Hi guys,

I picked up a used 50D yesterday. This morning I've mounted my 430EX flash and its only communicating in TTL mode. The 430EX works fine in ETTL mode on my 350D. I've had a look round the net and notice a few people talk about issues with poor connections with the 580EX but nothing relating to the 430EX.

I've tried cleaning the contacts and everything feels sturdy. Any ideas? Am I missing something daft?


Would appreciate any assistance....

Try checking your in camera flash settings. Make sure the flash mode is set to ettl.

Go into the Flash Control menu on the camera and see if you can switch anything.

It worked perfectly fine on my 50D before I sold it. Only lacking is you can't set some settings via the camera but have to go to the flash itself (2nd curtain etc).

I had a 430EX do this on my 1D3. It was dirty connection. Use a pencil eraser and scrub all connections real good, should do the trick.

If not, make sure all the settings in camera are set to allow ETTL. It should be by default unless you messed with something.

Lance Lee wrote:
Go into the Flash Control menu on the camera and see if you can switch anything.

The 430EX, like the 220EX and 580EX, is incompatible with most features of the 50D flash menu. I think only FEC works. You need to make flash mode changes with the controls on the 430EX (toggle from TTL to E-TTL mode).

HI guys, thanks for the response.

Tried cleaning the connections again with an eraser and it seems okay now! Will keep my eye on it over the next few weeks to make sure its not something more serious.

I understand that you need the 430EXII to set the flash settings on the 50D so I understand that I can't do that with my 430EX. My issue is how do I set 2nd curtain sync? I can set 2nd curtain sync on the 350D using a custom function on the 350D but the 430EX doesn't have that custom function and nor does the 50D! Help!!

Nevermind....I'm being dumb! Never used the on-flash controls before didn't realise there is a button on the flash for it. I've always used the camera to set the flash controls! Time to re-read the flash manual again