1D and 550EX Exposure Problems

JoelP · Jan 24, 2003

I have two 1D's (not 1Ds) and use 550EX flashes. The camera is incredible with natural light, any constant light sources and my studio lighting. The problem I have is I continually get under exposed images using the 550EX.

I always shoot my camera in manual mode and the flash does not seem to put out the juice it does when I use them on my 1VS's. Even when I boost the output manually it just doesn't seem to be enough. Now, here's the monkey wrench: when I shoot with the 550EX and use my 70-200 f2.8L at 180-200mm my subjects are lit fine.

I'm going nuts trying to figure this out I've tried all combinations (at least I think I have)...has anybody experienced this problem?
Thanks.
Joel

Wayne D Hooke · Jan 24, 2003

Hi Joel,

You probably already know this and my comments won't be helpful, but, just in case.... With ettl in manual mode, I believe the flash system tries to expose the subject the same way regardless of the shutter speed and aperture. Hence, changing shutter speed and or aperture will have practically zero effect. I use the in camera flash exposure compensation control and it works exactly like it should (with the 550, 420, and st-e2 as master).

It sounds, though, like you might already be doing this - if so, this won't help you beyond knowing that I do get the expected results via flash exposure compensation with my 1D and speedlites.

Wayne

JoelP said:
I have two 1D's (not 1Ds) and use 550EX flashes. The camera is
incredible with natural light, any constant light sources and my
studio lighting. The problem I have is I continually get under
exposed images using the 550EX.

I always shoot my camera in manual mode and the flash does not seem
to put out the juice it does when I use them on my 1VS's. Even when
I boost the output manually it just doesn't seem to be enough.

Chris Dodkin · Jan 25, 2003

If the camera is deciding the AF point, and then going on to use that as the metering point for ETTL, that could be giving you some issues.

When you switch to the longer lengths on the zoom, the subject is bigger in the frame, and a whole range of AF points will be on target and hence any variations in exposure are likely to be less.

I have great success with the 1D and 550EX, but now always use it with a single AF zone pre-selected.

More often than not I'll focus and do the pre flash metering over say the face, then recompose and shoot.

Works every time.

Now I know it would be nice for the camera to do all this for you anyway, but smart as multi-zone and ETTL are, you have so many variables when using the camera in this fully auto mode, that you have no control over where the ETTL meter reading is coming from.

Just a thought based on my experiences.

Chris.
--
http://www.1D-images.com
[email protected]
Mac G4/iMac/iBook/iPod

Derick Gamboa · Jan 25, 2003

Joel,

Have the same gear, been happy with my output. I rarely use manual mode. But in the few times i try to learn, i shoot either in aperture priority or speed priority and see what the camera meter reading would be. I'd take note of it, and start experimenting from there. I move up the dial for aperture or speed and check the effect on the photo. This way i teach my self the output of each settings with my flash.

my .02

Derick

JoelP said:
I have two 1D's (not 1Ds) and use 550EX flashes. The camera is
incredible with natural light, any constant light sources and my
studio lighting. The problem I have is I continually get under
exposed images using the 550EX.

I always shoot my camera in manual mode and the flash does not seem
to put out the juice it does when I use them on my 1VS's. Even when
I boost the output manually it just doesn't seem to be enough. Now,
here's the monkey wrench: when I shoot with the 550EX and use my
70-200 f2.8L at 180-200mm my subjects are lit fine.

I'm going nuts trying to figure this out I've tried all
combinations (at least I think I have)...has anybody experienced
this problem?
Thanks.
Joel

ARB1 · Jan 25, 2003

Chris Dodkin said:
If the camera is deciding the AF point, and then going on to use
that as the metering point for ETTL, that could be giving you some
issues.

When you switch to the longer lengths on the zoom, the subject is
bigger in the frame, and a whole range of AF points will be on
target and hence any variations in exposure are likely to be less.

I have great success with the 1D and 550EX, but now always use it
with a single AF zone pre-selected.

More often than not I'll focus and do the pre flash metering over
say the face, then recompose and shoot.

Works every time.

Now I know it would be nice for the camera to do all this for you
anyway, but smart as multi-zone and ETTL are, you have so many
variables when using the camera in this fully auto mode, that you
have no control over where the ETTL meter reading is coming from.

Just a thought based on my experiences.

Chris.
--
http://www.1D-images.com
[email protected]
Mac G4/iMac/iBook/iPod

--
Olympus E-20, LiPo.

kevin dooley · Jan 25, 2003

JoelP said:
I have two 1D's (not 1Ds) and use 550EX flashes. The camera is
incredible with natural light, any constant light sources and my
studio lighting. The problem I have is I continually get under
exposed images using the 550EX.

I always shoot my camera in manual mode and the flash does not seem
to put out the juice it does when I use them on my 1VS's. Even when
I boost the output manually it just doesn't seem to be enough. Now,
here's the monkey wrench: when I shoot with the 550EX and use my
70-200 f2.8L at 180-200mm my subjects are lit fine.

I'm going nuts trying to figure this out I've tried all
combinations (at least I think I have)...has anybody experienced
this problem?
Thanks.
Joel

Get a metz. I have fond that the d60 is great with the canon flash but had to switch to a metz 54 for my 1d's and my 1ds. Just don't have time the mess with the canon flash.

Steven Geller · Jan 25, 2003

Joel,

I had the same problem when I bought my 1D/550EX/28-70 2.8L. I came on here, asked, got the same opinions you did about ETTL, etc., but found my answer on another site...

Bring your camera in to a Canon repair place and ask them to calibrate the exposure settings to your lens. Like you, the natural lighting was great, aas was the studio lighting. But somehow the metering through the lens with the 550EX was underexposing...and it was very frustrating.

They did it while I waited, took about 20 mins. No problems since then.

JoelP said:
I have two 1D's (not 1Ds) and use 550EX flashes. The camera is
incredible with natural light, any constant light sources and my
studio lighting. The problem I have is I continually get under
exposed images using the 550EX.

I always shoot my camera in manual mode and the flash does not seem
to put out the juice it does when I use them on my 1VS's. Even when
I boost the output manually it just doesn't seem to be enough. Now,
here's the monkey wrench: when I shoot with the 550EX and use my
70-200 f2.8L at 180-200mm my subjects are lit fine.

I'm going nuts trying to figure this out I've tried all
combinations (at least I think I have)...has anybody experienced
this problem?
Thanks.
Joel

--
EOS 1D, 28-70 2.8L, 16-35 2.8L, 550EX

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1D and 550EX Exposure Problems

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