Help! 580 EX Flash Firing but ...

justjulie

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Joined
Jun 6, 2000
Messages
1,076
the image is still dark! Can anyone tell me what might be wrong? I changed the batteries and checked the connection no luck ...
 
If the flash is still firing, but not illuminating the photo, then the timing has to be off.

Not sure what you can do about that. How old is the flash?

Just out of curiosity, can you post a sample photo?

Do you have any issues with the camera? Is the exposure balanced when you don't use the flash?

Have you changed any settings recently?

It sounds more like a flash issue, but I'd probably try resetting the camera to factory settings just on the off chance anything has changed.
 
JustJulie -

The 580 (580EXII) has some documented problems with its connections on its "hot shoe", you can Google this up. I own this speedlite and have encountered exposure problems when in ETTL / TTL mode on more than one of my Canon bodies. From what I have researched (and this in my case is related to the EXII model) the "pins" on the hot shoe of the flash unit itself may not always contact the pins / points on the cameras hot shoe and cause the flash to lose communication.

Again, from what I've researched, there is little that can be done. I find that keeping both the camera and flash contact pins / points clean helps. Also while shooting, when a problem occurs, removing / re-connecting the flash to the camera usually corrects the problem - for a while anyway.
 
Thanks everyone - it's my son's camera and he is away at school. He asked the professors and they couldn't figure it out. The local camera store suggested lowering his shutter speed - I've passed that along but it sounds more like a "hot shoe" issue the more you guys explain it to me - it will work and then not work which would make sense if the pin connection is not solid. I have told him to take it to the local camera shop near his school (he's schooling out of town) and see if they can tighten the "hot shoe" mount.

If that doesn't work, do any of you use a "non-Canon" flash on your Canon cameras? He's not in a position to be able to purchase the new 600 EX flash at this point but he needs a reliable flash for his photography program. Any insight you can offer would be greatly appreciated.
 

While I don't shoot Canon, I use Sigma flashes on my Pentax gear. They make them ttl compatible with all the major brands for around $200 (the Super model). They have a basic model that swivels/bounce (ST) that is a little cheaper. It doesn't have all the options like remote wireless, etc. For $200 I can buy three vs one Pentax flash.
 
Could the flash be set to underexpose? Is the flash set to eTTL or manual?
 
Thanks everyone - it's my son's camera and he is away at school. He asked the professors and they couldn't figure it out. The local camera store suggested lowering his shutter speed - I've passed that along but it sounds more like a "hot shoe" issue the more you guys explain it to me - it will work and then not work which would make sense if the pin connection is not solid. I have told him to take it to the local camera shop near his school (he's schooling out of town) and see if they can tighten the "hot shoe" mount.

If that doesn't work, do any of you use a "non-Canon" flash on your Canon cameras? He's not in a position to be able to purchase the new 600 EX flash at this point but he needs a reliable flash for his photography program. Any insight you can offer would be greatly appreciated.


it could be any number of things, wrong settings in the flash or the camera or a mechanical issue. I'm surprised the "professors" couldn't figure it out. I've been using a Yongnuo and a Canon 430exII flash for years without problems.
 












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