350XT disable flash AF assist?

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

bryn wrote:

> On a recent trip to Greece with a Canon Digital Ixus 500 I was pleased
> to be allowed to use the camera in most museums as long as the flash
> was not operated.
>
> I am considering getting a Canon 350XT, and the manual suggests that
> the flash AF assist comes on whenever the light level is too low to
> allow AF lock. It sounds as if the user wouldn't know that the flash
> would operate until it was too late to stop it. I know that this could
> be avoided by resorting to manual focus, but how would the user know it
> was necessary in advance?
>
> I have no modern SLR experience, so I may have completely misunderstood
> how these things work

On the Minoltas with this insipidly stupid feature, it only functions
with the flash raised. I assume it's the same for Canon. So leave it
down if verbotten.

You could carry a small maglight to aid focus and once focus is locked,
move the light out of the way. (I always have a small maglite in my
camera bag, thought not for this specific reason.)

Cheers,
Alan.



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Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

"Ben Rosengart" <br+rpdss@panix.com> wrote in message
news:slrnd5oir3.7d8.br@panix5.panix.com...
> On Tue, 12 Apr 2005 18:06:18 -0400, Alan Browne
> <alan.browne@freelunchVideotron.ca> wrote:
>>
>> On the Minoltas with this insipidly stupid feature, it only functions
>> with the flash raised. I assume it's the same for Canon.
>
> Wrong. At least, the 20D will pop up the flash if it wants AF assist.
> There is a custom function to disable this. I do not know whether it
> is the same on the 350D.
>
> --
> Ben Rosengart (212) 741-4400
> x215
> Sometimes it only makes sense to focus our attention on those
> questions that are equal parts trivial and intriguing.
> --Josh Micah Marshall

The 20D will only pop up the flash for AF assist if you have it in Basic
Modes, in Creative Modes, the little rascal stays discreetly tucked away
until you request its presence.

--
Skip Middleton
http://www.shadowcatcherimagery.com

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

Hmmm, very interesting replies so far, thanks.

I presume it would be the same as the earlier 300D/Rebel. Any users of
that camera care to comment?

--
Bryn

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

"bryn" <fbjames@iee.org.uk> writes:
> Hmmm, very interesting replies so far, thanks.
>
> I presume it would be the same as the earlier 300D/Rebel. Any users of
> that camera care to comment?

300D with stock firmware doesn't have custom functions to disable such
goodies.

The Wasia hacked firmware puts the custom functions seen on the 10D in
there, and I THINK this might be one of them? AF Assist Beam - Flash
is is CF5. Perhaps a wasia hack user might step forward.

This is a nice page that describes the 10d custom functions:
http://www.shortcourses.com/10D/other.htm

5 AF-assist beam/Flash firing specifie
* 0: Emits/Fires enables both the AF-assist beam and the flash.
* 1: Does not emit/Fires disables the AF-assist beam and enables
the flash.
* 2: Only ext. flash emits/Fires enables the AF-assist beam on
external Speedlite and enables the flash.
* 3: Emits/Does not fire enables the AF-assist beam and disables
the flash.


--
Todd H.
http://www.toddh.net/