Problem with second curtain flash

[RyanLilly]

Maybe I'm overlooking something obvious, but I can't seen to get second curtain flash working. Using a canon 20D, does the speedlight need to be a dedicated unit? I'm using a 430ez which does not utilize E-TTL, it does however retain its use of other features. The flash still knows what lens is on the camera, the AF assist beam still works, so I was thinking that every thing probably works except metering, but I have tried setting my camera on second curtain, setting the flash on second curtain, and doing both at once, and every time it still fires the flash first curtain. Am I just out of luck till I get a new Flash, or is there something I'm missing?

Thanks,
Ryan

 

[tirediron]

Assuming Canon is similiar to Nikon in it's TTL req'ts, then yes, you would need a dedicated flash.

 

[Alpha]

Just a side note:

The phrase "second curtain" is a bit of a misnomer. There is only one shutter curtain. The phrase refers to whether the flash fires when it first opens or right before it closes.

 

[reg]

Rear curtain.

 

[Socrates]

Just a side note:

The phrase "second curtain" is a bit of a misnomer. There is only one shutter curtain. The phrase refers to whether the flash fires when it first opens or right before it closes.

You are incorrect. There are two curtains. Prior to the shot, the first curtain is blocking the light. When the shutter is depressed, it moves to allow the light to pass. Shortly thereafter, the second curtain follows in the same direction to block the light. When the shutter is "cocked" for the next shot, both curtains move back to their original locations.

 

[Alpha]

I consider it to be a slit in a single curtain. Not two separate curtains. They certainly aren't mechanically independent of each other. If you take your camera to the shop and tell them the curtain is ripped, they don't ask "which one?" Oh well. Semantics.

 

[Socrates]

I consider it to be a slit in a single curtain. Not two separate curtains. They certainly aren't mechanically independent of each other. If you take your camera to the shop and tell them the curtain is ripped, they don't ask "which one?" Oh well. Semantics.

You can "consider it to be a slit in a single curtain" all you wish but that's incorrect. This is not a semantics issue. There ARE two separate curtains and they ARE mechanically independent except for the timing of the start of movement. For example, if you're set for a 1/60 second speed, that's there's a 1/6o second delta between the beginning of the first curtain movement and the beginning of the second curtain movement. Of course, you could also do a half-hour time exposure where the delta is a half-hour!

I never had to get a curtain repaired/replaced so I have no clue how the repair personnel would respond. It could be that they don't ask because it will be obvious as soon as they open up the camera or they don't ask becuase it makes sense to replace both even if only one is ripped.

 

[Alpha]

You're right. I was wrong.

 

[LaFoto]

Some discussions in threads that ask a SIMPLE question which gets its answer all right in the first reply should really be taken to PM discussions. To bicker over "two curtains" or "slit in one and the same curtain" publicly is downright mean towards the OP. His question was an all different one!

So please...!
PM

 

[Alpha]

Relax. The discussion was totally pertinent. Why would someone asking about a particular mechanical concept not benefit from a discussion of it?

 

[Socrates]

You're right. I was wrong.

:cheers:

 

[Socrates]

Some discussions in threads that ask a SIMPLE question which gets its answer all right in the first reply should really be taken to PM discussions. To bicker over "two curtains" or "slit in one and the same curtain" publicly is downright mean towards the OP. His question was an all different one!

So please...!
PM

Since the OP got the answer in the first reply, he/she's not likely to continue reading the thread and therefore any subsequent discussion can't possibly be "mean" toward the OP.

Are you suggesting that there should be no public discussion regarding the operation of an SLR?

 

[LaFoto]

You can therefore start a thread of your own, wanting to discuss whether there are, in fact, two curtains, or just one with a slit, if you can call such things really curtains or not etc.

 

[Mike_E]

Hi LaFoto, I like the cat! What's his/her name?

 

[RyanLilly]

Ok actually, I have not read any replies until just now, and a have discovered that second/rear curtain sync with my 20D and 430ex seems to function just fine now! I'm not sure what the problem was before, but it works great. And While I was testing things I have come to the conclusion that all other functions of an EX series flash work with Canon digital, except TTL metering.