Canon 580EX II - Who is using Manual Mode Consistently?

[GimmeHd]

I am abandoning ETTL II on my 580EX II for indoor shots and switching to manual flash mode. I have gotten better exposed shots from manual mode, even though I have to the keep adjusting the aperture as I zoom in and out. Also, the shots from manual flash is better exposed than ETTL +1 FEC.

I am wondering if anyone uses the 580EX in manual mode instead of ETTL? Please give me any tips you have.

 

[mgraziani]

We own 4 580exII units at work (one used as a master and the other three as wireless slaves. We no longer use ETTL and only shoot manually but still make all of our slave adjustments from the master unit. It's just easier and more consistent since we primarily shoot still subject matter.

 

[GimmeHd]

I guess that I just have to get use to manual mode in non-static situations. Most of my shots are at events (weedings, parties, etc) with people moving constantly. I appreciate the comments.

 

[ArtZAngel]

We shoot events and used Canon equipment for years for their lower noise (relative) high ISO. With Nikon's low noise now and by all reports the amazing flash photographer using the old SB800 and now the better SB900... I am dropping Canon. We shot a graduation Sunday and my flash was all over the place. I put the flash in manual, 1/4 power and shot TV, 1/100th. The camera stopped down to f/22 and my shot was black (I can repeat this on all 5 of my Canon bodies and all 4 flashes). 1/4 power at f/4, ISO 1600, 1/100th gave me a decent shot. That is how bad the camera/flash metered the scene. Useless. I have been reading about Nikon's i-TTL and I can't find any report that says the system doesn't simply blow Canon's out of the water. From all my research the past few days, it looks like Canon cameras are popular due to their huge lens selection. Granted, this is great and I can see why many photo-journalist would like this. But for me, reliable, consistent flash output trumps lens selection. Give me a 24-70 & a 70-200: 99% of all I need. So I am switching to a D300. The Canon 50D may arrive soon, as well as the 5D replacement, both of which have higher Megapixels but I don't see that as a benefit. Just means I need to spend more money on hard drives. But don't take my word for it- Google Nikon's i-TTL and metering system and judge for yourself.

Mike

 

[Maurice Joubert59901]

I am wondering if anyone uses the 580EX in manual mode instead of
ETTL? Please give me any tips you have.

I did not abandon E-ttl which I use in events shooting.

I can get constant results in setting camera to manual mode keep e-ttl for the flash mode, chimping to verify histogram and use FEC if necessary.

And of course I "drag the shutter" to balance with the ambiant light.

When I am in static conditions and use my non Canon flash, I switch to manual.

As it has been said, when setting one flash as "master" you can control the slave groups from the master (power and zoom).

An other cool feature of the Canon flashes is their"modeling light" a contnuous light emiited like a modeling lamp on the strobe.

You can change the custom functions to enable this light from the flash "test" button, thus you can test each flash indiviudally.

Very useful when you nead precise control (snooting for instance)

--
Maurice Joubert
http://www.pbase.com/joubert

 

[BAK]

There used to be stories here all the time about how Canon 580EX flash units underexposed.

Those stories seem to have gone away.

Back then, it seemed to be camera & flash-random. i.e. one 580EX on one particular camera was bad, and another 580EX on another camera was fine.

Me? Worked fine, and still does.

For really fast work, I just set P for program, E-TTL, and shoot away.

If I have time to slow down a bit and think fairly carefully, manual camera, pick a shutter speed and aperture, and usually E-TTL flash. Works fine almost all the time, Usually involved a Lightsphere cloud model.

For more controlled shots, manual camera, manual flash, and a flash meter to decide the aperture. This, too, works fine, as long as I wait long enough for recharging. This set-up usually involves a Canon off camera shoe cord 3 and an umbrella.

BAK

 

[BAK]

But I pay attention to the subject color, and adjust if there's a lot of black or dark blue suits, or white / bright dresses.

BAK

 

[ArtZAngel]

I have been a Canon shooter for many years. Today we bought a D300/SB900. We bought it because I have been so frustrated with Canon's inconsistent (or maybe just plain poor) flash metering/firing. Now I have only been goofing around in my living room.... but so far there is no comparison. The same settings on each camera with each flash in e-TTL/i-TTL and the Canon is about 1.5 stops under exposed. When bumping compensation, I get a better histogram but the quality of light is poorer. The Nikon flash system is amazing. The SB 900 lets you choose from 3 illumination patterns, and that's just for starters. The owners manual to the D300 is over 400-pages. Put the camera in P and you can still dial the exposure one direction or another (dial one direction to give you a large aperture and therefore a faster shutter or vice/versa. I don't have the words but I think back to when I switched to Mac- frustrating figuring out a new OS, but so worth it in the end.

I can see why sports shooters and photojournalists love the Canon: fabulous lens selection, generally less expensive than Nikon and so on. But for those of us that rely on flash, I have a lot to learn about the Nikon system and I look forward to learning it!

Mike

 

[amobi]

We shoot events and used Canon equipment for years for their lower
noise (relative) high ISO. With Nikon's low noise now and by all
reports the amazing flash photographer using the old SB800 and now
the better SB900... I am dropping Canon. We shot a graduation Sunday
and my flash was all over the place. I put the flash in manual, 1/4
power and shot TV, 1/100th. The camera stopped down to f/22 and my
shot was black (I can repeat this on all 5 of my Canon bodies and
all 4 flashes). 1/4 power at f/4, ISO 1600, 1/100th gave me a decent
shot. That is how bad the camera/flash metered the scene. Useless. I
have been reading about Nikon's i-TTL and I can't find any report
that says the system doesn't simply blow Canon's out of the water.
From all my research the past few days, it looks like Canon cameras
are popular due to their huge lens selection. Granted, this is great
and I can see why many photo-journalist would like this. But for me,
reliable, consistent flash output trumps lens selection. Give me a
24-70 & a 70-200: 99% of all I need. So I am switching to a D300. The
Canon 50D may arrive soon, as well as the 5D replacement, both of
which have higher Megapixels but I don't see that as a benefit. Just
means I need to spend more money on hard drives. But don't take my
word for it- Google Nikon's i-TTL and metering system and judge for
yourself.

Mike

You set the flash in manual and camera in TV and blame Canon for not getting the exposure right. You guys are very funny.

 

[amobi]

I am abandoning ETTL II on my 580EX II for indoor shots and switching
to manual flash mode. I have gotten better exposed shots from manual
mode, even though I have to the keep adjusting the aperture as I zoom
in and out. Also, the shots from manual flash is better exposed than
ETTL +1 FEC.

I am wondering if anyone uses the 580EX in manual mode instead of
ETTL? Please give me any tips you have.

You said you keep adjusting the aperture as you zoom in an out when in manual mode. Isn’t it same thing as adjusting the FEC in ETTL? You just don't set +1 FEC and expect to get a consistent result. You have to adjust the FEC every now and then. That’s just the way Canon behaves. Once you get use to it, it will be a breeze. Also, you need to get Joe Demb flash diffuser.

 

[jwilson66]

If you put your flash in manual mode, you shouldn't need to adjust your aperture simply because you zoom in or out. The flash is going to put the same amount of light on the subj whether your lens is at 28mm or 70mm. The only time you should need to adjust aperture is if you change flash output power, ISO, or flash-to-subj distance!

 

[UKphotographers]

If you put your flash in manual mode, you shouldn't need to adjust
your aperture simply because you zoom in or out. The flash is going
to put the same amount of light on the subj whether your lens is at
28mm or 70mm.

I think the 580 has an auto zoom head which will increase the GN as the camera zooms to telephoto. I think that this is what was meant.

If you were using a plain ordinary non-zoom head then you're right in that your exposure should be consistant throughout the zoom range.

--
Ian.

Samples of work: http://www.AccoladePhotography.co.uk
Weddings: http://www.AccoladeWeddings.com
Events: http://www.OfficialPhotographer.com

Theres only one sun. Why do I need more than one light to get a natural result?

 

[jwilson66]

True...but the 580ex does have auto zoom head but you can also place the zoom into manual and then the lighting will be consistent throughout the zoom range and you won't have to keep adjusting the aperture as you zoom in and out.

Jeff

 

[Jerry Eisner]

the best way to use these is to set up you focus points to center only. then aim the center focus point at the subject But toward some mid tone on the subject if possible. then with the LED focus point centered on a midtone you hit the pre flash on your camera which sends the distance info to the sensor and then press your shutter release and you will get perfect histograms every time. je

 

[pfiltz]

I shoot manual in camera and flash 100% of the time. Been years since I used ETTL. I use 550 EX off camera, as well as AB lighting.

--
Taking mystery away from lighting.... There are no rules...
Nothing spooky about photography, whether it's studio or outside work.

If you never fail, you never grow....

Regards, Phillip @ Keepsake,

 

[Jarvis393]

Maurice,

You said: "An other cool feature of the Canon flashes is their"modeling light" a contnuous light emiited like a modeling lamp on the strobe."

Could you elaborate on this?
I've never heard of this feature but it sounds very useful.

Jarvis