flash gun seems to strobe/pulse/flash for a second on its own?!

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tikigod19

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hi all, I have a canon speedlite 430exii on my canon 5d2 and it keeps firing about 10 flashes of light (not full flashes) really close together so it almost looks like its pulsing. It does it for a second or so but its doing it without me asking it to. I can often just be holding the camera without pushing any buttons and it does it.

I am relatively new to using the flashgun but its starting to drive me mad..

any ideas what might be causing it?


In a side note as its not worth starting a new thread for something so simple.. what's the best way to set your flash to not fire, but leave it on the camera. At the mo I just turn it off as if I leave it on, even when outside in bright sunlight it'll fire and try to act as a fill flash. I just wondered if there was an option on the camera thats quickly accessible to turn the flash on and off, but leave it connected, or is it best I just switch it off and on as I'm currently doing?
 
It sounds like you have the flash set to multi-flash ( where it fires a succession of short flashes in strobe like fashion) OR High Speed Sync where again the flash fires a longish burst of short flashes but more strung together like a long single flash.

I'm not sure the 430 EXii has either of those features though? Quite why it should be doing it on it's own I can't imagine anyway. :thinking:

With regard to switching off the flash you can either let it turn itself off after a few seconds which most do, but in that case it will switch on again as soon as you half-press touch the shutter button, OR just disable it with the ON/OFF switch.
 
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CT, thanks, you mean the on/off switch actually on the flash?

I suppose I was after a way of it only firing when its needed, almost an auto flash mode, instead of firing never or all of the time.

The 430exii does have hyper flash and it was something I was playing around with lately but I'm sure I turned it off. Even if not I have replaced batteries a couple of times recently so surely that resets it.

And yes, why it does it on its own is really confusing..
 
some flashguns "pre flash" sometimes it is red eye reduction, sometimes it is to assist with measuring the needed flash power

Check your cameras red eye reduction setting
 
My 5D2 does this - when I touch the depth of field preview button by accident, with the flash on. It only needs the lightest pressure, and fires a pulsing 'modelling light'. Page 93 in handbook.
 
If you press the DoF preview button (the little one just below the lens release button) it fires a quick succession of flashes as a modelling light).

You are probably pressing the button inadvertently.
 
I'd agree with the DoF button being knocked while holding the camera being the cause of the flash going off.
 
Can do this with my Mets 45 CL-4 digital, VERY useful.

Strobe

pb.jpg
 
The 580EX II has a built in function for this called stroboscopic mode, it's awesome :)
 
R.E. Disabling flash whilst keeping it mounted to the hotshoe.

Theres a camera menu that allows you to set "Flash Firing" (or something very similar), if you set it to off it will stop the flash going off but you can still use it to focus assist in the dark.
 
thank you all so much. Each time the flash did this I was hand holding without a strap, often had it down by my side so it makes perfect sense that I was pushing this button.

I will have a play around tonight and see what happens.

Wealthysoup, its a shame there's not a quick shortcut or a custom button that you can assign to this flash off option, that'd be handy.

Not that I'd ever do it but if I had the camera in full auto mode (is there even such a thing on the 5d2?!) would the flash fire ONLY when required and not all the time?
 
tiki-If you put it in your custom menu it can be switched off an on with a few clicks (still not great but quick enough)

Not sure if there is a green box on the 5d2 or not but I would think so. Best to have a quick play to check though
 
tikigod19 said:
Not that I'd ever do it but if I had the camera in full auto mode (is there even such a thing on the 5d2?!) would the flash fire ONLY when required and not all the time?
Click to expand...

Yes.

Also I find the quickest way to disable flash is to flick the switch from 'on' to 'off' :)

Although most of the time I have a flash on the camera, I intend to use it 100% of the time.
 
thank you all so much, the flash was strobing because of the button on the side/front (that I never knew existed and still don't know what it does.. but I wish i could disable it!!)

Thank you all very much
 
I can't say I've ever pressed the DoF preview button by accident on any camera :lol:

All it does is stops the lens down to whatever aperture you have set so you can 'preview' what will be in focus in the shot. Set your aperture to something like f/22, look through the viewfinder and hold the button down.
 
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