Canon 580ex ii is not firing - DPChallenge Forums

09/15/2012 08:29:41 AM · #1

Hi,

I checked 580ex ii and it has test fire and see the bulb on but when I put the flash on Canon 50D and fire it it does not fire. Though when I go to menu and go under external flash menu it does identify that flash is present and allows me to adjust the settings on the flash but again it does not fire. It was working fine before but last 1 week it is not. I have new battery on and reset all the custom fn with flash but still no luck.

Any clue what could be wrong?

Message edited by author 2012-09-15 08:35:13.

09/15/2012 09:54:22 AM · #2

Gently clean the contacts on both camera and flash with alcohol swabs. If this does not work try, if possible:

The flash on a different camera.
A different flash on your camera.

Let us know how you get on.

Message edited by author 2012-09-15 09:54:42.

09/15/2012 05:59:22 PM · #3

I tried flash with wireless triggers and it worked fine on same 50D but keeping it on 50D does not work. I tried cleaning the contacts using the pencil eraser but still no luck :(

Giles

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

09/15/2012 06:08:21 PM · #4

have you changed the group or made it slave by mistake?

09/15/2012 06:18:03 PM · #5

Nope infect all the flash custom function and reset to default just to make sure nothing is missing. Also on screen aperture changes is showing up correctly when I am changing in camera means camera is identifying the flash and doing everything on screen just that when it comes to trigger the flash it does not.

09/15/2012 06:46:01 PM · #6

Try it on a different camera.

09/19/2012 01:09:20 PM · #7

Tried on Canon T3i and there flash worked fine with no issues. I tried cleanup of the contacts on 50D but still no luck.

any other clue?

Mike

Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Canon Mount

09/19/2012 01:13:12 PM · #8

what mode are you shooting in?

09/19/2012 01:49:16 PM · #9

Sounds like your camera has a fault then.

The only way to test now is put a different flash on your camera (ideally a Canon EX flash of sorts) - if it fails then its your camera - if it works.. then who knows..

09/19/2012 03:48:36 PM · #10

Originally posted by mike_311:

what mode are you shooting in?

I tried "P", "A" and "S" and none it worked.

09/19/2012 03:49:45 PM · #11

Originally posted by Simms:

Got it but then I am not able to understand how come wireless trigger mount on the flash shoe works fine :(

unless they work on different 50D's flash shoe touch contact.

Message edited by author 2012-09-19 15:50:48.

Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III

09/19/2012 04:02:44 PM · #12

Originally posted by pgirish007:

Got it but then I am not able to understand how come wireless trigger mount on the flash shoe works fine :(

unless they work on different 50D's flash shoe touch contact.

Is your wireless remote ETTL? such as a pocket wizard? Or just a plain hotshoe connection? Maybe the central pin works fine but the extra pins are where the problem lies since these are the ones that communicate data with the flash - the central pin is what fires the flash. Put your flash into M mode (the flash, not the camera) and tell me if that fires (although exposure wont be sutomatic due to lack of ETTL)

Message edited by author 2012-09-19 16:04:23.

RamblinR

Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro

09/19/2012 04:57:37 PM · #13

Does the flash pop up with the flash on the hotshoe when you put it in auto and the scene is dark.

If that is the case check out this fix.

Hotshoe Fix

Judi

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

09/19/2012 05:20:17 PM · #14

Canon 580exII's are not designed to work with rechargable batteries. They will work with rechargable batteries but often they stop without warning. I ended up sending mine awayand that was what they found. Even my canon rep who tested the flash before we sent it away was not aware of the rechargeable battery issue. I believe it is to do with overheating in those types of batteries. I switched to non-rechargeable batteries and havent missed a beat in the 3 years since.

Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III

09/19/2012 06:20:27 PM · #15

now this is really funny, after keeping the flash on T3i and fired couple of times and kept the flash for about 5 hours and put it back on my 50D it worked :(

I am not sure whether I should be happy or sad because what if it stops in a middle of a show :)

Any way Thanks all for your reply I really appreciate your time!

Message edited by author 2012-09-19 18:21:26.

RamblinR

Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro

09/19/2012 06:47:21 PM · #16

Originally posted by Judi:

I use eneloop rechargeable batteries in mine without any problems but I will keep this in mind

slickchik

OM System OM-1

Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro

09/19/2012 06:47:35 PM · #17

Originally posted by Judi:

This is very interesting... I only use rechargeable batteries and have never had one issue with the flash not firing; however, now that I know about it, it will probably happen ;-)

Good to know that this is a possibility.

bhuge

Canon EOS-550D Rebel T2i

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

09/19/2012 07:12:38 PM · #18

Originally posted by Judi:

That seems absolutely crazy. Someone at Canon said this? You get much better recycle time using rechargeable batteries, everyone I know uses them instead of alkaline.

I even found this directly in the manual...

* Size-AA Ni-MH or lithium batteries can also be used.

I think I would ignore them and use rechargeables :) Maybe keep a set of alkaline as a backup if you're doing an event.