topic Re: R6 and external light beam in Speedlite Flashes

Godox XPro II AF assist light won't come on

FMancuso — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 14:17:42 GMT

Hi everyone,

I have a problem with my new canon R6, I can't get the external light beam on my godox xproii work in order to aid my autofocus in low light situations.

Anyone knows how to solve this problem

Thank you in advice

Re: R6 and external light beam

kvbarkley — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 18:57:47 GMT

Do you mean the infrared focusing light that DSLR's used as a focusing aid? Mirrorless can't "see" infrared, so most flashes disable the beam.

Re: R6 and external light beam

FMancuso — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 19:01:08 GMT

Yes, thank you very much

do you perhaps know any other focus aiding system compatible to the R series?

Re: R6 and external light beam

rs-eos — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 19:06:22 GMT

Do any of your Godox strobes have modeling lights?

Re: R6 and external light beam

FMancuso — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 19:14:40 GMT

Yes I have the V1 model but I don’t really like this solution, I’m way to visible in low light situations

Re: R6 and external light beam

kvbarkley — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 20:53:05 GMT

An LED flashlight.

Re: R6 and external light beam

deebatman316 — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 22:24:20 GMT

Well its not really infrared. We can't see infrared light. Since the red beam is visible its just a red grid pattern projected by the speedlite. This grid pattern is aligned with the AF sensors in a DSLR or AF SLR. A mirrorless camera doesn't have AF sensors like an AF SLR or DSLR have. Instead AF takes place on the image sensor itself. The pattern won't align with the image sensor and the camera doesn't detect red light very well.

Re: R6 and external light beam

deebatman316 — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 22:30:55 GMT

A Canon speedlite with an "IR" Beam will switch to Intermittent Flash Firing instead of the IR Beam firing. Or the camera body will emit an LED AF Assist Beam. As long as the camera is set to Enable AF Assist Beam Firing and the camera set to One Shot AF. And not set to LED ONLY. Then the speedlite set Enable AF Assist Beam firing. As a test put the lens cap on the lens with the camera set to One Shot AF. With the speedlite mounted the camera and if the speedlite is compatible. The speedlite will pulse rapidly this is called "Intermittent Flash Firing".

Re: R6 and external light beam

kvbarkley — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 22:39:21 GMT

i.e., disco flash.

Re: R6 and external light beam

deebatman316 — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 22:54:33 GMT

Yes Disco Flash *its very visible and audible*. All of Canon's speedlites behave this way on the EOS R series camera lineup. The new EL-5 supports both LED AF Assist and Intermittent Flash Firing "Disco Flash". When used with the R3, R7 & R10 automatic brightness adjustment of the LED AF Assist Beam is NOT supported. With these cameras the LED AF Assist Beam is projected at FULL brightness ONLY. If the ambient brightness is too low the speedlite will switch to Intermittent Flash Firing "Disco Flash". Also note certain speedlites such as the EL-1, 430EX III/ III-RT & 470EX-AI speedlites. When set to IR and used on the EOS R Series the AF Assist Beam type switches to Intermittent Flash Firing "Disco Flash". Regardless of the AF Assist Beam projection set on the speedlite. When a color filter or flash diffuser is used. With the speedlite set to Intermittent Flash Firing "Disco Flash" the camera body WILL emit an LED AF Assist Beam instead.