Flash trouble with 7D

  • Thread starter Thread starter Deleted member 30033
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I am very new to flash guns, and got a Metz 50 AF-1 for Christmas.

I am wanting to use it with the wireless facility on the 7D and have been successful to a degree, BUT it seems intermittent. Sometimes the flash works and sometimes it doesn't - the distance is the same, the direction is the same, and I am waiting for the green light.

Any ideas?


flick by nzweeble, on Flickr
 
Ahh, would I be correct in thinking that if it is quite light, the sensor will not pick up the trigger flash?

This might be the case, as now it is dark I seem to be getting results all the time.

I would really appreciate your comments

I also have a wireless remote control, but it is not ETTL so this is not as good as it is not controllable by the camera, i.e. change the settings for the flash on the camera.

Sorry this is all new to me, so I am hoping I am making sense.

The other question would be - would a Canon flash have a better response rate if I was using this outside in the light? I think I would look at the 430EX II as more in my price range.
 
The problem with the native flash system, that uses light or near-IR to send its signals, is that it gets washed out by bright ambient. In bright sun it probably won't work at all, but if it's a bit cloudy, and you keep the distance down, and try to shade the receiver window on the flash, and aim the camera directly at the receiver - it might work.

But rule of thumb is the on-board system works fine indoors with line of sight, but generally not outside in daylight.

You need a radio trigger for that. Manual-only ones are cheap, like £30, but if you want auto E-TTL functions it's ten times that, and more.
 
Thanks very much, I was considering taking the flash back and swap for the price eqivalent Canon (but not spec equivalent) but it sounds as though this would also have the same problem.

I do have a non-ttl remote so will try that today although I guess that will now be a master and not a slave, and I will need to change the settings on the flash and not in camera (pretending I know what I am talking about).
 
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