Reading mode: Light Dark

the Pro90 will NEVER activate the AF light on EX flash

Go to last post
T

Todd Walker

Veteran Member
Messages
6,091
Reaction score
1
Location
USA, LA, US
I'm on the phone with Canon right now, asking them about why the Pro90 doesn't activate the AF light on the 420EX flash. I called 800-828-4040. The tech flunkie who answered the phone of course had no clue, but when I pushed, he transferred me to a "Senior Technician" who has me on hold right now researching the possibilities of a firmware upgrade to fix the problem. I have no doubt that he will come back on the phone and tell me that I am out of luck, but we'll see. I have been on hold for about 10 minutes so far and the current time is 2:35PM Central.

2:38

Well, he just came back on the phone and said that the camera is not physically capable of activating the AF light on the 420EX, therefore it cannot be fixed by a firmware upgrade. So, no point in petitioning Canon or b!tching and moaning about it. It ain't gonna happen.

Excuse me for a minute while I vent...

WHAT THE H3LL WERE THOSE F'ING MORONS AT CANON THINKING WHEN THEY DESIGNED A $1000 CAMERA THAT COULDN'T ACTIVATE THE AF ASSIST ON THEIR OWN D@MNED FLASH UNITS!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Phew...I feel a little better. Not really. You know, it's not just Canon though. The Nikons don't activate the AF light on external Nikon speedlights either.

In fact, does anyone know of any digital camera that is less than $1500 that will activate the AF assist light on an external flash?

I'm seriously peeved. This is by far the worst shortcoming on the Pro90. HOW STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Todd--Todd Walker
http://twalker.d2g.com
 
Todd Walker said:
[rant deleted]
I'm seriously peeved. This is by far the worst shortcoming on the
Pro90. HOW STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...
I can never understand the point of this sort of thing. While it would be nice if the powershot cameras activated the EX's AF light, it just doesn't seem to be worth this much angst.

Buy a cheap flashlight or laser pointer; problem solved.
 
eg said:
Todd Walker said:
[rant deleted]
I'm seriously peeved. This is by far the worst shortcoming on the
Pro90. HOW STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...
I can never understand the point of this sort of thing. While it
would be nice if the powershot cameras activated the EX's AF light,
it just doesn't seem to be worth this much angst.

Buy a cheap flashlight or laser pointer; problem solved.
Click to expand...
 
Todd Walker said:
Well, he just came back on the phone and said that the camera is
not physically capable of activating the AF light on the 420EX,
therefore it cannot be fixed by a firmware upgrade. So, no point in
petitioning Canon or b!tching and moaning about it. It ain't gonna
happen.

Excuse me for a minute while I vent...

WHAT THE H3LL WERE THOSE F'ING MORONS AT CANON THINKING WHEN THEY
DESIGNED A $1000 CAMERA THAT COULDN'T ACTIVATE THE AF ASSIST ON
THEIR OWN D@MNED FLASH UNITS!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Phew...I feel a little better. Not really. You know, it's not just
Canon though. The Nikons don't activate the AF light on external
Nikon speedlights either.

In fact, does anyone know of any digital camera that is less than
$1500 that will activate the AF assist light on an external flash?

I'm seriously peeved. This is by far the worst shortcoming on the
Pro90. HOW STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Todd
--
Todd Walker
http://twalker.d2g.com
Click to expand...
I don't understand why this feature is so hard to implement, this is a serious design flaw.

My D30 activates the light on my 550 EX, my wife's G2 doesn't on her 420 EX. The D30 will focus in total darkness at 30 feet away. The G2 has to rely on the lame internal focus assist.
 
Todd Walker said:
Phew...I feel a little better. Not really. You know, it's not just
Canon though. The Nikons don't activate the AF light on external
Nikon speedlights either.
Click to expand...
Actually, the Nikons are even worse. They don't support ANY of the features of their external flashes!!
 
JohnM said:
JohnM31499 said:
Well, he just came back on the phone and said that the camera is
not physically capable of activating the AF light on the 420EX,
therefore it cannot be fixed by a firmware upgrade. So, no point in
petitioning Canon or b!tching and moaning about it. It ain't gonna
happen.

Excuse me for a minute while I vent...

WHAT THE H3LL WERE THOSE F'ING MORONS AT CANON THINKING WHEN THEY
DESIGNED A $1000 CAMERA THAT COULDN'T ACTIVATE THE AF ASSIST ON
THEIR OWN D@MNED FLASH UNITS!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Phew...I feel a little better. Not really. You know, it's not just
Canon though. The Nikons don't activate the AF light on external
Nikon speedlights either.

In fact, does anyone know of any digital camera that is less than
$1500 that will activate the AF assist light on an external flash?

I'm seriously peeved. This is by far the worst shortcoming on the
Pro90. HOW STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Todd
--
Todd Walker
http://twalker.d2g.com
Click to expand...
I don't understand why this feature is so hard to implement, this
is a serious design flaw.

My D30 activates the light on my 550 EX, my wife's G2 doesn't on
her 420 EX. The D30 will focus in total darkness at 30 feet away.
The G2 has to rely on the lame internal focus assist.
Click to expand...
Well, John,

There are should be some difference between semi pro camera for just $800 and SLR camera for under $2000

And that's why your D30 this feature and G2 does not.

It is intresting how people complaining about G2 not having all fetures of DSLR. Guess, what: G2 is a wonderfull semi pro camera, but it still more point and shoot and not SLR. Any DSLR will be better by their nature and by number of features.

--G2 Owner
 
Hi Todd!
Todd Walker said:
Well, he just came back on the phone and said that the camera is
not physically capable of activating the AF light on the 420EX,
therefore it cannot be fixed by a firmware upgrade.
Click to expand...
I have good news for you ... it will work if you modify the flash ... as far as I remember, no problem for you :-)

Some german guys from the powershot.de forum have written a flash modification instruction page, which makes it possible to use the flash's AF light manually.

http://www.rkornberger.de/speedlite/

Greetings from Germany

Chris
 
Chris ™ said:
Chris ™ said:
Well, he just came back on the phone and said that the camera is
not physically capable of activating the AF light on the 420EX,
therefore it cannot be fixed by a firmware upgrade.
Click to expand...
I have good news for you ... it will work if you modify the flash
... as far as I remember, no problem for you :-)

Some german guys from the powershot.de forum have written a flash
modification instruction page, which makes it possible to use the
flash's AF light manually.

http://www.rkornberger.de/speedlite/
Click to expand...
Try this guys. If you think that the Pro 90 can't focus in Low Light try this with the built in Flash.

Have the ISO setting at 100, use a guide number of 45 for feet and leave the Zoom at the widest setting for low light or total darkness (This enables
cropping later). Now we set the Mode Dial to M. Next decide on a
shutter speed that will allow for flash, use 1/100th of a second
and finally we need to know what aperture to set. Remember the only
light on the subject will be from the flash and it will freeze all

movement. Play with the apeture but leave the rest alone. Then leave the apeture and play with the shutter speed.

I was totally surprised in how well the Pro90 can take total darkness pictures. I know that this may not have much to do with your plight but it's fun.
regards
Brad
 
eg said:
Todd Walker said:
[rant deleted]
I'm seriously peeved. This is by far the worst shortcoming on the
Pro90. HOW STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...
I can never understand the point of this sort of thing. While it
would be nice if the powershot cameras activated the EX's AF light,
it just doesn't seem to be worth this much angst.

Buy a cheap flashlight or laser pointer; problem solved.
Click to expand...
I guess I'm a fool for expecting a $1000 digital camera to offer the same BASIC flash functionality as a $300 film body (such as the Rebel 2000.) IMHO, this is a significant oversight by Canon. I shouldn't have to resort to using a flashlight with a $1200 camera/flash combination. Call me silly...

Todd
--Todd Walker http://twalker.d2g.com
 
Chris ™ said:
Chris ™ said:
Well, he just came back on the phone and said that the camera is
not physically capable of activating the AF light on the 420EX,
therefore it cannot be fixed by a firmware upgrade.
Click to expand...
I have good news for you ... it will work if you modify the flash
... as far as I remember, no problem for you :-)

Some german guys from the powershot.de forum have written a flash
modification instruction page, which makes it possible to use the
flash's AF light manually.

http://www.rkornberger.de/speedlite/

Greetings from Germany

Chris
Click to expand...
Hey Chris, be a pal and translate that page for me will ya? Babblefish didn't do much good and I took French in high school ;-)

Todd

--Todd Walker http://twalker.d2g.com
 
Todd Walker said:
I guess I'm a fool for expecting a $1000 digital camera to offer
the same BASIC flash functionality as a $300 film body (such as the
Rebel 2000.) IMHO, this is a significant oversight by Canon. I
shouldn't have to resort to using a flashlight with a $1200
camera/flash combination. Call me silly...
Click to expand...
OK, you're silly. :)

Don't get me wrong. I would like it if the G2 were able to light up the EX AF lamp. It just doesn't seem worth getting all worked up over. Specifically because there is an inexpensive and simple solution. If I had my choice, I'd want a faster AF first. That light might be number 3 or 4 on my list of wishes.

Unfortunately, digital cameras are still very expensive. Maybe someday they'll be competitively priced wth film cameras, but that day isn't here yet.
 
Although I believe it's unhealthy to get upset over things we have no control over, I do agree with Todd on this one. I think the most frustrating part about all this is that the flash does have this capability (as well as 2nd curtain sync) and we've paid for it, but just can't use it because it seems Canon either got lazy or purposefully failed to include support for these functions while they seem easily "do-able" simply through firmware (i.e. wouldn't cost them much, if anything, to implement). Another thing is, correct me if I'm wrong, the Pro90 has no built-in AF assist lamp like the G2, so being able to use the one in the 420ex would seem to be a Major advantage for Pro90 users. For me, use of the AF lamp with my G2 would be nice, but what I'd like to see even more is support for 2nd curtain sync, which again is only a matter of timing the flash to sych to the end of the exposure (right?) and seems like a very easy thing to implement. It seems possible that these things could be seen through a firmware update, but I have a feeling that this won't happen and I definitely won't be holding my breath.

Michael
eg said:
Todd Walker said:
I guess I'm a fool for expecting a $1000 digital camera to offer
the same BASIC flash functionality as a $300 film body (such as the
Rebel 2000.) IMHO, this is a significant oversight by Canon. I
shouldn't have to resort to using a flashlight with a $1200
camera/flash combination. Call me silly...
Click to expand...
OK, you're silly. :)

Don't get me wrong. I would like it if the G2 were able to light up
the EX AF lamp. It just doesn't seem worth getting all worked up
over. Specifically because there is an inexpensive and simple
solution. If I had my choice, I'd want a faster AF first. That
light might be number 3 or 4 on my list of wishes.

Unfortunately, digital cameras are still very expensive. Maybe
someday they'll be competitively priced wth film cameras, but that
day isn't here yet.
Click to expand...
 
Rehi Todd!
Todd Walker said:
Todd Walker said:
http://www.rkornberger.de/speedlite/
Click to expand...
Hey Chris, be a pal and translate that page for me will ya?
Babblefish didn't do much good and I took French in high school ;-)
Click to expand...
Yeah, babblefish ... hehe ... that's why I already did a translation and helped out Peter and Julian :-) Have a closer look to find this link to the english version :-)
http://www.rkornberger.de/speedlite/umbau420ex/index_eng.html

Greetings from Germany

Chris
 
Todd Walker said:
I guess I'm a fool for expecting a $1000 digital camera to offer
the same BASIC flash functionality as a $300 film body (such as the
Rebel 2000.) IMHO, this is a significant oversight by Canon. I
shouldn't have to resort to using a flashlight with a $1200
camera/flash combination. Call me silly...

Todd
Click to expand...
Todd you're too hard on yourself ... what would it take for Canon to provide the engineering for their expensive "prosumer" Pro90/G1/G2 to use EX AF assist and 2nd curtain sync? A few lines of firmware code, a minor change in chip design and maybe a couple connecting wires? Who's being silly/foolish? The customer or Canon?? We all bought these cameras 'cause we're perfectionists, right?

OTOH we could be stuck with the even more crippled flash systems offered by Sony and Nikon prosumers. Then we'd REALLY be griping! GKL
 
Todd Walker said:
2:38
Well, he just came back on the phone and said that the camera is
not physically capable of activating the AF light on the 420EX,
therefore it cannot be fixed by a firmware upgrade. So, no point in
petitioning Canon or b!tching and moaning about it. It ain't gonna
happen.
Click to expand...
Boy, I understand the vent. The Canon tech was telling you porkies though. The Pro90 has all the requisite physical and logical connections to the flash to activate the AE assist lamp. However, implementing that feature is a non trivial task. It is essentially a whole new feature which will trickle down through all the rest of the cameras functions. QA testing for that sort of change is an absolute nightmare. You basically have to go through the enitire QA process again. A small change like the battery fix or a white balance fix has comparatively little trickle down, but the AF assist lamp would require modifications to a bunch of stuff. So, I'm not holding my breath (though I'd love to see a kindly Canon engineer provide an unsupported 'just for my friends at DPR' tweaked firmware that would allow the autofocu lamp to be turned on and off manually in software with no promises. Still, thats not going to happen, which brings us to point two,

I notice on another thread that some Germans bodged their flash to manually turn on the flash. My German is a little rusty and I haven't looked far into the article, but what they are doing is comparatively simple. The AF assist lamp is just two high intensity LEDs, so to manually activate them, all you need to do is feed them a suitably limited current straight from the power pack and wire a switch in series. The insides of the flash body are fairly crowded, but not insanely so (I was interested so I opened it up to have a look). Modifying for a switch AND automatic illumination on another camera on the other hand could be a little more tricky, haven't looked into that at all.

If someone wants to post me a sick/dead 420EX to experiment on, I'll work out a process for modifying them and post it somewhere with pictures. It will definitely be a 'need to know how to use a soldering iron' job, but not a hard one. Hardest bit will be finding a suitably dinky little case switch (I'd use the 'slave mode' switch at the bottom but for the fact that it is a truly nasty little switch, and not feasible to switch off easily prior to your shot) A little pusbutton on the side or back of the casework sounds like the best plan. Hold it in, half press of the shutter, take your finger off the AF Assist button and hit the MF button, away you go.

Anyway, food for thought

Dermot-- All is compromise
 
gkl said:
Todd you're too hard on yourself ... what would it take for Canon
to provide the engineering for their expensive "prosumer"
Pro90/G1/G2 to use EX AF assist and 2nd curtain sync? A few lines
of firmware code, a minor change in chip design and maybe a couple
connecting wires? Who's being silly/foolish? The customer or
Canon?? We all bought these cameras 'cause we're perfectionists,
right?

OTOH we could be stuck with the even more crippled flash systems
offered by Sony and Nikon prosumers. Then we'd REALLY be griping!
GKL
Click to expand...
Oooh, don't get me started on Sony's flash....
(grumble grumble)-- All is compromise
 
Todd,

Has anybody found a resolution yet. This thread has been VERY interesting to me and I hate to see it get lost. Will the rear curtain synch flash work with the Pro90?

BTW, your posts here and in Rec.Photo.Digital have been very helpful to me. Thanks for taking the time!
 
JohnM. said:
Todd,
Has anybody found a resolution yet. This thread has been VERY
interesting to me and I hate to see it get lost. Will the rear
curtain synch flash work with the Pro90?
BTW, your posts here and in Rec.Photo.Digital have been very
helpful to me. Thanks for taking the time!
Click to expand...
John,

I'm not holding my breath. It ain't gonna happen. Get a small flashlight for your bag and use it for low light shots. It sucks but that's life.

Rear curtain sync works on the 550EX if you set it on the flash, but only because the flash knows how to do it -- not the camera.

Glad to see that my daily ramblings have been of use to you ;-)

Todd
--Todd Walker http://twalker.d2g.com
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top