My 550ex stopped working in 10D's Manual modes?

[gracimj]

I purchased a new 550ex 2 weeks ago. I have been successfully using it with my 10D with the 10d in Manaul mode and the flash in ETTL mode.

However, last week I was using the combo successfully, then I tried to take another pic and the Flash would no longer activate in 10D's manual mode (the flash ready light wouldn't light either).

I then changed the Flashes batteries and it still didn't work in 10D's manual mode. I reseated the 550ex and still nothing.

So then I tried other "Manual" modes and nothing.

I then switched the 10D to the Auto modes and the flash worked.

I can not figure out how to get the 550ex to work properly again.

Someone else suggested for me to reset the flashes settings. However, there is no reset on the flash.

Thanks,
Matt

[defordphoto]

The flash ready light lights now and can be flashed manually pressing pilot?

[robertwgross]

I can't say for sure, but it sort of sounds like maybe the flash batteries ran down low and then the communication between the flash and the camera went "stupid", for lack of a better term.

I've had some things like that go funny on my D60 and 550EX when one or the other go into sleep mode. So, when I shoot weddings, I often keep "half-pressing" the shutter button to keep everything totally alive.

Uhhh, when you leave the 550EX's ON switch set to SE, doesn't it lock out any further button selections? If you set it to ON, then it'll take selection changes. Try it.

---Bob Gross---

[DaveG]

I wonder if one of the contacts in the hot shoe has become a little bit "insulated". I mean some
of the contacts worked but the one that differentiates between manual and the automatic settings
has been modified somehow. A little bit of sweat and then some dust would do the trick, just like what happens to batteries. Maybe you should take a pencil eraser and erase the contacts on the hotshoe AND on the flash.

My problem is the completely erratic behavior of the 550EX flash. I did a magazine shoot a
week ago and used it a setting that I had used before. There was a large map in the foreground
with the subject looking at the map from the other end. I used my 16-35 and the flash exposure
underexposed by two full stops.

There was PLENTY of power in the flashes. I know that I
was nowhere NEAR the edge of the power capability of the flash. No matter what adjustments
I made the camera/flash wanted to continue to underexpose.

Look I've finally decided that E-TTL is horrible, and I'm tired of pretending that the emperor is
wearing clothes. IT JUST DOESN’T WORK!!!!

The old Automatic settings would work better especially with a digital camera. I'd set f8 on my
Vivitar 283 and take a shot. If the subject was underexposed by a half stop then I'd just change
the aperture to 5.6 and a half. That would be the end of it because NOW the exposure would
be right. Now I have to set the over/underexposure setting and then change it back. I could be
assured that with the 283 it would consistently under or over expose, but with E-TTL I NEVER
know beforehand about what it’s going to do.

What it DOES do well is the wireless TTL. But without that I would urge everyone to forget
about 550EX's and just get 283's. The big problem with a 283 flash on a film camera would be
inadvertently shooting off synch. But with the digital review you'd SEE that after one shot and
make the correction. Other than THAT I don't see any downside at all.

I hope that someone from Canon reads this and I suspect that they do. They’ve gone from a
pretty good automatic flash, through A-TTL and now E-TTL. And someone screwed up
somewhere.

[robertwgross]

My 550EX works pretty well on a D60.

I don't try to fool it with manual settings. E-TTL seems to work good for weddings. Sometimes I change compensation for a white gown or for a black tux. Other than that, it's OK.

I don't try to do anything radical with high ISO or high shutter speeds (to screw up sync), and I don't have any super hot lenses. I seldom get more than two stops away from anything that Full Auto recommended.

---Bob Gross---