topic Re: 70D flash settings in Speedlite Flashes

70D flash settings

Azm — Mon, 18 Aug 2014 07:15:33 GMT

I am trying to set my 70D to work with my YUNGNUO 560III. However, under flash CONTROL menu on the 70D, i get an error msg that says: this menu cannot be found.

How do I access my built-in and external settings on the menu without this message?

Re: 70D flash settings

Mykolas — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 10:26:19 GMT

Hi Azm!

Thanks for posting.

It is possible the camera is unable to communicate with the flash in the manner it needs to. Not all flashes can be controled from the menu of the camera. The flash must support this feature.

If you remove the flash from the hotshoe of the camera, then try going into the menu, do you still receive the same message?

If this is a time sensitive-matter, additional support options are available at Contact Us.

Re: 70D flash settings

Azm — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 18:30:40 GMT

i contacted Canon and was told that Yungnuo III does not work on Canon EOS cameras and that it works with Canon Products exclusively.

That doesn't make sense to me but, if that is your understanding; do you concur with that assessment?

Re: 70D flash settings

jrhoffman75 — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 20:23:03 GMT

I am pretty sure that the 560III is a manual flash and doesn't communicate with the camera other than a firing signal.

Re: 70D flash settings

TCampbell — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 16:15:17 GMT

Flash has evolved considerably over the years. The Yongnuo 560 is a "manual" flash. That means it flashes at a power level you manually set whenever it receives the flash signal from the hot-shoe.

The "foot" on the flash you should see a single center pin and a metal plate. The "plate" is actually the ground pin. The "rails" on the hot-shoe of your 70D are actually conductive... they provide the common ground. The center pin on the flash contacts the larger round circlular contact in the middle of the camera hot shoe. These two pins (center and ground) provide the firing signal.

But notice the 70D has 4 more pins... when you use a YN 560 flash, those pins are not used at all... the flash doesn't support them. Those are the E-TTL pins that allow the flash and camera to communicate.

Canon does not publish the E-TTL specs... 3rd party publishes reverse engineer the system to build compatible flashes. But what this really means is that there are different degrees of compatibility. E-TTL can do a lot... very few 3rd party manufacturers actually support everything possible If you want "full" control of the flash through the on-camera menu, then it's best to just buy a Canon brand flash.

The basic E-TTL function is to support automatic flash exposure setting. When you take a flash exposure, the flash technically fires twice, but it happens so quickly that most people presume it was just a single flash. It meters the scene before firing flash, fires a "pre-flash" at very low power (usually 1/32nd power) while metering the scene again... and compares what happened to the no-flash vs. flash metering samples. This helps the camera determine how much power should be used when the shutter is open for the exposure. Finally the shutter opens and the flash fires using that pre-determined amount of power. I've simplified the explanation because there are lots of clever nuances of how it works.

It turns out there are many more features of E-TTL systems.... the ability to do "hi speed sync" (use flash when the camera shutter speed is higher than the maximum camera "sync" speed), 2nd curtain shutter, multi-strobic flash, assignment of flash to flash-groups, flash ratios, flash exposure compensation, etc.

Yongnuo makes some versions of their flashes that include some TTL functionality, but the 560 is a basic unit. It's advantage is it's low-cost, but you do have to manually control everything. You control flash exposure by dialing the power level up or down, opening or closing the lens aperture, or changing the distance between flash and subject.

EVEN with flash that supports E-TTL, the ability to use on-camera menus to control flash settings is a fairly advanced use of E-TTL. Only more recent Canon flashes support that.

Re: 70D flash settings

Azm — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 20:06:10 GMT

greetings,

i have met with some success. I understand that it cannot be used on the hotshoe due to the pin configuration. I understand that it can be triggured by my on camera flash which I have been able to accomplish.

i am satisfied with the quality of responses that I have received and thank you for your assistance.

r, Azim