No assist beam with Canon Powershot S5 + Speedlite

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Jonathan Schneider - 28 Jun 2008 18:43 GMT

I've got a Canon Powershot S5 and as of yesterday a Speedlite 580EX II
flashgun.

Because I'd like to use the combination to capture subjects such as
foxes I was hoping the flash's more powerful assist beam would errr
assist in dark places but it doesn't come on.

The camera's own (green) one still comes on. I have checked custom
function 8 is 0.

I'll check the assist beam with a friend's DSLR but am rather
disappointed that it doesn't seem to work with this camera.

Any ideas ?

Jon

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Joel - 28 Jun 2008 20:57 GMT

> I've got a Canon Powershot S5 and as of yesterday a Speedlite 580EX II
> flashgun.
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>
> Jon

    I don't own the Cano Powershot S5 (or any Powershot) to know much about
it, but I can say that the SpeedLite 580EX II is the top_of_the_line of
Canon flash. And in order to get the best out of the flash it will requires
the combination of Canon Body's + Flash (sometime it may depend on the
lens').

    IOW, the flash has some special feature's which only work with some newer
Canon body (DSLR), and some feature may not work with some older or specific
lens. Other than that it should work similar to just any regular flash, or
if your body (camera) doesn't meet the requirement then then the special
feature's won't be available.

    On some or all newer Canon DSLR bodies they have a button to fire a
pre-flash for the beam to measure and adjust the power, which usually give
brighter capture than without. And it seems like not all body works the
same.

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Jonathan Schneider - 28 Jun 2008 22:28 GMT

> I don't own the Cano Powershot S5 (or any Powershot) to know much about
> it, but I can say that the SpeedLite 580EX II is the top_of_the_line of
> Canon flash. And in order to get the best out of the flash it will requires
> the combination of Canon Body's + Flash (sometime it may depend on the
> lens').

Yes it's a top-of-the-line-flash so why is it I can sort out focussing
in the dark by using a cheapo (red) laser ?

Jon

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Joel - 29 Jun 2008 00:58 GMT

> > I don't own the Cano Powershot S5 (or any Powershot) to know much about
> > it, but I can say that the SpeedLite 580EX II is the top_of_the_line of
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Jon

    The flash is top_of_the_line but the cemera isn't. Just like me I know
thing a little more than I can express in English.

    And as I have mentioned, the flash can only does its best by good
communication with the body and may be the lens, not just by itself. Or if
the camera can't communicate with the flash then the best thing you can do
is doing everything manually.

    If the camera can communicate with the flash then it will measure the
distance, the background, the angle etc. to adjust the flash power to the
best it can calculate. Now, without the communication then the flash just
fire the light source, it can be under/over-flash depending on your setting
or its guessing.

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Jonathan Schneider - 29 Jun 2008 06:08 GMT

>> > I don't own the Cano Powershot S5 (or any Powershot) to know much about
>> > it, but I can say that the SpeedLite 580EX II is the top_of_the_line of
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> And as I have mentioned, the flash can only does its best by good
> communication with the body and may be the lens, not just by itself.

But it obviously can and does communicate. Zoom, F-number, and power
setting go through without a doubt.

So why not "Oi you. Switch yer AS beam on please."

Now the flash is capable of firing a pattern at the centre of the
image (and other places) isn't it ?

Maybe they simply forgot in the firmware. I'll ask them and hope it
does good.

Jon

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Joel - 29 Jun 2008 18:45 GMT

> >> > I don't own the Cano Powershot S5 (or any Powershot) to know much about
> >> > it, but I can say that the SpeedLite 580EX II is the top_of_the_line of
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
>
> Jon

With the newer technology and special features the combination of Flash &
Camera can be a little more than than few auto option. That's why some
older Canon DSLR cameras won't get all benefits from the Speedlite 580EX, or
some DSLR has more/less option depending on the model's.

Then beyond the auto you may need to go for manual for specific need. And
as I have mention some DSLR has the button (* I think) to fire the pre-flash
(different than the regular pre-flash) to give the beam a better chance to
get a better measurement that it normal can't. So, if your camera has the
" * " button then give it a try see if it's what you want. Other than that
youy may have to question the camera instead of me <bg>

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