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General discussion

Canon 20D Focusing Groups of People (wedding Party)

by STARMAN 1 Mar 10, 2006 7:07AM PST

I am shooting with a Canon 20d & Canon 580ex flash and have been having problems with the whole wedding party being out of focus (indoor shooting) I have usually used the P setting on the camera. However with the flash it chooses a aperture of 5.6. So I figured that if I went to the AV and dialed in a 22 aperture that would give me a good depth of field however the camera picks a real slow shutter speed that has a long delay when I press the shutter. which is of course blurry (good color) Any Ideas??
thanks bctk

Discussion is locked

8 Posts
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The flash
by mrobzo Mar 10, 2006 8:49AM PST

Is preset in P on the 20D.

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???
by STARMAN 1 Mar 11, 2006 1:07AM PST

I don't understand what you mean by preset on P?

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RE: The Flash
by STARMAN 1 Mar 11, 2006 11:00PM PST

What do you mean about the preset being on P?

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You should probably go to full manual control, and
by Kiddpeat Mar 10, 2006 10:06AM PST

drop your exposure down a couple of stops. Then set the flash compensation up the same number. If you still have to boost the speed a bit, you're probably safe in doing so. Even more speed can be obtained from a higher ISO setting. Also, be sure to shoot in raw. Additional exposure can be selected when you process the raw file.

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Ok is seems to work
by STARMAN 1 Mar 11, 2006 2:45AM PST

Ok I have done the manual test shots. The results look pretty good, I know each place I shoot will have different readings. Do I need to adjust on my actual flash? Right now Its on ETTL Zoom 24mm. Are you at all familar with the 580EX? I will take all the advice I can with this new flash. Thanks for your help.
bctk

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Yes, I have the 580EX. You can make adjustments on it,
by Kiddpeat Mar 11, 2006 2:32PM PST

but I would stick with camera adjustments until you understand better how the camera works with the flash system.

I suggest looking around for a course on flash photography.

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It seems the 580EX is a whole new
by STARMAN 1 Mar 11, 2006 11:16PM PST

ballgame. When I first got the 20D (my first digital I have shot with an Elan 7E for quite a few years) I was using the 420EX and did not have the blurring problem. I started to notice some blurring with the 420EX but the real problem was the shutter was locking during weddings,(lots of pictures)I sent the camera back to canon and they repair that problem, I also mention the blurring with large groups, (not portrait) they said the camera was repaired and working properly. Next wedding lots of blur, thank goodness for the backup camera (Elan 7E). I returned it again with a test shot CD. They returned it saying "Electrical adjustment Data alignment", So thats what brings me to this place, thats why I thought I would try to get more creative and use different setting instead of trusting the P. Has anyone ever had this with their 20D?

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You originally said the the blurring was caused by the use
by Kiddpeat Mar 12, 2006 12:29PM PST

of an f22 aperture in what was most likely dim light. I don't see the connection to the flash unit, or the need to send the camera back for repair. Mine also blurs if the camera moves while the shutter is open.

When a flash unit is used in mode M, you set the exposure for the background. Thus, you can set it as long or as short as you want (less than or equal to 1/250) depending on how well exposed you want the background to be. The main subject is illuminated by the flash. In mode P, you let the camera decide aperture and shutter speed.

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