Flash,help required
 

New to photography and I'm trying to get my head round using flash.
I have a Canon 600D and a 580EX ll. When speedlite is on camera hotshoe I have menus to control all it's functions. Off camera and set as a slave it works fine but the on camera functions are not available. When accessed it says "this menu can not be displayed. Incompatible flash or flash's power is tuned off" Have been through the instructions many times but still can't fathom it out. Even tried setting as master instead of slave but no joy.
Any help would be much appreciated .

How are you connecting off camera? Cable or wireless?

I am using the flash wireless. I thought that the 600D has this facility built in, maybe this function is just to enable slave firing? What I thought was that with the flash off camera it was possible to set via the camera external flash functions menu.
Do I need to use wireless trigger or cable connection to do this?

[QUOTE=Petethebear;83522]I am using the flash wireless. I thought that the 600D has this facility built in, maybe this function is just to enable slave firing? What I thought was that with the flash off camera it was possible to set via the camera external flash functions menu.
Do I need to use wireless trigger or cable connection to do this?[/QUOTE]

Yes you are quite correct the 600D does have this wireless facility built in.

Have you set the Transmission Channel on both the camera and speedlight to the same number.

I know it's rather obvious, but you do have the onboared flash raised when attempting wireless flash?

The settings are a little different to the camera I use (7D) and are meant to be easier to use :)


This is the sequence to use in the camera flash control menu for basic wireless flash.

Select "Evaluative" press set button

Select "built in flash setting" remember to press the set button

Select "easywireless" again remember to press the set button

Set the same channel number, making sure you use the same channel on your external flash.

The reason I emphasise "remember to press the set button" is because I sometimes forget this important bit.

Harry

Thanks for your advice Harry. I am able to fire the flash off camera so the channel number is OK and obviously the camera and flash unit are communicating ( when I remember to raise the built in flash ).
Where I have a problem is the external flash function and external flash C.Fn setting on the flash control menu on the camera. When I access these I get the "this menu can not be displayed. Incompatible flash or flash's power is tuned off" message. When flash is mounted on hotshoe these menus are available.
As I said in earlier post I wonder if the 600D wireless function is just for firing flash off camera ? To access external flash settings on camera will I need a cord or wireless trigger?
Pete ( the puzzled )

try this link
[url]http://www.learn.usa.canon.com/app/pdfs/quickguides/CDLC_EOS-Integrated-Speedlite-Transmitter_QuickGuide.pdf[/url]

I have the same issue and put it down to being the 3rd party flash I'm using. Everything works as it should but I get the same warning when I try to access the [B]'External flash func. setting'/'External flash C.fn setting' [/B]pages in wireless mode. If I find a solution soon I'll pass it on.

Jonny.

Pete. well obviously you are getting wireless via the camera and external flash.

Are you selecting the onboard flash + external icon in the flash menu? Also are you altering the Flash mode setting from "EasyWireless" to "CustWireless". This setting should allow you to alter the ratio between onboard and external, but will not allow control over the individual power settings.

I'm not 100% sure regarding the 600D, but I don't think you can alter the individual power settings of your external flash via the camera menu. A simple procedure on the 7D.

These 600D setting are quite alien to me, as the 7d menu is totally different.

I've just downloaded the 600D manual so will peruse that for a while and see If I can come up with something.

Before doing so I will have a play with my 7D and yongou flash guns which incidently cost just over £100 each and are almost equal in design, build and specs. The only downside is they will not act as master.

I've not used my camera or strobes since August as first my daughter was in hospital then my wife. All is now ok so I need to get back up to speed on my photography.

Will look in a little later on to see how you get on with your flash problems and after reading up on the 600D may come up with some suggestions



Harry

Edited. Wireless flash is only available in the following modes P, Tv, Av, M or A-DEP. Also you may find these vidios helpful.

[URL="http://www.cnet.com.au/how-to-set-up-and-use-canons-wireless-flash-system-339325393.htm"]http://www.cnet.com.au/how-to-set-up-and-use-canons-wireless-flash-system-339325393.htm[/URL]

[URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQIyPWGPp5A"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQIyPWGPp5A[/URL]

Pete.

I decided to have a play with my strobes last night. I used two Yongou YN565EX guns.

I Placed a cacti flowering plant on my computer desk with some black card behind and took the linked photo.

With both strobes set to manual I used the following camera settings. Left hand strobe (A) to 1/128 power and the right hand to (B) 1/32 power. The onboard was set to just trigger the two strobes.
This is the result
[URL="http://www.flickr.com/photos/70451348@N08/8093199528/sizes/l/in/photostream/"]http://www.flickr.com/photos/70451348@N08/8093199528/sizes/l/in/photostream/[/URL]

Harry

Harry
Thanks again for your assistance. Glad to see the topic has spurred you on, that is a fine shot you posted.
I think I will invest in Yongou YN565EX flashes as I build my equipment base. Looking at them they seem almost identical to the 580EX ll but without the Canon price.
With all the reading and watching those videos you linked, I think I know the answer to the problem.
The menu options labeled as "external flash " are for when the flash is on the hotshoe. :)
As opposed to "built in flash".
Maybe Canon should label them as " hotshoe flash" then fools like me wouldn't be thinking, external = off camera.:D