Canon 580EXII Speedlite question: Sorry, I think this question might have been answered on another post. I searched, but couldn't find it. When I shoot 4 or 5 pics in continuous mode...

Photo Aunt Loc: Central Massachusetts

Sorry, I think this question might have been answered on another post. I searched, but couldn't find it. When I shoot 4 or 5 pics in continuous mode, the first picture comes out, but the rest of the shots come out very, very dark. The speedlite is set on the ETTL mode. Is there some setting I need to select on my camera to help with this problem?

I use a Canon Rebel XSi, with an 8gb, SanDisk ExtremeIII memory card.
I use Energizer rechargeable 2200 mAh batteries in the Canon 580EXII Speedlite.

I always make sure the batteries are charged. I'll be shooting a lot of pics on Christmas Eve and would hate to loose most of them. Continuous mode is best, because there are a lot of little ones who won't sit still. Thanks for your help.

GTinSoCal Loc: Palmdale, CA

It sounds like you are not giving the flash time to recharge.
If you are using low enough power it can keep up with a few shots, but anything over 1/8 (I think) and it will pause to recharge.

You do have the option of using the flash as a strobe though. A wide range of flash rates too.

GT

Bouncing ball using strobe from Canon flash

bal41572 Loc: Lyndhurst, New Jersey

You may want to consider buying a Battery Pack for the flash. It will help the flash unit charge a little quicker, but the flash is still going to need time to rechage. Also, you can burn out a flash by not giving it time to cool down.

Dun1 Loc: Atlanta, GA

If you take some test shots the pilot light should be green, and should show you whether or not ETTL locked and was able to correctly expose the image you intended to capture.
Here is a link that will help you understand that the modes with you flash
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzXAzQ50dHs&feature=related

Photo Aunt Loc: Central Massachusetts

Dun1 wrote:

If you take some test shots the pilot light should be green, and should show you whether or not ETTL locked and was able to correctly expose the image you intended to capture.
Here is a link that will help you understand that the modes with you flash
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzXAzQ50dHs&feature=related

Thank you, Dun 1. Checked out the site. I learned quite a bit. I'll try the test shots.

Photo Aunt Loc: Central Massachusetts

bal41572 wrote:

You may want to consider buying a Battery Pack for the flash. It will help the flash unit charge a little quicker, but the flash is still going to need time to rechage. Also, you can burn out a flash by not giving it time to cool down.

Not sure what you mean by a battery pack?

Photo Aunt Loc: Central Massachusetts

GTinSoCal wrote:

It sounds like you are not giving the flash time to recharge.
If you are using low enough power it can keep up with a few shots, but anything over 1/8 (I think) and it will pause to recharge.

You do have the option of using the flash as a strobe though. A wide range of flash rates too.

GT

Hi. Not sure what you mean about " using low enough power it can keep up with a few shots, but anything over 1/8".

bal41572 Loc: Lyndhurst, New Jersey

Hi Photo Aunt.......A "Battery Pack" is an external power source, that you can wear on your belt or over your shoulder which connects directly to your flash, providing you with a lot more power than just the 4 batteries that you have in your flash. Take a look at the link below about the Canon power pack. There are more expensive ones out there, but this has worked just fine for me for the past couple of years. You can also do a search on "You Tube", which will show you how it works.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/498738-REG/Canon_1947B001_CP_E4_Compact_Battery_Pack.html

02Nomad Loc: Catonsville, MD

I'vealways been told that rechargeable batteries donnot put out as much voltage as "regular" batteries; granted, it's 10ths of a volt, but I don't feel comfortable using them. I currently use a Quantum Turbo battery with my 580EX and EXII, but with what I've experienced lately and learned in this forum, I think that I'm going to try it without the Turbo and see whaat I get.

GTinSoCal Loc: Palmdale, CA

Photo Aunt wrote:

GTinSoCal wrote:

It sounds like you are not giving the flash time to recharge.
If you are using low enough power it can keep up with a few shots, but anything over 1/8 (I think) and it will pause to recharge.

You do have the option of using the flash as a strobe though. A wide range of flash rates too.

GT

Hi. Not sure what you mean about " using low enough power it can keep up with a few shots, but anything over 1/8".

The 580 can fire at anything from 1/128th power to 1/1 power. It can fire repeatedly at anything under 1/8th power, until the batteries cannot recharge the capacitor fast enough.
If you shoot manual, you can set the power to whatever you want, ie. keeping it below the 1/8th power setting, thereby getting multiple shots.

What are you trying to shoot in continuous mode?
There may be different techniques for getting what you want.

GT

Eblong Loc: Colorado

I can't speak to the 580 so much, but I did learn with my 430 that if you want to use rechargeable batteries, use Lithium Ion, not NiCad, LiIon actually have a slightly lower output voltage, but they have a lower internal resistance and so actually recharge the flash much faster than a NiCad - and, I was told, even better than non-rechargables.

Photo Aunt Loc: Central Massachusetts

GTinSoCal wrote:

quote=Photo Aunt quote=GTinSoCal It sounds like ... (show quote)

Hi GTinSoCal. Mostly small children that won't sit still and people moving around trimming the tree, etc., so I have to keep my shutter speed at at least 1/200th. So I shoot in TV mode.

Photo Aunt Loc: Central Massachusetts

Eblong wrote:

I can't speak to the 580 so much, but I did learn with my 430 that if you want to use rechargeable batteries, use Lithium Ion, not NiCad, LiIon actually have a slightly lower output voltage, but they have a lower internal resistance and so actually recharge the flash much faster than a NiCad - and, I was told, even better than non-rechargables.

Thanks Eblong, I'll try those.

Photo Aunt Loc: Central Massachusetts

02Nomad wrote:

I'vealways been told that rechargeable batteries donnot put out as much voltage as "regular" batteries; granted, it's 10ths of a volt, but I don't feel comfortable using them. I currently use a Quantum Turbo battery with my 580EX and EXII, but with what I've experienced lately and learned in this forum, I think that I'm going to try it without the Turbo and see whaat I get.

Hi 02Nomad. I'll look into this. I keep thinking I'm doing something wrong as the 580EXII is suppose to be a top of the line speedlite. I've never tried "strobe", but I'll practice tonight.

Dun1 Loc: Atlanta, GA

Battery packs decrease the amount of time it take the flash to recycle. The Speedlite will still use internal batteries to power up the unit display. The external battery packs give power to the flash itself so you don't have to wait for the ready light to appear, and loose a chance. Canon has a fairly inexpensive battery pack that uses eight double a batteries to give the unit a shorter recycle time. it's the CP4, http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/498738-REG/Canon_1947B001_CP_E4_Compact_Battery_Pack.html
You also can buy Quantum line of external power sources and as mentioned by others.
If the type of batteries you use inside of you unit can make a difference also. I use Sanyo Eneloop and Maha PowerX rechargeable batteries.
A great place to buy batteries and chargers is Thomas Distributing Company. http://www.thomasdistributing.com/