Canon 580 EX II Noob alert? - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

09/08/2009 01:53:35 AM · #1

Hi,

So I got me a brand spanking new 580 EX II flash yesterday and last night in all the excitement, I fit 4 batteries, attach it on the camera and click.

Nothing happened.

When I zoom with my lens, the flash zooms on the top, and when I access flash settings on the camera's menu - it picks up the external speedlight and is set to ETTL II.

So I thought, okay, perhaps the batteries aren't up to scratch so bought 4 new ones this morning, and...

Same problem?

The red light comes on to show it's ready to fire, and when I push that, it does actually fire - but not when I push the shutter.

Am I missing something?

*Edit* Oops, I have a Canon 40D.

Message edited by author 2009-09-08 01:53:54.

leaf

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

09/08/2009 02:14:12 AM · #2

are you sure you have it on the hot shoe far enough?

are you sure it isn't firing :) sometimes it fires and it is hard to tell if you are looking through the lens?

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

09/08/2009 02:18:53 AM · #3

Hi,

Yeah i've taken it off and slid it back on numerous times. As I said, it zooms when I zoom the lens so that tells me the connection is sound.

I'm 100% certain it doesnt fire.

I read up on the net somewhere I should set it to master - this didn't do anything. I also reset all my previous flash settings to default (I was using a sigma before the canon) and this didn't do anything either.

In the manual of the flash under troubleshooting, one of the advice points for "The flash is not firing"

is "Internal batteries are depleted."

Internal batteries? Are they refering to ones other than the 4 AA's you're supposed to put in?

Simms

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

09/08/2009 02:35:12 AM · #4

Hmmm, you say you have set it to master, thats only really needed if shooting with a slave AND if you have set it to master in remote mode then you may have the master flash turned off, it will fire the pre-flash and the encoded controller flash but not the MAIN flash - can you send us a pic of the settings on the back of your flash - is that possible?

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

09/08/2009 03:04:37 AM · #5

Ive now literally tried everything i possibly can and now luck.

The only logical conclusion now is that the flash is faulty so I'll be returning it to the shop this afternoon.

Thanks for the help guys.

david_c

Canon EOS-7D

09/08/2009 06:53:03 AM · #6

Originally posted by Simms:

I'll bet dollars-to-donuts it's in Master mode/no fire. Did it flash when you pushed that red LED/test button?

pineapple

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

09/08/2009 08:18:33 AM · #7

Here is the fix:

The 580EX II was known to have a loose hot shoe contact issue. I think Canon fixed it in the more recently made models (I don't have a problem with mine). Check this post, for instance. Another article relating to this issue.

Message edited by author 2009-09-08 08:42:28.