EOS R5 Mark II triggers EL-5 when * (asterisk) button is pressed

[jmitch911]

My R5 mkii triggers my EL-5 storm when the asterisk button is pressed. The Asterisk button is set to the default setting of AEL/FEL. When the asterisk button is set to another setting such as  "Set AF point to center" the problem goes away. Has anyone experienced this or know of reason this is happening?

[deebatman316 · Accepted solution]

That pre-flash is used for the camera to set flash exposure. FEL stands for (Flash Exposure Lock) that's normal what the camera is doing especially for focus and recompose situations. All of Canon's speedlites do this when that button is pressed. When the button is pressed the speedlite sends out a low power pre-flash. The camera sees the pre-flash and saves it to calculate proper flash power for E-TTL. E-TTL has 2 flashes that happens but it looks like 1 flash. The first is a low power pre-flash which helps the camera determine flash power. Then the main flash which actually exposes the picture. With the speedlite set to rear curtain sync and the shutter speed set to 1/30th sec or slower you can see 2 visible flashes. When the * (asterisk) button isn't pressed) Canon has been using E-TTL flash system since 1995. So it started out with EOS Film cameras 1st before digital cameras came out.

[jmitch911]

Thank you Deebatman316!

Since purchasing my R5 mkii I had been inadvertently hitting the * button when bringing the camera up from waist level to a shooting position. I've been a canon shooter since 2012 and own a 5D3 & 5d4 and 600ex II RT. Accidentally hitting this button has never been a problem. The button is mount on a high point on back of R5 mkII and is easily brushed or hit.

[deebatman316]

The EOS 5D Mark IV uses the Multi Function button in front of the shutter button to do the same thing. You can move that function to there on the EOS R5 Mark II if you still want to have the function available.