I'm hoping someone sees this. This type of photography is way out of my comfort zone. I practiced today and it's so hard to see anything with that filter on. Do you keep the same setting for all the shots, or keep changing as the time goes on? I can't see the exposure meter when in the bracketing mode. I really want to get something good on Monday, weather permitting, but I'm confused as far as auto focus or manual focus, and whether to change exposure settings.
Yes, it is challenging with the filter on. One trick is to increase the ISO by about five stops to see anything. Then compose, correct the exposure settings and enjoy.
A gimbal makes it supremely easy to track the sun manually if you are not using a star tracker. Properly balanced, you don't even have to lock it. This worked beautifully for me in October 2023 for the annular.
Yes to the bracketing progression. Under, proper , over. Makes it much easier! For totality, my old Eos 7D can only shoot 3 bracketed images so I set and registered mode dial C1, C2, and C3 to get 9 exposure values. And already practiced it to make sure I know how to do it and it works.
Thanks for the great information. Your tips on capturing the eclipse is very helpful. One question would you use 600 f4 eclipse with 2x or 1.4x for this eclipse?
Yes! I have done both 600 + 1.4 = 840 and so on. Watch the video and pause where I show the sun disc photographed at many focal lengths. This time I’m all in at 1200mm
I am always hopeful! If you follow the tips I've shared for scanning the space, you can overcome about 60% of the communication issues of signal interference.
Hi Bob, it's been quite a while since your Need Light Speedlite workshops many year ago. Sadly I have since moved away from using Canon Speedlites due to dropped communications that started around 2022. Near the end of 2023, sometimes the signals would drop as often as once per minute. I've since moved on to Profoto monolights, but from 2014 through 2022, it was indeed enjoyable to use Canon Speedlites. I had ended up with six of the 600-EX RTs over those years.
Nice to hear from you. I agree with the wireless interference, so I have to use two different flash systems. There is not one perfect system. I have the knowledge and consult with Canon, Westcott, and sometimes Profoto. Getting the engineers to write the firmware that works in the field is challenging! I'm hopeful one of them will.
@@bobanddawndavis canon just released a ST-E3-RT Version 3 transmitter, however nothing shows that this 2.4 gigahertz channel saturation by dynamic router and modern 5G phones was circumvented with an option sub GHZ radio option built in. Any chance you can communicate this possible solution to the canon people? Already on B&H's product page for this new transmitter, folks are asking about this issue...
The WiFi reliability issues with the Canon RT flash system are quite prevalent. Given the many reports on Canon's own user website and based on personal experience it's hard to imagine a venue where the system will stay reliably connected. This needs to be addressed.
If I do that then all adjustments must be made physically at each flash unit which is hard to do if it's in a modifier or distant from me. Also, all flashes, as I understand it, must be in manual mode except for the flash (if mounted) on the camera on a pass-through trigger.
Sadly that is true. Canon has the means to develop a rock-solid wireless communication system. If Westcott and Profoto can accomplish solid RT communication ☎️ then Canon ought to.
When I got the speedlight radio system in 2012 it was rock solid. I shot it at the same venue for 11 years. For some reason, after like 2019, the radios started disconnecting. Same with my profoto system from a similar generation. If you look at profoto, around the same time they came out with a revamped Air system. Canon made a v2 of their radio as well. I thing something changed in the radio world 5 years ago where, perhaps, some bandwidth was changed to allocate more radio signals or the like. Because I used the same system, in the same venue for over a decade, then suddenly reliability (connection) went out the window.
Bob, nice video. Curious if the EL-1 actually shows if remote flashes are connected. I've done a bunch of testing with 600EX RTs and EL-5 and when the slaves go offline the Master still shows a Green light, acting like it is still connected. Also, do the remotes every reconnect on their own, or do that have be be powered off and on to get them to reconnect?
Hi Marv, yes, the EL-1 is the same as the 600s, showing a lighting icon next to each connected group to confirm communication. Plus, the green link light. But, sometimes in heavy RF areas, the green link light is a false positive.
@@bobanddawndavis do the little "Lightening" icons stay on even if the flashes are disconnected - or do that give a proper indication of connection failure? Also, do the remotes need to be turned Off and back On to get them to reconnect, or does power cycling the master get the slaves to reconnect?
Great Review Bob. I used to spend a lot of time at Maple Lake, but haven't been so much in the last three years or so. Always used it as one of my first spots to head to whenever I was getting used to new lens or body. Surprised I didn't see any titmice in your video, but several of the other regulars were there.
Excellent and extremely valuable information! Thank you for sharing Bob! I don't do weddings and events anymore, but I still use Canon EX-RT speed lights occasionally. I also use the Bolt external batteries and agree, they are amazing! I find the oversight that Profoto's speed lights don't have a sync port or a battery port a real shame for such a highly regarded company!
OK, Sir! I am struggling to keep up, but that's on my hobbyist brain alone. I can't complain the information is not there, and I can pause/rewind. I like your style of not wasting time. SUBSCRIBED and THANKS🙂
Thank you. What is your flash system? I know I get excited and I hope my passion comes through. Let me know if I can help or address a specific topic with wireless off-camera flash.
@@bobanddawndavis As a real hobbyist: I was the dad, with young family, in 2003 with an EOS300D. I'm not a complete mug and I did learn the exposure triangle. I have many great shots (family great) but my income was elsewhere, so time and so on. Back into it now I am working my way through how flash interacts way more. I went with Godox on the basis it's cheap enough to not make that much of a mistake and I do not need colour critical (English as you can tell from the spelling). I am happy with gels to correct for CTO, but wonder if I am missing with CTB and green I can address (unlikely I will care). I do want to set up in such a way as to capture a couple of kids running with a Lab dog using flash. HSS is great but I am about to experiment with my variable ND (9 stops) and I have 2 Godox V1s as it stands and a 2.4 trigger. I am aware HSS is a possibly laughable mix in full daylight for my scenario. I may also offer a couple of family type event services (no money changing hands), so am thinking x4 units on manual in a small hall in corners and TTL for the main early evening on camera. I fully appreciate that perhaps a college course might be worthit even at mu age as I am enjoying it. I was away from photography for a while (family / kids sport was my main hobbyist focus for years)...Cheers and obviously just ideas for future vids, maybe:)
2 canon el1. And 2 profot0 A1. Wildlife is what I enjoy photographing. Use flash on occasion with 100-500mm canon lens on the R3. It’s a hit and miss because of the distance and over come.bright lighting. Thank you for your time. @@bobanddawndavis
Thank you. And indeed U2 is my favorite band. I had the pleasure of spending time with Bono while photographing Selma Hayek’s wedding in Venice. I pinch myself at how blessed our career has been.
Canon. An older model though. I don't use a ton of TTL, but I do shoot a lot of corporate events and the TTL works well enough when I get into occasional low light situations with my R6. For manual off camera stuff I use a Godox AD200 90 percent of the time since it's usually got just enough power and easy to travel with. I've got my eye on upgrading at some point. A little at a time. @@bobanddawndavis
Thank you, Bob. This has been particularly useful to me as it showed the autofocus in function. I have been in the market for a new Canon camera since the gift from my late wife, the much loved 5D MII, gave up its ghost only recently. You mentioned 'quad pixel auto-focus'...with age catching up on me, any boost in acquity and focussing will be a boon. The massive reviews I have been ploughing through seem to suggest that the R5 and the R6 MII's AF give good success rate for usable images. Waiting for the R5 MII with bated breath.
You can display the original, unprocessed images of the 200-800 and 200-800 + TC 2x to compare sharpness. And are there any images taken at a distance from the camera, more than 40 meters or 120 yards? How is the quality? Thank You.
Yes, there are plenty of images at well over 100 yards. The deer leaping, & the shot-eared owls 🦉. The moon. Facebook used its compression, which is unavoidable.
Some R3 owners have complained that the RF 200-800mm lens disconnects from their R3 body without pressing the lens release button. Have you experienced this issue?
I have not experienced this with either one of the two EOS R3s, but I did notice the RF1.4x I had to push in the locking pin to make sure it was seated and locked! I always check to make sure the lock pin is in place! I have had the challenge with EF extenders and having them repaired at @canonusa CPS!
Thank you very much for uploading this kind of video information. Could you please tell us how to change the temperature of the model lamp ? Thank you! 5:54
excellent advice and explanation. i will have to investigate the modeling light double tap. i have a Canon R5 but i think my older EXRT 600's Ver 1 may not have that ability
Will this work with the newer R cameras with the new hot shoe like the R6 mkII? Is so, is an adapter required? Can you still use it with the canon offshore cord3 and a bracket?
Has anyone had issues with the 1.0.2 firmware update. Updated mine and initially the “UPDATE” screen was still flashing and ghosting in the background of the flash display. Took battery out and now there is a slight pulsing of the backlight when I go to change settings.
@@bobanddawndavis The flash appears to function fine, just has this strange pulsing in the screen. Kind of annoying and afraid to update other EL-1 I have. Thought someone else on here could chime in.
I just watched your adoption story. I’m wondering how your family is today? The kids are grown, right? Have they gone to college? How is your wife? I hope these questions aren’t intrusive.
The kids are thriving, thank you for asking. They are pursuing their life’s journey. It's a joy to see them enjoying life. Dawn is doing great! Although we both when they were pre-teens and thought we were the bomb.
Thank you so much for this video. I have the EL-1 for weddings and events. I have dedicated lights for studio use. It has been great for quality of light and making photos look unique. When paired with the RF-28-70 that you used you will have a unique look to your work
