500 EL/M ... "AS" vs "A" ... Firing speed issue

Yes… I’m still using an EL/M … took about 30 seconds to get used to the “smaller mirror” and I use a flash meter, so the bells and whistles that go along with the ELX are minimal at best.

Anyway began to notice however that when used in the “AS” mode, firing rate doesn’t seem to be really any faster then in “A” mode. Pouring through “Wildi ”, I found that in “AS” mode it “should” shoot about 12 frames in less than 10 seconds (as it’s in a “pre-released mode”). However, it seemed to be about 12 frames in 12 seconds, same as “A” mode. I somehow remember that it did seem a bit faster in "AS" previously, but now I'm not so sure anymore.

Not an issue with batteries, as they are fully charged. Not using 9volt or AA conversion adapter, I'm using my trusty NiCads.

In addition I tried it with AC power (the connecting cable was less than 20 feet as longer cables tend to cut the power coming into the camera to a trickle), with the same results.

So anyone out there still using an EL/M or even the ELX (500/553)?

Do you notice a significant difference between “A” and “AS” mode?

So… wait for the checkered flag, get out your stopwatches and start timing. Let me know if I should take my EL/M for servicing. It’s been about 2-3 years since last CLA.

No other problems with it and I’m not exactly shooting the Indy 500, so I can certainly live with this, … unless this is an advanced notice of more serious trouble down the road.

Thanks in advance

Ira Rush said:

Anyway began to notice however that when used in the “AS” mode, firing rate doesn’t seem to be really any faster then in “A” mode.

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That's because there is no difference worth mentioning. Nothing at all, in fact, that would make AS faster than A.

In both modes the camera cycles normally, does the very same thing.
The difference is that in AS mode, the camera is prerelased when you switch to AS mode, and does one thing more at the end of the cycle: it prereleases the camera again.

So if anything, AS mode takes a tiny bit longer.
But that extra time is 'gained' again at the start of the (next) sequence.


Any difference in sequence speeds you may come across is due to batteries not providing their full nominal voltage anymore. Nothing else.

Ira Rush said:

Pouring through “Wildi ”, I found that in “AS” mode it “should” shoot about 12 frames in less than 10 seconds (as it’s in a “pre-released mode”). However, it seemed to be about 12 frames in 12 seconds, same as “A” mode. I somehow remember that it did seem a bit faster in "AS" previously, but now I'm not so sure anymore.

Click to expand...

Wildi is rather confusing where he describes these modes.
He suggests that in AS mode the mirror stays up between exposures, suggesting further that that would make the camera faster.
But you can easily see for yourself that the mirror does no such thing. It happily flaps up and down, just like in A mode.
The only difference between A and AS modes is the point in the cycle the cameras starts and stops in.

Ira Rush said:

Not an issue with batteries, as they are fully charged. Not using 9volt or AA conversion adapter, I'm using my trusty NiCads.

In addition I tried it with AC power (the connecting cable was less than 20 feet as longer cables tend to cut the power coming into the camera to a trickle), with the same results.

Click to expand...

Ah!
But that - voltage - is the only thing that will make the camera run faster, or slower.
Maybe an old motor, 'sticky' mechanism (old grease) too.

But anyhow, there's is nothing in what the camera does that makes one mode cycle faster than the other mode.

Ira Rush said:

So anyone out there still using an EL/M or even the ELX (500/553)?

Do you notice a significant difference between “A” and “AS” mode?

Click to expand...

Yes. And no.

Ira Rush said:

So… wait for the checkered flag, get out your stopwatches and start timing. Let me know if I should take my EL/M for servicing. It’s been about 2-3 years since last CLA.

No other problems with it and I’m not exactly shooting the Indy 500, so I can certainly live with this, … unless this is an advanced notice of more serious trouble down the road.

Click to expand...

It's quite normal. Would not be if it were different.
So don't worry.

Q.G. said:

It's quite normal. Would not be if it were different.
So don't worry.

Click to expand...

Once again, I thank you (and your "voice of reason" ) !


Thanks Q.G.