Totally dumb flash question

swag72 · 7 Aug 2009

Have just put batteries in my new 430EXII. Saw some butterflies in the garden, a bit overcast, so thought I'd attach the flash (First time I have ever used one) and take some pics with lots of extra light. WRONG!!

So - Flash switched on and attached to the hotshoe. 100-400 all ready to go, flash menu -Ext flash func setting - says that the flash is incompatible or turned off. I have set the menu to P for added stupidity protection and the flash to ETTL, flash is switched on an pilot flashes.

WTF?!!!! :shrug: Please don't say read the manual just yet, I want to try the damn thing - NOW!!!!!!

u8myufo · 7 Aug 2009

Hi swag, I had a similar prob with my 580EX the first time I used it on my 50D since selling the 400D. I am not sure but you might need to go into the flash menue itself and enable a few of the custom settings. Read the manual :lol:

Flash In The Pan · 7 Aug 2009

swag72 said:
.

WTF?!!!! :shrug: Please don't say read the manual just yet, I want to try the damn thing - NOW!!!!!!

Are you sure you're female??? :lol:

swag72 · 7 Aug 2009

Flash In The Pan said:
Are you sure you're female???

I think so ........... Hang on I'll just have a look .................... Yep, they're still in their hammocks

I am impatient though and I'm not good with manuals!!

Flash In The Pan · 7 Aug 2009

swag72 said:
I am impatient though and I'm not good with manuals!!

And here was me thinking that only applied to women drivers :naughty:

dinorock · 7 Aug 2009

you may have the flash option set to command mode two little-- like this check your flash settings in your menu

swag72 · 7 Aug 2009

Flash In The Pan said:
And here was me thinking that only applied to women drivers

I was unable to open the petrol cap on a vauxhall corsa I'd borrowed from a friend once - I had to go and ask a neighbour who drove a corsa car how to do it - Is that a similar thing?

Greywolf · 8 Aug 2009

If there is one piece of camera kit for which you NEED to read the manual, it's a flashgun. Unless you already know about Speedlights it is going to be very confusing.

RTFM

swag72 · 9 Aug 2009

I'm not finding the maunal particularly helpful, being a flash virgin. Looking ay buying a book to help. Any ideas on this book?

mick johnson · 9 Aug 2009

Make sure you have 'Flash Firing' set to 'enabled' in the camera menu. On my 40d it's under 'Flash Control'

I think when I first got mine had mine I had to enable it.

Other than that, you won't be the first to not push the gun fully home on the hot shoe.