bajadreamer wrote:
I have a Canon 5D IV that I use with a variety of lenses. I occasionally use a flash, either a Canon 430II or a Yongnuo 600ex-rt. My primary shooting settings are locked in on Custom 1 mode. Those settings include Manual mode, Auto ISO and a SS of 1/640.
The problem comes when I attach the flash. Whether or not the flash switch is on or off, the camera defaults to Iso of 400 and a max SS of 1/200. With my 7DII, those same defaults occur when the flash switch is on but when the flash switch is off, the camera reverts back to the C1 settings, or Auto ISO with no max SS.
I would like to have the camera use my original settings when the flash is off and the "flash" settings when the switch is on. As it is now, I have to physically remove the flash unit from the hot shoe to revert back to the original settings.
Am I missing a menu setting or is that just the way the 5DIV is?
I have a Canon 5D IV that I use with a variety of ... (
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Bill and Baja,
You really need to read the camera and flash manuals.
The flash sync of 5DIV is 1/200. (This is true of all the full frame 5d models. The 1D-series which are 1/250, 80D and 7DII's is 1/250. Rebel series are 1/200. 6D is 1/160, if memory serves).
The flash sync is the fastest shutter speed the camera will allow, when using a flash... The camera will override any other settings you've made, as soon as it detects the active ETTL/ETTLII flash in the hot shoe.... Unless you override it (see below, we'll get back to this after some other things).
ETTL or ETTL II flash will fire "FULL" when you set the camera to M and turn off Auto ISO. When used... fully M settings plus ETTL flash... it actually becomes a "FULL" flash auto exposure mode. The camera fires a low-power (1/64) pre-flash and meters the scene, then adjust the "real" flash to properly illuminate it.
ETTL or ETTL II flash will fire as reduced power "FILL" when the camera is set to
any auto exposure mode. Auto exposure modes are: Av, Tv, and P... as well as M with Auto ISO.
So, if you want flash to be your primary light source... set the camera to M and turn off Auto ISO... and the flash will fire FULL.
But if you want the camera to set auto exposure according to ambient light conditions, then use any of the auto exposure modes (Av, Tv, P or M with Auto ISO) and flash output will be 1-2/3 stops reduced, to act as FILL.
In either condition... FULL or FILL... you can increase or decrease the flash output manually by dialing in Flash Exposure Compensation. This works and is controlled exactly the same way as Exposure Compensation (without flash).
In either condition... FULL or FILL... you can turn on HSS or "High Speed Sync" on the flash, so that the camera will be able to use shutter speeds faster than its flash sync speed.
HOWEVER, using HSS greatly reduces the flash's reach. HSS is done by shortening the flash exposure and timing it with the faster than sync shutter speed. The faster the shutter speed is above the camera's flash sync speed, the less distance the flash will be able to illuminate. This can be particularly problematic if you're bouncing the flash or using any sort of diffuser on it. HSS is best used with direct flash.
When using FULL flash, the flash itself acts sort of like a shutter. The typical duration of full flash is approx. equivalent to 1/720 shutter speed. So I would recommend setting the camera to M and turning off Auto ISO. Select your aperture using the distance scale displayed on the back of the flash. This shows the usable distance range of the flash, and on most flashes can be set to read out in your preference of meters or feet. (Note: if you have a hard time judging the distance to your subject, if your lens has a distance scale try pre-focusing on the subject, then checking what the lens' scale. In other words, use the AF as a range finder of sorts.)
Hope this helps!