topic Re: 430EX and RP (ETTL-II?) in Speedlite Flashes

430EX and RP (ETTL-II compatibility?)

lorenzo1910 — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 20:37:31 GMT

Hello all,

first post from Lorenzo, Italy (Tuscany)... nice to meet you...

I have a question about the ETTL-II compatibilty of my 430EX mounted on RP camera...

In the camera menù the ETTL-II is greyed out... I can only see and use the exposure compensation...

Is this a normal behaviour?

With the newer 430EX II and 580EX II everything looks fine and I'm able to set the camera in ETTL-II...

Maybe the answer is in the "II" name of the Speedlites?

Hence, no ETTL-II with the RP+430EX combo?

Many thanks!

Re: 430EX and RP (ETTL-II?)

Waddizzle — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 11:18:31 GMT

Welcome to the Community!

Try mounting and turning on the flash before you turn on the camera.

Re: 430EX and RP (ETTL-II?)

lorenzo1910 — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 11:53:55 GMT

Many thanks for your kind reply...

Tried... no avail...

I also tried to change the number of focus point from central/single (as I shoot usually) to a wider area since the ETTL-II looks like is "reading" from the AF points (mmmhh... doesn't the previous ETTL behave the same way?) but it's still greyed out...

BTW, not a major issue... photos look fine anyway even in "simple" ETTL (I suppose it is switching to ETTL since the exposure is good)

I've asked since I'm aware of the full compatibility of any EX Speedlite with newer cameras and this issue was unexpected (as I said... not a big issue actually)

Again, thank you!

Re: 430EX and RP (ETTL-II?)

deebatman316 — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 13:21:24 GMT

Is the camera’s flash menu displaying the picture below. If so that would be normal since it’s an older speedlite. E-TTL II is a camera body update not a flash update. So no matter which flash you use you’ll be using E-TTL II. Older speedlites cannot be controlled from the camera menu. Usually functions not available from the camera menu. Are grayed out or missing completely which is normal. The only setting that can be controlled from the camera menu with the 430EX (Classic) is Flash Exposure Compensation (FEC). Older speedlites do not support 2 way communication from the camera menu. That feature was added in 2007 with the 580EX II. II in this context has nothing to do with E-TTL II. It’s just the 2nd version of the Flash released.

Re: 430EX and RP (ETTL-II?)

lorenzo1910 — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 13:36:09 GMT

Thank you Demetrious...

Indeed, with the 430EX II and 580EX II the "ETTL-II" that option could be highlighted in my RP... I did't know about the two way communication lack of the older Speedlites...

Out of curiosity I tried the 430EX on the EOS 6D and it shows the same behaviour (greyed out)... and, yes... with the 430EX II and 580EX II the E-TTL option in the camera menù became active.

Many thanks to all for helping out

Have a nice 2026 ;-D

Re: 430EX and RP (ETTL-II?)

deebatman316 — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 15:47:05 GMT

Also E-TTL II doesn’t rely on focus points. It meters the entire scene. Not just the AF points in use or in focus. That’s what the original E-TTL flash system does. Also E-TTL II uses focus distance information from the lens. Most EF lenses have a focus distance encoder. Very old EF lenses don’t have that. But all RF lenses do. The distance information is only used with direct flash. In bounce mode it’s not used or wireless flash. Also for macro work it’s not used. There is no way for the camera to use the original E-TTL flash system. The camera lacks the hardware for it. So only E-TTL II can be used. Also E-TTL II was first released in 2004 with the EOS-1D Mark II.