I had such a laugh reading this :)
I have a EOS 3 and 1v that I use for Wedding Photography. The problem that I am encountering is those darn dark reception dance floors. When I used my 3 and 1v cameras and Metz 60ct4 flashes attached I had to try and manually focus due to the fact that it doesn't have a focusing eye built into the body like the lower end cameras. Does the 550ex Canon flash work well in this situation? Or is there an add on to the Metz system? Or should I get a lower end Elan camera with a built in eye for the receptions? Any suggestions would be great. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posts: 8 | From: Jackson, Mi, USA | Registered: Jul 2001 | IP: Logged Lemming51 Photo Enthusiast Member # 180 Member Rated: posted 13 November 2001 12:29 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The 550EX and 420EX have wide-area patterned near-infrared focus assist light that would eliminate your problem. The Metz system might have a focus assist light available, I don't know. The lower end Elan 7/7e and Rebel 2000 use a flickering built-in flash and the bright white light red-eye reduction lamp, respectively, for focus assist. Many people find these very distracting/annoying. The older Elan II/IIe and A2/A2E have a built-in patterned near-infrared focus assist light. The assist on the Elan II/IIe can be switched off with a custom function, and automatically switches off when a Canon speedlight is attached. I don't know if the assist would be available if you used your Metz flash with the Elan II/IIe. The A2/A2E focus assist light can also be switched off with a custom function, but I think it's designed so that the assist is NOT automatically disabled when a flash is attached. I've read this is because the focus assist light on EZ speedlights available of the time did not cover the A2/A2E's outer focus sensors. Maybe someone else can confirm this. [ 13 November 2001: Message edited by: Lemming51 ] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posts: 159 | From: Libertyville, IL, USA | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged <Ed> unregistered posted 13 November 2001 16:53 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To add the comments of previous posting, Elan 7 really suffers auto focusing in dim light situation. I went to Halloween party at night and had to use manual mode all the time, otherwise you will miss the kodak moment. The view finder of Elan 7 is really dark even when I use 50mm f1.8 and I have had trouble focusing manually. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IP: Logged drh681 Photo Enthusiast Member # 937 Member Rated: posted 13 November 2001 23:52 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- yeah buy the 550ex or a 420ex. You wont be sorry. the e-ttl flash contol works. the focus assist is very good, and the 550 will act as a slave controller to the 420 with out wires.(or other 550s) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posts: 112 | From: ca | Registered: Oct 2001 | IP: Logged yota5 Photo Enthusiast Member # 298 Member Rated: posted 13 November 2001 23:56 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Please allow me reiterate what lemming51 had to say about Canon Speedlites 550EX and 420EX. "The 550EX and 420EX have wide-area patterned near-infrared focus assist light that would eliminate your problem." Ed what this means to you is that your Elan 7, and jrogers EOS 3 would be able to auto-focus in a totally dark room. yota5 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posts: 77 | From: Grand Blanc, MI | Registered: Jul 2001 | IP: Logged Grablife New Member Member # 1240 Rate Member posted 14 November 2001 02:31 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I use a Canon EOS 1V with the Speedlite 550EX and 420EX for wedding shoots. Works like a charm everytime. In addition to wireless capabilities, these flashes will link the ETTL function to the active focus points. I don't think you get that with the Metz. _______________________________________________________ Build your own website in minutes and for free at http://ca.geocities.com - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
