Cannot get Nissin MF18 Macro ring flash to fire on EOS 90D

[melwilliams]

Hi everyone,

I have a Canon 90D and have attached a Nissin MF18 macro ring flash. When a take a photo I cannot get the flash to fire. In menu > flash control, flash is enabled, but when I go into external flash settings, it says "This menu cannot be displayed. Incompatible flash or flash's power is turned off." The flash is compatible with this camera as I made sure of that before I bought it. Anyone have any tips?

Thanks!

[deebatman316]

3rd party E-TTL "speedlites" don't fire on my 5D Mark IV in live view shooting. Only Canon speedlites will fire in live view shooting. My old EOS 40D acts the same way too.

[melwilliams]

Thanks for your reply. I’m sorry I’m very novice, I actually don’t even know what live view is. 

[deebatman316]

When you use the rear LCD screen to compose and take pictures instead of the viewfinder.

[MikeSowsun]

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@deebatman316 wrote:

3rd party E-TTL "speedlites" don't fire on my 5D Mark IV in live view shooting. Only Canon speedlites will fire in live view shooting. My old EOS 40D acts the same way too.

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They will work if you disable LiveView Silent Shooting in the camera menu.

[deebatman316]

Wouldn't that stop you from using live view though. I know older cameras such as the EOS 40D. Keep the electronic focus ring active in live view. Without half pressing the shutter or using the AF-On button. Also the 40D doesn't support on image sensor AF. It allows quick AF though.

[MikeSowsun]

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@deebatman316 wrote:

Wouldn't that stop you from using live view though. I know older cameras such as the EOS 40D. Keep the electronic focus ring active in live view. Without half pressing the shutter or using the AF-On button. Also the 40D doesn't support on image sensor AF. It allows quick AF though.

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No, Disabling Silent Shutter in LiveView does not stop AF in LiveView,  and still allows you to shoot LiveView and use AF with ANY 3rd party flash when using cameras like the 40D, 5D Mk III, 5D Mk IV, etc, (any camera except the Rebel series)

Please try it and report back.

[deebatman316]

I don't own any 3rd party speedlites. My friend used to own a few youngnuo and godox speedlites but she has sold them. They were incompatible with the 5D Mark IV. So I can only speak for Canon's EX or EL speedlites.

[melwilliams]

I've tried disabling live view, still doesn't work. I only use the viewfinder anyway. I've tried turning the flash on before the camera as someone suggested below. 

[deebatman316]

Make sure flash firing isn't disabled. If it is the flash won't fire. Will the built in flash fire.

[melwilliams]

Flash is enabled. Built-in won't because it knows there's something connected to the hot shoe.