Canon EOS 400D: fail

[RejectReality]

Originally Posted by Gnoll110

I was using the in build flash. Think the format was large JPEG (got 3 to 4 MB jpegs from the Dump to my laptop).

Sincerely, I believe this is your problem. You're experiencing the delay while the onboard flash is recycling. While the "busy" message is displayed and the flash is charging, the camera will refuse to fire.

I have a 400D -- without using the flash, I'm able to fire off at least 10-odd shots in RAW (circa 110meg'ish total file size) ending up on a Sandisk Ultra II CF card without noticing any delay in taking the image. I've not noticed past this point, because I rarely shoot more than 10 frames continuously. With the onboard flash enabled, I experience a delay of a couple of seconds between shots while the flash is cycling.

If this is the case, new or different lenses won't help you if you continue to use the onboard flash.

Your options basically come down to:
1) Don't use the flash. Use a higher ISO or lower f-stop on your current kit or look for a lens that provides a lower f-stop to make the most of the available light.
2) Use a different flash. You will more than likely find a hot-shoe mountable flash that has a faster recycle time - this should reduce the delay further.
3) Increase other lighting sources to compensate for the lack of flash, either by stage lighting or opening a few curtains

Note that the recycle delay is around 3 seconds per fire, according to the 400D's specs.

[Gnoll110]

Originally Posted by RejectReality

...delay while the onboard flash is recycling...

Your options basically come down to:
1) Don't use the flash. Use a higher ISO or lower f-stop on your current kit or look for a lens that provides a lower f-stop to make the most of the available light.
2) Use a different flash. You will more than likely find a hot-shoe mountable flash that has a faster recycle time - this should reduce the delay further.
3) Increase other lighting sources to compensate for the lack of flash, either by stage lighting or opening a few curtains

Note that the recycle delay is around 3 seconds per fire, according to the 400D's specs.

Given my experience with the EOS 400D last weekend, advice here and past experience with me EOS 50E and Minolta film cameras. I think memory card speed, Lens auto focus speed and flash cycle speed are all critical factors.

I have a hot shoe mounted flash, that I never used on my EOS 50E. So no extra cost there I hope

I also noticed on Sunday, that after a period of busyness, just part pressing the shutter release (for Auto focus) was enough to make the camera busy for a few more seconds!

[RejectReality]

Originally Posted by Gnoll110

I also noticed on Sunday, that after a period of busyness, just part pressing the shutter release (for Auto focus) was enough to make the camera busy for a few more seconds!

If you have the onboard flash deployed, pressing the shutter release half way down will fire off a bunch of extremely short flash pulses for the camera to help with auto-focus, meter the reflected light and set the exposure appropriately.

This obviously discharges the flash capacitors and will need a couple of seconds for the flash to recycle.

A couple of things to try:
1) Disable the onboard flash and go into a well lit area - allow the lens to auto-focus and fire of a bunch of shots to prove the camera's shot-to-shot cycle time and your memory card is up to scratch. With a fast card, you should be able to get at least 10-20 frames before you notice a slowdown; with a slow one, it might be 5'ish (note these are for RAW's; JPG's could be near double these figures).

2) Full manual mode *might* help here as it does not need to compute the exposure, and thus may not need to fire the flash (Note: I've not actually tried this technique, but it sounds plausible).

If the first one test works fine, it's just the flash (especially if you switch to manual focus) and should be able to be resolved with a faster-cycling external unit. If the first one shows an unacceptable slowing of shot-to-shot cycle times, run some raw file copy tests to and from the card to ensure it is as fast as you think it is (I have an OEM, and thus unmarked/unbranded "160x" CF card for my camera; raw speed tests show it's somewhere between a half and a quarter of the speed of my Sandisk Ultra II).

Good luck!

[Gnoll110]

Originally Posted by RejectReality

If you have the onboard flash deployed, pressing the shutter release half way down will fire off a bunch of extremely short flash pulses for the camera to help with auto-focus, meter the reflected light and set the exposure appropriately.

This obviously discharges the flash capacitors and will need a couple of seconds for the flash to recycle.

A couple of things to try:
1) Disable the onboard flash and go into a well lit area - allow the lens to auto-focus and fire of a bunch of shots to prove the camera's shot-to-shot cycle time and your memory card is up to scratch. With a fast card, you should be able to get at least 10-20 frames before you notice a slowdown; with a slow one, it might be 5'ish (note these are for RAW's; JPG's could be near double these figures).

2) Full manual mode *might* help here as it does not need to compute the exposure, and thus may not need to fire the flash (Note: I've not actually tried this technique, but it sounds plausible).

If the first one test works fine, it's just the flash (especially if you switch to manual focus) and should be able to be resolved with a faster-cycling external unit. If the first one shows an unacceptable slowing of shot-to-shot cycle times, run some raw file copy tests to and from the card to ensure it is as fast as you think it is (I have an OEM, and thus unmarked/unbranded "160x" CF card for my camera; raw speed tests show it's somewhere between a half and a quarter of the speed of my Sandisk Ultra II).

Good luck!

OK, thanks for the note, RR. That's a major change in the way EOS cameras work over the last 10 years! Darn accountants and their cost optimisation(cutting).

I'm still just looking at digital cameras, so far. The EOS 400D was a lend for the day.

So optimising the purchase for Auto focus, Memory and Flash cycle speeds is still all future tense.

[matthewchj]

Originally Posted by Gnoll110

I have a hot shoe mounted flash, that I never used on my EOS 50E. So no extra cost there I hope

Umm... I don't think your flash can work with a DSLR. If the model number of your flash ends in EZ or E, then the voltage (is that the right word?) of the flash is different than the hotshoe of Canon DSLRs, and could potentially fry the camera.

[Gnoll110]

Originally Posted by matthewchj

Umm... I don't think your flash can work with a DSLR. If the model number of your flash ends in EZ or E, then the voltage (is that the right word?) of the flash is different than the hotshoe of Canon DSLRs, and could potentially fry the camera.

Thanks for the note, matthewchj.

Gnoll110 dusts of plan C, buy a new external flash.