Flash Photography - Canon 20D

[Lisa W]

I can read and learn almost anything to do with the computer. But give me a camera book and its all greek! I would like to take pictures of the bats on my hummingbird feeder. I have a Canon 20D and just bought a Canon580EX flash for it. Using my 35-90mm Canon lens thought it would be a piece of cake. WRONG. Even in programmable mode the camera won't snap the photo.
My partner is extremely good with film cameras and tells me that it should using a flash should allow for taking a picture when completely dark.
Any helpful ideas?

[Mick Johnson]

Lisa, what exactly do you mean when you say 'the camera won't snap the photo'

Is the gun not firing?

[Lisa W]

Lisa, what exactly do you mean when you say 'the camera won't snap the photo'

Is the gun not firing?

Correct, gun is not firing - couldn't even figure out how to say that correctly. I set the camera to program, set the 580EX to ETTL and got pretty close to the feeder. When I depress the shutter it goes all the way (or seems to) but won't fire the picture. :C

[Mick Johnson]

Correct, gun is not firing - couldn't even figure out how to say that correctly. I set the camera to program, set the 580EX to ETTL and got pretty close to the feeder. When I depress the shutter it goes all the way (or seems to) but won't fire the picture. :C

Have you set the custom functions in the camera.

Set CF 05 to 'emits'

Set 07 to 'Fires'

Make sure the switch on the flash, not the on/off switch, but the one by the mount is set to 'off' and not master or slave. I have 550ex's but should be the same.

Put the camera on 'manual' and select any aperture you want, say f8 and set the shutter speed to max sync of 1/250. It won't go any higher than this. Make sure the main body switch is set to 'on' and not halfway because you use back dial to set shutter speed.

Put the flash on ETTL and away you go.

Be prepared to use the flash compensation, via the body is the easiest way. Just press the compensation button (far right button) and turn the back dial to adjust.

Sorry if you already know most of this.

[Mick Johnson]

Forgot to add that the smaller the aperture you use the darker the background will be. You could also use a slower shutter speed to lighten the background.

But if it's very dark as you say it won't make much difference.

[jiminlondon99]

I can read and learn almost anything to do with the computer. But give me a camera book and its all greek! I would like to take pictures of the bats on my hummingbird feeder. I have a Canon 20D and just bought a Canon580EX flash for it. Using my 35-90mm Canon lens thought it would be a piece of cake. WRONG. Even in programmable mode the camera won't snap the photo.
My partner is extremely good with film cameras and tells me that it should using a flash should allow for taking a picture when completely dark.
Any helpful ideas?

Hi Lisa
I use the 580EX on my 30D and set the camera to 1/500th or faster with the flash set to high speed sync mode and it freezes the action. See page 17 (FP flash) of the speedlite guide.

Jim

[Lisa W]

Mick and Jim,
Thanks will try all out tonight, or sooner if I can darken a room sufficiently. Mike, believe me when I say the simpler the explanation the better. Now I know why people who don't use computers get glassy eyed when I talk. I'll post tonight or tomorrow and let you know if I need more help!

[Lisa W]

Wow, just set up as you said to Mick, worked in a totally dark room like a charm. Both CF 05 and 07 were set. Changed to Manual at f8 1/250 and added compensation. Can't wait to try it tonite.
Thanks a bunch!

[Mick Johnson]

Hi Lisa
I use the 580EX on my 30D and set the camera to 1/500th or faster with the flash set to high speed sync mode and it freezes the action. See page 17 (FP flash) of the speedlite guide.

Jim

Jim, don't know if you are using this in daylight or night so hope you don't mind me saying this but 'High Speed Sync' will not freeze anything in daylight and I've never heard of using it at night as I think you will find you get exposure problems..

It's only a very small burst of flash for fill and has a very limited range indeed. The burst lasts the entire duration of the shutter speed so it will have no effect with movement whatsoever . If you are using it for birds in daylight then the only thing that's freezing them is the 1/500 shutter speed.

You can only totally freeze movement in daylight using 'flash sync' which is totally different from 'HSSync'.

[Mick Johnson]

[QUOTE=Lisa W]Wow, just set up as you said to Mick, worked in a totally dark room like a charm. Both CF 05 and 07 were set. Changed to Manual at f8 1/250 and added compensation. Can't wait to try it tonite.
Thanks a bunch![/QUOTE


That's great, let us know how it goes.

Mick.......

[Lisa W]

[QUOTE=Lisa W]Wow, just set up as you said to Mick, worked in a totally dark room like a charm. Both CF 05 and 07 were set. Changed to Manual at f8 1/250 and added compensation. Can't wait to try it tonite.
Thanks a bunch![/QUOTE


That's great, let us know how it goes.

Mick.......
Mick,
Unfortunately it was raining here tonight (know that is not a problem for you guys, but in Arizona its almost unheard of!) . Got 2 decent pictures, then wind shifted and thought it would be better to have a good go at it tomorrow (hopefully no rain). Anyway here are the ones from tonight. Not great but at least now I know it works. Oh, by the way, I set the compensation at +2 and the camera would show a -2 when I was taking the picture. Will see what tomorrow brings. Thanks for all the help. :t:

[Mick Johnson]

Hi Lisa,

Glad to see it works for you and as you say, they are decent shots, but can you get closer to them. It does get harder though the closer you get.

I wish I had the opportunity to photograph bats like that. They look quite big as well.

The compensation scale in the viewfinder will go to -2 which is the camera's limit but it will be more like -8 in real terms so you can ignore it completely. It's only telling you what the exposure would be in the conditions you're shooting in and with the shutter speed and aperture you're using. (does that make sense)

When I've used my 20d at night I find it wants around +2/3 to +1 flash compensation but it will vary.

[Lisa W]

Mick,
Thanks again for all the help. I made last nights pics with my 28-90mm lens (set at 90). Tonight I'm setting up the tripod before dark, ranging in on the feeder and using my remote cable (not a great one but it will do) will also use the 300mm lens to get closer.
We'll see what happens. Since tomorrow is a word day may not get the photos downloaded until tomorrow night. We are lucky down here not just with bats but with the variety of birds.
Once again - thanks for all the help.
Lisa

[Lisa W]

Raining again tonight. Managed to get a couple of pictures with a longer lens. The 580EX is working like a charm. Here's the two good ones from tonight. Mick, wanted to say thanks once more for all the help.

[pauliev69]

Raining again tonight. Managed to get a couple of pictures with a longer lens. The 580EX is working like a charm. Here's the two good ones from tonight. Mick, wanted to say thanks once more for all the help.A very interesting thread
Great pics Lisa, keep them coming :hi:

[Mick Johnson]

Raining again tonight. Managed to get a couple of pictures with a longer lens. The 580EX is working like a charm. Here's the two good ones from tonight. Mick, wanted to say thanks once more for all the help.

Nice one Lisa.

I have a question, can you see the bats ok at night and do they come to the feeder from the same direction. Reason I ask is you could try setting the camera up without the feeder in the shot and then take the bat pic's as they hopefully fly past the lens. I have done this quite a few times with different birds like Kingfishers etc.

You will obviously get a big failure rate with just heads, tails or nothing at all but eventually will get a few corkers.

[Lisa W]

Mick, I'd love to get them without the feeder. Once the rains leave I'll move around a bit more, right now I'm relegated to a corner of the porch. Also, the bats seem to come from all directions low, high, right, left, and behind me. The only constant seems to be the feeder. I did have the camera on center focus the last two nights. When the weather clears I'm going to try a night with the regular focus (9 points, I think?) and see if I can get anything. I've caught a couple in the frame but it was only focused on the bat right at the feeder.
Will have to see what happens.
Might be a few days before I can post - possibly the weekend. We are catching the afteraffects of Hurricane John. So the weather is pretty bad here in SUNNY Arizona.
Mick, really can't say how much I appreciate the help.
Lisa

[Saphire]

After reading this thread and getting a Canon 580 flashgun I thought I would have a go at taking some photos. I don't know what it is I think it could be a Pipistrelle. I will be having another go tonight to see if I can get some better ones.

[Lisa W]

Christine,
interesting picture, I have no idea what it is. Hope you get a better shot tonight. I haven't been out at night due to various reasons. Hopefully, I'll be able to sit the camera up before dark tomorrow and have another go.