AEB and the flash

[DonSchap]

Well, here's a little irritating fact I stumbled across, tonight ... and although it makes sense in some ways ... it still is darn inconvenient for what I would like to do.

In class, last week, we were discussing the Automatic Exposure Bracketing (AEB) capability of the XTI and 20D/30D. This feature allows you to take three successive images: selected exposure; decreased exposure; and increased exposure - upto +/- 2 stops in 1/3 stop increments.

So, I'm thinking: "Wow, this will be great with the flash ... maybe I can zero in on the perfect shot."

BUZZ ... ain't gonna happen!

The flash (pop-up or external) and the "bulb" setting defeats AEB. You go to set it to what you want, in the menu, and it simply shuts it off when you click it in. If you close the pop-up or remove the external flash, it works. Not at all what I wanted from the shot. You have to use hot lights or whatever ... no electronic strobes.

E-TTL really bites for these shots. I can't bracket anything with these in automagic.

Now, I have not tried it with the PC (sync) cable to the 750W Strobe or one of the PocketWizards, yet. I was actually trying to avoid having to erect the lights, but ... what the hell ... I gotta know.

(Creative Photography ... even the simplest solutions wind up getting creative :rolleyes: )

EDIT: Ok - after hooking up the PC (sync) cable to one of the PocketWizards ... the AEB continues to work as you set it, without being defeated, the PocketWizard (PW) triggers the remote PW and we get FLASH!

So AEB will work with EXTERNAL strobes, just not the Canon Speedlights, the ST-E2, Pop-up flash or any other "hot shoe" device.

Another "work-around" for Canon automatic whatevers.

[TheObiJuan]

<jealous of your classes>

[noyjimi]

btw don there is a FEB for 550/580. different from AEB but if flash is lighting it up, this may be more useful

[DonSchap]

I will have to refer to the Flash Manual with the 580EXs. Obviously, not many people at the school are aware of FEB ... and I appreciate your input. I will get back on this subject as I play ... uh, experiment ... with that advanced functionality.

Thank you :D

EDIT: Some issues concerning the use of FEB.

The flash must be attached to the hot shoe, either with the off-shoe cord or directly. This severely limits its usefullness for creative lighting.
FEB only works with one round of three flashes ... it then resets, unless disbled with the 580EX's C. Fn 01 set to "1", which inhibits the reset.
With the 580EX's C. Fn 02 ... set to "1" ... the FEB will continue doing standard exposure -> decreased exposure -> increased exposure until told not to by setting the 580EX's control function back to "0". The exposure differences of the bracket are set by you with the Exposure Setting.


Oh, the rules ... :rolleyes:

[DonSchap]

FEB ...

I tried to see if I could use the 580EX's Flash C. Fn 02 wirelessly off the camera's hot shoe ... and although it indicates "a control function" has been invoked, it simply does not work.

When you go from OFF -> MASTER -> SLAVE, to get it to respond to the ST-E2 ... the Flash Exposure Level setting of the 580EX is immediately cleared back to "0", no matter what you had set it to in the "OFF' mode. You cannot lock it down and it cannot be changed in "SLAVE" mode.

I just don't see much practical use for this ... being always stuck at the top of my camera ... or on the end of an "off-shoe cord." If you want to use FEB remotely ... forget it.

Anyway ... for what it's worth ... that's what I have found.