Canon E-TTL flash does give unpredictable results. The problem is that it meters the flash from the active focus point, which may be over a dark or a light object when the pre-flash is emitted and therefore give the wrong flash exposure. The 1D2 minimises the problems by using the distance information.

There are ways to circumvent the problem.
1. Set the star button to perform auto-focus (cf 4-1 on a 10D). When the pre-flash fires there is no active focus sensor and the camera does a centre-wighted average for the flash exposure.
2. Use flash exposure lock. If you use the star button for focusing, on some cameras you can set the extra button to do this. FEL meters from the spor metering area of the sensor. However, FEL is fine for still life, but not for much else.
3. Pre-select the focus point to cover e.g. a face. This is not workable in fast moving situations.
4. Buy a Metz flash unit with the standard single contact adaptor and set the unit to auto flash exposure. With the camera set to manual you can easily alter the aperture to dial-in any flash exposure compensation needed. According to responses on RG's forums, many Canon users have gone along the Metz route.


Let's hope that Canon will provide as standard on all their new cameras the ability to control flash output by the lens focusing distance.

Tim Mimpriss


On 21/6/04 16:47, "edward bowman" wrote:

>Hi,
Has anyone experience of using another make of TTL flash gun for the
Canon EOS 1Ds other than the official Canon ones?
Any advice would be gratefully received.


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