Canon 1Dmk2 firmware 1.2.l - bug?

Archived from groups: rec.photo.equipment.misc,rec.photo.digital,rec.photo.technique.misc (More info?)

> Carsten J. Arnholm writes ...
>
> After having upgraded my Canon 1D Mark II to the 1.2.l
> firmware, second curtain sync does not work ...
>My Canon 1D Mark II fired on the second curtain with both
>said old Jessop and my Canon 550EX, i.e. prior to upgrading
>to the 1.2.l firmware. ...
>My conclusion was that the 1.2.l firmware had a bug here.
>
>Anyone with a similiar experience, and if so, a solution?

I usually keep mine set to 2nd curtain sync unless I'm running hi-speed
sync and haven't noticed a problem, but I did a quick test to see
what's going on, with a 550EX, a 1D Mark II and a 1Ds.

What I see is that the custom function on the camera is ignored, that
is, I don't get 2nd curtain sync if the CF is set but the flash is not
set to this mode (I'm sure that hi-speed sync is off on the flash,
these are incompatible and hi-speed sync no doubt overrides it). I
need to re-read the manual section on flash to make sure there's not a
conflict with this and some other setting, but other than hi-speed sync
there shouldn't be a problem.

If I set the flash to 2nd curtain then it works properly, whether or
not the camera CF is set. It works this way on both the 1D Mark II
(1.1 firmware, which I upgraded myself some time back) or the 1Ds
(original firmware).

The manual clearly states you should be able to set this with the CF
alone so there's some discrepancy here. I never noticed it since I
always set it up via the flash instead of with the camera setting.

I have another 550EX and 1D Mark II (my wife's) and can try them too in
case there's something off with the flash, but for now that's what I'm
seeing, which more or less verifies what you saw, ie, that there is a
problem. Note I have one rev earlier firmware than you.

Bill