Canon 5D

Review this page for information about the Canon 5D and its performance with PocketWizard radios.

General Canon Operational Considerations

The following operational considerations apply to all Canon cameras unless otherwise noted.

Calibration Shot

With a Canon camera and ControlTL radios the first exposure after initial connection or power-on is the calibration shot. It is recommended that you take the calibration shot at 1/125. This initiates communication between the camera and radio. This shot will not fire remote flashes.

Manually Select Camera Model

For best results with a Canon camera and ControlTL radios, be sure to manually select your camera model on the transmitting radio. Camera model selection is found on the "Channel" tab.

5D Specific Operational Considerations

The following operational considerations apply only to the 5D.

Camera Firmware

For best results, use the latest camera body firmware. The latest firmware for the 5D is Version 1.1.1, available for download at Canon U.S.A. Support & Drivers.

Shutter Speed and Aperture "Stick" in Auto Exposure Modes

With some 5D models, the camera’s shutter speed can sometimes get stuck at 1/8000th or f/22 when in P, Av or Tv mode, if a Speedlite is used in the top shoe of an on-camera PocketWizard. This can occur with or without PocketWizards. There is a known bug in the camera's firmware where the camera exhibits the same symptoms, but only with a Speedlite in manual mode.

Canon Special Notes

The following special notes apply to all Canon cameras.

In-Camera Speedlite Control

Speedlite controls set via the in-camera menus, like Flash Exposure Compensation and ratio settings, are not currently supported.

Rear-Curtain Sync and Bulb

Rear Curtain Sync and Bulb mode cannot be used together. For more information, visit our Rear Curtain Sync page.

Remote Infrared Control

ControlTL radios disable ALL infra-red/optical communication pulses used in Canon’s native TTL system, and will not trigger remote flashes configured to receive these pulses. A PocketWizard radio is required for each remote flash you want to trigger.

Unsupported Flash Modes

FEB (Flash Exposure Bracketing) and Stroboscopic Flash are not currently supported.

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