Strobe firing every second photo

[Sarahssss]

Hi all, I tried using my strobe for the first time today and found that the first shot I take on my camera doesn't trigger my strobe but the view finder then goes black and when I press the shutter again, the strobe flashes and that second photo is saved onto my card. This happened every-time, including when I am connecting my camera to the strobe via a cable or with a wireless trigger. Does anyone know why this happens? I am using a Canon 5D IV camera and Godox DE300 strobe.

 

[amateurphotographer]

Hi all, I tried using my strobe for the first time today and found that the first shot I take on my camera doesn't trigger my strobe but the view finder then goes black and when I press the shutter again, the strobe flashes and that second photo is saved onto my card. This happened every-time, including when I am connecting my camera to the strobe via a cable or with a wireless trigger. Does anyone know why this happens? I am using a Canon 5D IV camera and Godox DE300 strobe.

Hi Sarah,

I don't have your system, but can only suggest the following:-

Trigger

1) what trigger are you using?

2) put new batteries into your trigger. Some triggers I believe don't use rechargeable, so check that you are using the correct type of batteries.

3) Check trigger firmware is up to date.

4) There doesn't seem to be channels setting on the strobe, so that is one problem out of the way. But press the "test" button the trigger to make sure it is firing the strobe.

5) What are your camera settings? Try iso200, f4, shutter 1/125 sec, put Strobe in Manual mode and set if to say 5.0 power. Put trigger in Manual Mode. Make sure HSS is off. Turn SLAVE off. These are setting where you should not get a dark image. The black screen maybe because of your shutter is too fast >1/250th or aperture too small e.g. f22.

6)

seems like can use Sync cable also USB (there is a hatch opening). see 5.42mins.

7) Also the strobe may need time to recycle before firing off, turn on the Sound so you know you are not triggering the strobe before it is fully recycled.

My gut feeling it is the combination of your camera settings and not waiting for the strobe to fully recharge before firing the next shot.

Sorry for a scrappy response, but it was quick. Others ppl do correct me or advise the OP.

 

[Ed Shapiro]

Hi all, I tried using my strobe for the first time today and found that the first shot I take on my camera doesn't trigger my strobe but the view finder then goes black and when I press the shutter again, the strobe flashes and that second photo is saved onto my card. This happened every-time, including when I am connecting my camera to the strobe via a cable or with a wireless trigger. Does anyone know why this happens? I am using a Canon 5D IV camera and Godox DE300 strobe.

Firstly, do a simple test. Disconnect the unts for the camera and fire it by means of the test button.

Now, if the flash sill exhibits the same issue and only fires every second time, the problem is the flash unit, - probable in the trigger circuit- is a defective coil or capacitor. If the strob fires normally within the proper recycluig time- making sure the ready light is lit, the problem is in the camera and/ or the firmware. I can't think of a mistake in a meu setting that would cause that intermittent firing to happen.

Alsochen yo shutter seed, and make sure the camera is operating normally when no connection to the flash. The viewfinder going black sounds strange.








Ed Shapiro- Commercial and Portrait Photographer. Ottawa, Ontario Canada

 

[Gato Amarillo]

You got me. Largely what others have said --

- Use the test button to confirm the trigger and flash are talking to each other.

- Be sure your trigger is seated properly on the camera (though if you also have the problem with a sync cord that probably rules out this one).

- Be sure the camera is on manual mode and the shutter speed is within sync range -- 1/200 or slower should work.

- If the flash was misfiring on the second shot you might suspect recycle time, but that should not affect the first shot.

- You could try a reset of the flash just in case there is some oddball setting messing you up. I think you can find procedures in the manual or instruction sheet.

That's all I got. Let us know if any of this works. If not maybe we can come up with more ideas.

Gato

 

[Hanson Peterson]

Does the DE300 have the alt/mask feature like some other Godox strobes? If so and it's turned on, it will only fire every other time. That said, when the flash doesn't fire, the camera still takes a photo, and you seem to be saying that no photo is taken when the flash doesn't fire??

It's a custom function setting. On an AD200, it's F5, and you can tell it's enabled by the "MK" icon.

 

[Sarahssss]

Thank you for your help guys! It literally clicked for me as I was falling asleep that I may have camera lockup enabled! I jumped out of bed and disabled it and it seems to be working now. Such a silly mistake on my end.