Hi all

Been using the above combo over the weekend to shoot a few rolls of film at a function - first time I have used my new 420 EX extensively. I ran into a funny quirk: The AF-assist beam would not fire in any of the camera's "Creative" modes (P, Av, Tv or M)!!!. Funny thing is that it fires fine the moment I enter any of the "consumer" modes on the main camera dial. I virtually never use these consumer modes, so I would like someone to help me out of my misery here. The only custom function I have activated, is CF4 (maps autofocus to the focus lock button on the camera - the button labeled *-C.Fn). But it makes no difference when I disable all custom functions - the AF-Assist beam refuses to fire, leaving me with a camera that will not AF!!. What am I doing wrong?

While we are on the topic of AF-assist beams, could someone please explain to me the meaning of C.Fn 7? The table in the manual is terribly confusing. I understand what happens when you set it to "0" (I think) and "1". But what the hell happens when you set C.Fn-7 to "2""?!!!

Thanks Jaco

-- Jaco van Tonder (longbow@mweb.co.za), April 22, 2002

Answers

I only ever use my camera in the creative zone modes, and I have no problem with the AF assist light. Weird things can happen if you don't have the flash pushed all the way into the shoe ... is it possible it wasn't mounted properly?

I don't have my manual here at work with me, so I don't know which combination is which, but CF7 gives you four choices as to whether the AF assist beam and flash fire. You can pick AF assist and flash, AF assist with no flash, or flash but no AF assist. The fourth option behaves differently depending on whether you use the pop-up flash or a shoemount flash; if you're using pop-up flash, it disables the annoying flash bursts for AF assist, but if you're using an external flash, you get to use the AF assist beam; in both cases, the flash works as a flash unit.

-- Steve Dunn (steved@ussinc.com), April 22, 2002.

Found it!!!!

Damn - would you believe it - the AF assist does not function in the Al Servo focus mode!!!! That was my problem all along!! Al Servo mode does not exist in the "non-creative" camera modes, and that is why it focussed correctly when I tried the creative modes.

Thanks anyway guys. I'll go away now and try to think up a sensible question!

Jaco

-- Jaco van Tonder (longbow@mweb.co.za), April 22, 2002.

..Al Servo mode does not exist in the "non-creative" camera modes, and that is why it focussed correctly when I tried the creative modes.

That is not entirely true. The ACTION mode uses SERVO AF mode. And flash is disabled along with AF assist in Landscape mode.

If you cannot think of a good question, try looking at the Elan 7E Group

-- Julian Loke (elan7e-owner@yahoogroups.com), April 22, 2002.