Canon 400D Speedlite compatable?

[BrianTVR350]

Guys,

I have a 400D bought from Canon's eBay site. Well pleased with it..

However, a question which I haven't managed to solve by Google or Canon's (awful) website..

I tried a borrowed Speedlite 580EX (one of the original ones not a Mk2), flash works fine and produces properly exposed images, so I'm assuming the ETTL2 flash metering is working. The flashgun displays the aperture the camera is using on the LCD display but doesn't display the zoom setting which it does when connected to various analogue EOS cameras and a G7

The only 580EX page I did find (and can't find again) on the Canon site listed a number of digital compacts (upto the G9) but didn't mention any SLR less than the EOS1d.

Can someone confirm what I should be seeing in respect of the zoom function, if anything? It's not the end of the world if it doesn't work, but I would like to be clear if I have a faulty camera or not.

During the testing I was using the 18-55mm that came with the camera (and it's got the latest firmware)

Regards,

Brian (and a Red 350i)

[JD]

I think that feature is down to the Lens

As only some of the Eos lens do this, I'm trying to think of the other application of the lens rangefinder, as there was a topic a while back which said what lens were compatible

[BrianTVR350]

Thanks for that JD...

I've searched the archives on "speedlite" and think I've found the post... It's just a lot to take in at one reading. (and at work!)

Has anybody else tried an EZ flashgun on a 400D?

Regards,

Brian (and a Red 350i)

[MrP80]

BrianTVR350 said:

Thanks for that JD...

I've searched the archives on "speedlite" and think I've found the post... It's just a lot to take in at one reading. (and at work!)

Has anybody else tried an EZ flashgun on a 400D?

Regards,

Brian (and a Red 350i)

It will fire, but the ez range lacked ettl, instead having ttl and attl, if I remember correctly. Much better auto exposure on EX range.

With a bit of practice it should be ok though, you just may need to check the exposure and go manual if it messes it up.

On your other point I don't think the zoom guns work with EF-S lenses, but not 100% sure on that

[BrianTVR350]

Sorry Guys... should really employ a proof reader..

I meant to ask...

If anyone else had tried a 400D with any EZ flashgun? Is there any difference on the 580EZ MK2?

However, you have hit on something something.. the EF-S lens, is this the problem? When I was playing with various lenses, didn't try an EF zoom lens to see if that worked. (why, I don't know it seems so simple now)

Regards,

Brian (and a Red 350i)

[MrP80]

Hi Brian - Do you mean 580EX or 580EZ, as I haven't heard of a 580EZ mk2? EX is thecurrent range, EZ went end of life 15 odd years ago

I've tried a 420EZ on a 5D, and found it easier to revert to manual, metering didn't really work. The 400d would be the same as it has it relies on ETTL for correct metering.

I've used a 550EX and a 580EXII on the 400D. Colour balance was better with the 580EX, but I think that is a feature of the ETTLII metering, I think it does white balancing with the flash?

Not sure if that helps though

[BrianTVR350]

My fault again, more haste less speed...

The flashguns I'm talking about are the current series... 430EX, 580EX etc..

Read somewhere that the "Z" stood for zoom, then getting EZ stuck in my brain.

The very latest incarnation I believe is the 580EX MK2. My question really revolves round the testing I did with a 580EX "MK1" and the EF-S 18-55 lens that came with the camera.

Someone mentioned that the "zoom" function on the EX range doesn't work when EF-S lenses are used, which would explain the anomaly. Can anyone shed a little more light on this please? I've looked at the previous posts but can't find a definitive list of what does and doesn't work.

Regards and thank you for your patience.

Brian (and a Red 350i)

[MrP80]

BrianTVR350 said:

My fault again, more haste less speed...

The flashguns I'm talking about are the current series... 430EX, 580EX etc..

Read somewhere that the "Z" stood for zoom, then getting EZ stuck in my brain.

The very latest incarnation I believe is the 580EX MK2. My question really revolves round the testing I did with a 580EX "MK1" and the EF-S 18-55 lens that came with the camera.

Someone mentioned that the "zoom" function on the EX range doesn't work when EF-S lenses are used, which would explain the anomaly. Can anyone shed a little more light on this please? I've looked at the previous posts but can't find a definitive list of what does and doesn't work.

Regards and thank you for your patience.

Brian (and a Red 350i)

I got hold of a kit lens and put in a 400d, with a 550EX flash gun (all I had with me) - the zoom function works so it's not the lens or body failing to feed the flash with info.

Is the flash in the correct head setting, ie dead ahead and horizontal? There is one angle setting below the horizontal, that may look as though it's inline but it's slightly out. On the zoom info bit of the screen does it display a number, or is it 2 dashes? If it is the two dashes (i.e.Zoom -- mm) then the head is angled slightly (normaly shows a flash gun symbol somewhere on the LCD also).

My flash displays the widest zoom setting even when not attached to a body, taking the head out of line removes the zoom display.

Try taking the flash off the body and seeing what you get then, I think it's the head setting on the flash has been knocked just below the horizon level (if you get what I mean)...

[stigmundfreud]

also try pulling out and putting back the wideflash screen

[stigmundfreud]

also try pulling out and putting back the wideflash screen as below (iir) 24mm the flash wont report zoom just use its default lowest value, the screen takes it lower still.

[MrP80]

stigmundfreud said:

also try pulling out and putting back the wideflash screen as below (iir) 24mm the flash wont report zoom just use its default lowest value, the screen takes it lower still.

I thought if the screen was out it would report the wide angle (14mm IIRC on the 580EX), but confirming it is properly in place is a good point

[stigmundfreud]

MrP80 said:

stigmundfreud said:

also try pulling out and putting back the wideflash screen as below (iir) 24mm the flash wont report zoom just use its default lowest value, the screen takes it lower still.

I thought if the screen was out it would report the wide angle (14mm IIRC on the 580EX), but confirming it is properly in place is a good point

I sometimes get a non reading on mine if it isnt retracted properly. The head will zoom if level or slightly pointing downwards (the end position)

[ruaricoles]

stigmundfreud said:

also try pulling out and putting back the wideflash screen as below (iir) 24mm the flash wont report zoom just use its default lowest value, the screen takes it lower still.

Yes, I thought I'd broken my 430EX for a while before I realised this..... (D'oh!)

Ruari

[BrianTVR350]

Thanks guys,

list of things for me to check.

I was a little confused because the camera was reporting aperture information to the flashgun but not the zoom information. And I was playing with the "bounce" flash when I was testing.

So I gather from the posts that the "zoom" function will only work with the flash head bang on horizontal? (and it appears to have caught one or two more experienced practitioners)

Can anyone confirm/deny the theory about the EF-S lenses not being compatible?

Regards,

Brian (and a Red 350i)

[MrP80]

BrianTVR350 said:

Thanks guys,

list of things for me to check.

I was a little confused because the camera was reporting aperture information to the flashgun but not the zoom information. And I was playing with the "bounce" flash when I was testing.

So I gather from the posts that the "zoom" function will only work with the flash head bang on horizontal? (and it appears to have caught one or two more experienced practitioners)

Can anyone confirm/deny the theory about the EF-S lenses not being compatible?

Regards,

Brian (and a Red 350i)

The bold text is the problem, when bouncing in any direction the zoom function is off, theres no need for it. Make sure the head is level.

And this body/lens combo outputs lens length to the flash - see my earlier post.

Tested on both the 550EX and a 580EXII, all works fine!