(7D) Has anyone else noticed

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Edward Bray
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that the flash is visible through the viewfinder just prior to the moment of exposure on the 7D?

I have never noticed this before on any SLR camera as the mirror is usually up and blacking out the viewfinder before the flash fires, pretty sure it didn't happen with my Nikon DSLRs. and my previous Canon DSLRs either never had a flash (5D or 5D Mk2) or I never used it (30D).

As an aside, I have been playing with the built in flash on the 7D to provide a slight fill-in flash at a setting of -3 and it does the job fantastically well with very little evidence of flash being used.
 
If it's firing before the mirror is up then there will indeed be "very little evidence of flash being used" :lol:
 
If it's firing before the mirror is up then there will indeed be "very little evidence of flash being used" :lol:

It's still evident in the image when compared with one taken with no flash and if the flash exposure compensation is taken out it is very obviously working, just a bit off-putting actually seeing the flash in the viewfinder.

It doesn't seem like a pre-flash either although it may well be, but if so I don't know for what reason as the focus was already acheived!
 
It's the pre-flashes for TTL flash metering - I've seen it on every Nikon camera I've used so probably the same for Canons.
 
No it hasn't, and the red eye reduction on the 7D is a yellow beam from between the grip and the lens. Good try though :thumbs:

Sure that isn't the on board focus assist light? If it is the anti red eye light then I'll be damned...!
 
Tend to agree - you'll need a high power pulse from the flash in order to force pupils to contract and reduce red eye.
 
Sure that isn't the on board focus assist light? If it is the anti red eye light then I'll be damned...!

Well according to the manual it's the anti-red eye reduction/self timer lamp, page 112/96 of the manual, so I suppose you'll be damned then? :p: :lol:
 
Well according to the manual it's the anti-red eye reduction/self timer lamp, page 112/96 of the manual, so I suppose you'll be damned then? :p: :lol:

:lol: I remember it flashing on my 30D when it was on self timer (and saying that, I remember my 1D has a little red one now..) But I wouldn't have thought the power output would have been enough to kill red eye!

An eternity in the company of Beelzebub and all his little demons it is for me! :p
 
If the red-eye reduction mode is selected then when the shutter button is pressed halfway the 'red eye reduction' lamp will light and a display will reduce in the viewfinder. take the picture when the display has reduced completely for best results.
 
It's the pre-flashes for TTL flash metering - I've seen it on every Nikon camera I've used so probably the same for Canons.

^^^ :thumbs:

It's the pre-flash! Used in all E-TTL modes. It has to go off before the mirror rises in order for the metering system to read it. Nothing to do with AF.

To disable it, press the FEL which will fire it on demand and cancel it when you press the release. Also, it doesn't go off when manual flash power is used. Use second curtain sync and you will see the pre and main flashes separated - one visible through the viewfinder, and the main flash obviously not.
 
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