloading images. I'm familar with the cable they

enclosed (USB) but the sequence of steps I want to be careful about so

I don't short circuit anything or lose images. I did load up the

software already.

Thanks in advance..the first of many questions I'm sure!

Dennis