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IR assist beam on Canon flash in AI Servo mode
Jun 18, 2017 23:28:45 #
While shooting with a Canon 5D3 and 580 flash in extremely dim available light, my son says that the IR assist beam will not work in AI Servo mode, only in one shot mode. I can't find this documented in the manual (although it doesn't surprise me). Has anyone else experienced this (is this correct behavior?), and is there a workaround other than lighting the subject with an auxiliary light to assist focus or shooting in one shot mode? Thanks in advance for any insights.
Jun 19, 2017 00:07:47 #
TriX wrote:
While shooting with a Canon 5D3 and 580 flash in extremely dim available light, my son says that the IR assist beam will not work in AI Servo mode, only in one shot mode. I can't find this documented in the manual (although it doesn't surprise me). Has anyone else experienced this (is this correct behavior?), and is there a workaround other than lighting the subject with an auxiliary light to assist focus or shooting in one shot mode? Thanks in advance for any insights.
Trix, saw your post and went into the manual for another 5D but the Mkii. Nothing mentioned concerning AI Servo but there is a blurb about custom function settings possibly canceling the IR beam. I ran into similar verbage in the 1-DX manual. If your 580 is emitting it's own beam there may be a conflict. Check your manual for the Speedlite. Good luck.
Jun 19, 2017 00:22:34 #
That has been my experience in shooting with the Canon flashes, including the 580EX. As far as I could tell, the One Shot AF mode is the only one that has the flash send out an infrared beam to assist in the autofocus.
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Jun 19, 2017 07:54:22 #
Problem solved: Call Canon- one of the best support systems of any camera company-They will help with any problem- and the call is FREE!
Jun 19, 2017 08:13:03 #
And their solution was???
steinr98 wrote:
Problem solved: Call Canon- one of the best support systems of any camera company-They will help with any problem- and the call is FREE!
Jun 19, 2017 12:21:45 #
TriX wrote:
While shooting with a Canon 5D3 and 580 flash in extremely dim available light, my son says that the IR assist beam will not work in AI Servo mode, only in one shot mode. I can't find this documented in the manual (although it doesn't surprise me). Has anyone else experienced this (is this correct behavior?), and is there a workaround other than lighting the subject with an auxiliary light to assist focus or shooting in one shot mode? Thanks in advance for any insights.
Go into your menu in the camera and disable " AF assist beam firing' and instead select " IR AF assist beam only", that should get you going!
Its all in the manual!
Jun 19, 2017 13:10:12 #
speters wrote:
Go into your menu in the camera and disable " AF assist beam firing' and instead select " IR AF assist beam only", that should get you going!
Its all in the manual!
Its all in the manual!
Thank you! Missed that in the manual.
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Jun 20, 2017 03:40:32 #
Not sure about newer cameras , but that's the way my 5DMKII has always worked.(one shot mode).
I thought it had something to do with focusing first, then metering. Which the focus beam could throw off metering if used in servo mode.
Also,AI Servo doesn't have Focus Confirmation or lock the way One Shot does. AI Servo is continous to track movement, so it would need continuous Flash Focus Assist beam to work and that would drain the flash batteries pretty rapidly.
Found this tidbit on stock exchange:
Chuck Westfall (Chief Technical Advisor for Canon USA Consumer Imaging Group) has said in the past there about two stops difference in sensitivity between AI Servo and One Shot at the center point for the models current at that time (2014). More recently he has declined to answer such questions with that level of specific information. Many have theorized that Canon Japan has instructed him to reveal less information when that information could be used to deduce technical trade secrets.
I thought it had something to do with focusing first, then metering. Which the focus beam could throw off metering if used in servo mode.
Also,AI Servo doesn't have Focus Confirmation or lock the way One Shot does. AI Servo is continous to track movement, so it would need continuous Flash Focus Assist beam to work and that would drain the flash batteries pretty rapidly.
Found this tidbit on stock exchange:
Chuck Westfall (Chief Technical Advisor for Canon USA Consumer Imaging Group) has said in the past there about two stops difference in sensitivity between AI Servo and One Shot at the center point for the models current at that time (2014). More recently he has declined to answer such questions with that level of specific information. Many have theorized that Canon Japan has instructed him to reveal less information when that information could be used to deduce technical trade secrets.
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