EOS R100 settings for external PHOTOOLEX LCD flash

[shopstefanov89]

Hi,
I need a help about my canon R100 and Speedlite Flash settings.
I bought PHOTOOLEX LCD



When I use manual settings on the camera and turn flash on the external flash is working but the camera is not in "external flash mode"
When I go to
flash control -> external flash func. setting
it shows :
" This menu cannot be displayed. Incompatible flash or flash's power is turned off"
When I try it with my neewer strobe it shows the same.
I am a new and need a help with it please.

[Commercial link removed and replaced with screenshot to serve as visual aid.]

[p4pictures]

The flash has the following custom functions set away from their default values.

1 - auto power off is disabled - this stops the flash going to sleep when not used for a long time

7 - Test firing with auto flash is set to fire at full power, not the normal 1/32 power. This means if you press the test button on the flash, it uses a lot of power and the flash may not be fully charged if you quickly take a photo right after pressing the test button. I would reset this to 0.

14 - this means the flash shows the aperture value set on the camera on the flash when the shutter button is half pressed. When set to 0 this would show the maximum distance the flash will reach with the current camera settings. Distance will be in meters.

Since you are shooting in manual mode on the camera, the raise the ISO to ISO 400, set the shutter speed to 1/125 and the aperture to f/4. With such settings the flash should be able to illuminate a subject up to 12.5 meters or 38 feet from the camera when the flash head is zoomed to 24mm as shown. 

I see from your image of the camera screen above that you have continuous drive selected, the flash will not be able to recharge fast enough to match this. Make sure to set single shooting. The camera will take just one photo each time you press the shutter.

[shopstefanov89]

Thank you very much guys ! I just tried everything and it still does not work fine as it was when I bought it...
I just bought Canon Speedlite 550EX and I will test it when it comes.
Thank you for your help

[deebatman316]

Note the 550EX is an older model speedlite that IS NOT COMPATIBLE with the External Speedlite Control menu. All setting changes must be done from the speedlite's LCD screen itself. Flash Exposure Compensation (FEC) can be set from the camera. If FEC is set from on the speedlite and the camera the speedlite's setting overrides the camera's FEC setting and the speedlite's will be applied. Below are the choices available with the 550EX mounted on the camera. The options are LIMITED when using speedlites that lack FULL COMPATABILITY with the Speedlite Control Menu.

Options available with the 550EX from the camera's menu screen

[shopstefanov89]

Is it?

I just checked here before to buy it and the 550EX looks better as Specifications:

https://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Flash-Specifications.aspx?Flash=203&FlashComp=466

I've done a lots of test of my flash and sometimes works ok sometimes it's dark after flash.

Today I worked only with built in flash and it's ok and hope the problems is not with the camera.

Cheers guys,

Will let you know when I got it and test it in 2 days.

[deebatman316]

Can you post good and bad pictures in the forum so we can better assist you. The 550EX was released in 1998. The 430EX II was released in 2008. Speedlites released in 2007 or newer such as the 580EX II. Are FULLY COMPATIBLE with the in camera flash menu. I own the 550EX & 600EX II-RT myself and both are powerful but not always needed. I usually use an older 420EX or the 470EX-AI if I don’t need the power. 

[shopstefanov89]

Ooh so I had to buy another 430EX II then....

Anyway I will test and If it does not work ok will return it.

What about Canon Speedlite 580EX, is it older?

[deebatman316]

Any Canon EX or EL-1 & EL-100 speedlites are compatible with your camera. I use both old and new on my cameras and they work just fine. The older ones such as the 220EX, 380EX, 420EX, 430EX (original), 550EX & 580EX (original). Are NOT COMPATIBLE with the in camera flash menu. But will work like newer speedlites and are still compatible. The original 580EX IS NOT COMPATIBLE With the in camera flash menu. 

[deebatman316]

No you don’t have to buy another 430EX II. You don’t have to get a Canon speedlite that can interfaces with the Speedlite Control Menu. I use older models that don’t and they work just fine. A newer Speedlite is easier to use because it can use the camera’s menu screen to change settings. But it’s not necessary to have or use.

[shopstefanov89]

Thank you.

It will sound very unprofessional (again) but I need the flash to be auto and to take the same photos every time.
I do babies photoshoot with backgrounds and 2 stand lights and I need to have half light and half dark face/background light to get a good quality professional portrait.

[deebatman316]

All of Canon’s EX & EL-1 & EL-100 provide automatic flash exposure. It’s just that the older speedlites cannot be controlled from the Speedlite Control Menu. But they still always provide Automatic Flash Exposure.