camera gurus

[ronin]

got new canon 7D.
problem is with my flash 580 exz, can't turn off manual setting.

any ideas? thanks

[DBS.US]

Pull the batteries?

[ronin]

Pull the batteries?

tried that, still the same...thanks

[weekly]

What I do when I wind up in a situation that is confusing is go to Canon, download the manual....and search with keywords or phrases. That will usually produce results. Most of these things are finger problems.
Worst case...shoot on manual. You will get way better results anyway.

[xenigo]

I just tested my 580EX on my 7D and I'm having no such problem. What happens when you hit the MODE button on the 580EX? Does it change to Multi and then to ETTL?

Does the MODE button work at all?

[ronin]

What I do when I wind up in a situation that is confusing is go to Canon, download the manual....and search with keywords or phrases. That will usually produce results. Most of these things are finger problems.
Worst case...shoot on manual. You will get way better results anyway.

cool, thanks...what do u mean by finger problems?
thanks again

[ronin]

I just tested my 580EX on my 7D and I'm having no such problem. What happens when you hit the MODE button on the 580EX? Does it change to Multi and then to ETTL?

Does the MODE button work at all?

the Mode button is working, but the Zoom is stuck on M and when I change it, rather than change the focal point, it's changing the exposure compensation.

[ArsewithClass]

can't turn off manual setting.

any ideas? thanks

Worst case...shoot on manual.

You must admit, thats funny to read.

Ronin, Hoping you get your camera sorted as its meant to be a fabulous bit of kit!

[Smokieflame]

Im not a tech girl AT ALL!! However when I call tech support the first thing they tell me is turn it off then turn it on. If that dont work it just might be broken. Hope this helps doubt it but now you can say you spoke with tech support

[xenigo]

the Mode button is working, but the Zoom is stuck on M and when I change it, rather than change the focal point, it's changing the exposure compensation.

Change the mode on the 580EX to ETTL, and change the camera to Manual, ISO 100 1/80 2.8. Take a test photo.

Tell me what happens.

[weekly]

What I do when I wind up in a situation that is confusing is go to Canon, download the manual....and search with keywords or phrases. That will usually produce results. Most of these things are finger problems.
Worst case...shoot on manual. You will get way better results anyway.

finger trouble means user error. We all do it. These cameras are so complex and can do so many things it can happen to anyone. I wish I could help you, but I only shoot on manual because it is so much easier.

[xenigo]

finger trouble means user error. We all do it. These cameras are so complex and can do so many things it can happen to anyone. I wish I could help you, but I only shoot on manual because it is so much easier.

Hard to shoot with an on-camera flash on manual due to exposure constantly changing depending on distance from subject. Only when I've got the time to precisely meter the exposure do I shoot with an on camera flash on manual, or when I'm firing the 580EX off-camera from the Pocket Wizard.

Otherwise you're pretty much flying blind...

[ronin]

Change the mode on the 580EX to ETTL, and change the camera to Manual, ISO 100 1/80 2.8. Take a test photo.

Tell me what happens.

i couldn't get the 7d to go to 100 (just got the camera yesterday), so used the 30D and seems to work fine.

the problem seems to be with the speedlite being stuck on M Zoom. the book says "if the M is not displayed, the flash coverage will be set automatically."
I can't get the M to turn off today.

[xenigo]

i couldn't get the 7d to go to 100 (just got the camera yesterday), so used the 30D and seems to work fine.

the problem seems to be with the speedlite being stuck on M Zoom. the book says "if the M is not displayed, the flash coverage will be set automatically."
I can't get the M to turn off today.

Well I'm hitting every button on the 580EX trying to get it to get stuck somewhere... and I'm not able to recreate this.

I thought you said before that you could hit the MODE button, and go into ETTL... that would be the Auto setting for the flash. Are you not able to do that?

[ronin]

Well I'm hitting every button on the 580EX trying to get it to get stuck somewhere... and I'm not able to recreate this.

I thought you said before that you could hit the MODE button, and go into ETTL... that would be the Auto setting for the flash. Are you not able to do that?

Yes, I'm in ETTL, and it should be Auto setting for the flash, but if I zoom in close to something - the image is very, very washed out. If I zoom out, it's fine. Also, I would think when I put it in Zoom mode and adjust the dial, that the bar on the distance display (meters) would change - but it's the flash exposure compensation numbers that change - i.e. - +0, + 1/3, etc. when I hit Zoom, Select/Set Button, and then spin the Outer Select Dial. Why would the exposure numbers be changing?

[xenigo]

Yes, I'm in ETTL, and it should be Auto setting for the flash, but if I zoom in close to something - the image is very, very washed out. If I zoom out, it's fine. Also, I would think when I put it in Zoom mode and adjust the dial, that the bar on the distance display (meters) would change - but it's the flash exposure compensation numbers that change - i.e. - +0, + 1/3, etc. when I hit Zoom, Select/Set Button, and then spin the Outer Select Dial. Why would the exposure numbers be changing?

Ha... alright, I understand this a bit more clearly. Hit the button in the middle of the dial. Set the flash exposure compensation to 0. Now, hit the Zoom button, and turn the dial all the way to the left. The M Zoom should go away, and it will default to the zoom of your lens instead of a manual Zoom. Hit the button in the middle of the dial, it should stop flashing, and it should now be fully set on auto.

Let me know if that fixes your problem.

[ronin]

Ha... alright, I understand this a bit more clearly. Hit the button in the middle of the dial. Set the flash exposure compensation to 0. Now, hit the Zoom button, and turn the dial all the way to the left. The M Zoom should go away, and it will default to the zoom of your lens instead of a manual Zoom. Hit the button in the middle of the dial, it should stop flashing, and it should now be fully set on auto.

Let me know if that fixes your problem.

I Hit the button in the middle, set exposure to 0, hit zoom, turned dial all the way to left - and that's when nothing happened.

question: In ETTL mode, is the M box next to the Zoom button supposed to be on all the time? because I think not, but I can't get it turned off to save my life.!!! two days ago, I finally worked with the book and everything (the speed lite) went really well, but now I feel like I'm stuck on this setting and I shoudln't be.

[xenigo]

The M Zoom I believe is for when you don't have a lens that sends the zoom information to the flash. To use that setting effectively, you set the flash to whatever focal length you're shooting at so the flash focuses on the subject similar to the lens.

But I honestly don't know why you aren't able to turn it off. Turning the dial to the left while the M Zoom is flashing after hitting the Zoom button should allow you to turn off M Zoom, and just have auto Zoom (which would be indicated by the M disappearing, just leaving Zoom).

Best of luck.

[ronin]

The M Zoom I believe is for when you don't have a lens that sends the zoom information to the flash. To use that setting effectively, you set the flash to whatever focal length you're shooting at so the flash focuses on the subject similar to the lens.

But I honestly don't know why you aren't able to turn it off. Turning the dial to the left while the M Zoom is flashing after hitting the Zoom button should allow you to turn off M Zoom, and just have auto Zoom (which would be indicated by the M disappearing, just leaving Zoom).

Best of luck.

Thank you so much. Everything you are saying makes sense and mirrors what the book says (even though this topic is only covered by two tiny little paragraphs.) In the meantime, I looked on-line and Canon's website has become more helpful. I will e-mail them this weekend and ask because I simply cannot get that stupid M to turn off. - regardless what the exposure is, I need to know how to turn it off.

have a great weekend and thank you very much for your help..

[xenigo]

No problem. Have a good weekend