over-exposure with 580ex

[Castlesinthesky]

okay, yes the e-ttl 2 is supposedly lauded to be a huge improvement over e-ttl 1

however i found that the 580ex consistently overexposes by 2/3-1 stop when i utilize e-ttl2 as OPPOSED to the pop-up flash which ALWAYS gives me a correct balanced exposure. the 580ex was flashed directly at the object, using the center AF to meter the flash exposure, same thing with the pop-up flash.


why is this so? i thought e-ttl 2 was supposed to even work with the speedlite? why is it consistently over-exposing, when my built in pop up flash can just well...do the job?

any advice on this?thanks...

[mpenza]

ettl-2 is used for the pop-up flash as well if I'm not wrong.

[Castlesinthesky]

Originally Posted by mpenza ettl-2 is used for the pop-up flash as well if I'm not wrong.

yea i know that....hence the question..,..

my popup flash correctly exposes the object..but the speedlite always over exposes by one stop.

isn't e-ttl 2 supposed to work for both...and is excellent for avoiding blowout of highlights?

i don't quite understand the logic of it then, both are flash systems, both are pointed directly towards the object...then isn't it so that both will give the same flash exposure because of e-ttl 2?why the inconsistency...

hope to get some answers here

[Jeff]

Originally Posted by Castlesinthesky okay, yes the e-ttl 2 is supposedly lauded to be a huge improvement over e-ttl 1 however i found that the 580ex consistently overexposes by 2/3-1 stop when i utilize e-ttl2 as OPPOSED to the pop-up flash which ALWAYS gives me a correct balanced exposure. the 580ex was flashed directly at the object, using the center AF to meter the flash exposure, same thing with the pop-up flash. why is this so? i thought e-ttl 2 was supposed to even work with the speedlite? why is it consistently over-exposing, when my built in pop up flash can just well...do the job? any advice on this?thanks...

do u have samples? metering using the central sensor may not always gives u the right exposure, depending on the metering mode, subject and background combination. therefore to support ur statement, perhaps u could do a series of controlled experiments.

my 2 cents.

[r52lanc]

Originally Posted by Castlesinthesky okay, yes the e-ttl 2 is supposedly lauded to be a huge improvement over e-ttl 1 however i found that the 580ex consistently overexposes by 2/3-1 stop when i utilize e-ttl2 as OPPOSED to the pop-up flash which ALWAYS gives me a correct balanced exposure. the 580ex was flashed directly at the object, using the center AF to meter the flash exposure, same thing with the pop-up flash. why is this so? i thought e-ttl 2 was supposed to even work with the speedlite? why is it consistently over-exposing, when my built in pop up flash can just well...do the job? any advice on this?thanks...

Are you using a Canon 20D?

I have the 20D/580EX combo. No problems whatsoever with exposure. Mostly, bang on! If anything, tends to underexpose by 1/3 stop. Better reset all defaults in the flash and start again.

[mpenza]

can't really help you here. 580EX and the internal flash performed similarly on my 20D.

[Castlesinthesky]

Originally Posted by Jeff do u have samples? metering using the central sensor may not always gives u the right exposure, depending on the metering mode, subject and background combination. therefore to support ur statement, perhaps u could do a series of controlled experiments. my 2 cents.

hi jeff, no samples at the moment as my camera is not with me at the moment..

however- it's controlled as far as i can say.

under consistent lighting conditions with one light bulb overhead. using evaluative metering+manual settings for with 580ex and pop-up flash. center AF on same object. 580 ex was pointed straight at the object as was the popup flash(obviously) same distance

results are consistently the same-speedlite overexposes and blows up the highlights, pop up flash exposes very nicely.

isn't ettl 2 supposed to take care of flash exposure (whether or not i swivel the flash)

[Castlesinthesky]

Originally Posted by r52lanc Are you using a Canon 20D? I have the 20D/580EX combo. No problems whatsoever with exposure. Mostly, bang on! If anything, tends to underexpose by 1/3 stop. Better reset all defaults in the flash and start again.

yea i am...looks like i'll have to bring back the speedlite to rectify the problem....grrr

is your flash directly pointed towards the object?

[Castlesinthesky]

Originally Posted by mpenza can't really help you here. 580EX and the internal flash performed similarly on my 20D.

hmm then it must be the speedlite..i'll try resetting it first

[mpenza]

Is the 580 EX accidentally set to Manual mode? Also, what's the subject that you're shooting at? The reason I could think of is that the higher 580EX preflash reflects off a dark part of the subject while the pop-up flash, being lower, reflects off a grey part of the subject.

[Castlesinthesky]

Originally Posted by mpenza Is the 580 EX accidentally set to Manual mode? Also, what's the subject that you're shooting at? The reason I could think of is that the higher 580EX preflash reflects off a dark part of the subject while the pop-up flash, being lower, reflects off a grey part of the subject.

i'm shooting at a white object-an ipod actually

it's set to e-ttl 2 mode...i checked...it doesn't expose the same as the pop up flash-which is really weird...and this is consistent no matter what....

[r52lanc]

Originally Posted by Castlesinthesky i'm shooting at a white object-an ipod actually it's set to e-ttl 2 mode...i checked...it doesn't expose the same as the pop up flash-which is really weird...and this is consistent no matter what....

If you are up close to the ipod, it will overexpose. That is normal. For product shoots, the pros use umbrellas and softboxes.

You better test the flash under normal conditions .

[Castlesinthesky]

Originally Posted by r52lanc If you are up close to the ipod, it will overexpose. That is normal. For product shoots, the pros use umbrellas and softboxes. You better test the flash under normal conditions .

yea...i know..but the problem is with...the pop-up flash, it works fine...exposes pefectly..whereas the speedlite doesn't(when shot direct)..same distance

why's that the case?just feeling really odd about it.

[r52lanc]

Originally Posted by Castlesinthesky yea...i know..but the problem is with...the pop-up flash, it works fine...exposes pefectly..whereas the speedlite doesn't(when shot direct)..same distance why's that the case?just feeling really odd about it.

More power, lah! The 580EX is like a small thermonuclear explosion. How close are you shooting? Less than 2 feet?

[Castlesinthesky]

Originally Posted by r52lanc More power, lah! The 580EX is like a small thermonuclear explosion. How close are you shooting? Less than 2 feet?

around 4-5 feet...odd...hmmm

[2100]

Need to show samples lar.

I know that the only situation that fool my nikon flash is for fashion whereby the model is wearing wholly black. Then the flesh is burnt. Wedding gowns don't fool it.