Letting the flash cool off

[JoYork]

As soon as I have the cash I'll be buying a 580-exii. How much can I use them without damaging them? Often for an indoor shoot I'll take about 150 photos in about 45 minutes. Would this damage the flash? I'd rather not buy studio lights if I can help it as I like the idea of being portable.

[jcolman]

As soon as I have the cash I'll be buying a 580-exii. How much can I use them without damaging them? Often for an indoor shoot I'll take about 150 photos in about 45 minutes. Would this damage the flash? I'd rather not buy studio lights if I can help it as I like the idea of being portable.

You'll be fine. The only thing I've ever heard that will damage a 580EX is repeated full power bursts over a very short period of time.

[NathanJK]

Yeah, I burned out a 580ex (I was testing new batteries and stupidly didn't realize this was a BIG no no). It took about 65 full power flashes as fast as I could pop them off to do it! You'll be just fine with 150 in 45 minutes.

[Wilt]

As soon as I have the cash I'll be buying a 580-exii. How much can I use them without damaging them? Often for an indoor shoot I'll take about 150 photos in about 45 minutes. Would this damage the flash? I'd rather not buy studio lights if I can help it as I like the idea of being portable.

Read the Owner's Manual, as there are very specific guidelines for use of the flash in regular flash mode ('rapid fire bursts of 20 consecutive flashes'), and separate guidelines for use of the flash in stroboscopic flash mode.

[stathunter]

Read the Owner's Manual, as there are very specific guideline for use of the flash in regular flash mode, and separate guidelines for use of the flash in stroboscopic flash mode.

We don't need no stinkin owners manual.......who reads those anyways? ? I have several in NEW condition.

[Wilt]

We don't need no stinkin owners manual.......who reads those anyways? ? I have several in NEW condition.

Remind me when you fry your flash next. :cool: I do not own the 580EX, or I would have quoted some guidelines.

[stathunter]

Remind me when you fry your flash next. :cool: I do not own the 580EX, or I would have quoted some guidelines.

Guidelines are made to be broken. :)

[Wilt]

Guidelines are made to be broken. :)

Let me see if I can find the posting on POTN from the guy who fried TWO 580EX flashes before he saw the light!

Found it!
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=4910311&postcount=23

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=4910436&postcount=26

[jcolman]

Let me see if I can find the posting on POTN from the guy who fried TWO 580EX flashes before he saw the light! or in his case...didn't see the light anymore :p

[Wilt]

or in his case...didn't see the light anymore :p


Cool. (not...Hot, actually)

[tmonatr]

Yeah, I burned out a 580ex (I was testing new batteries and stupidly didn't realize this was a BIG no no). It took about 65 full power flashes as fast as I could pop them off to do it! You'll be just fine with 150 in 45 minutes.
I did the EXACT same thing to a 430EX. I don't think I had fired off 65 bursts, but I had fired off a bunch as soon as the light came back on as it would recycle. I can still remember the sickening POP!.....and then dead silence:shock:. I then cussed myself up one side and down the other for doing something so stupid. Still under warranty though, and 2 weeks later it was back from Canon, good as new.

[Wilt]

Now we have evidence from three members of POTN, that it is indeed possible to fry your flash by not observing the cautions that Canon put into that 'stupid owner manual' that no one bothers to read.

[JoYork]

I guess I can only read the owner's manual when I'm an owner... thanks for the advice anyway guys.

[Wilt]

I guess I can only read the owner's manual when I'm an owner... thanks for the advice anyway guys.

Well you now are aware 'twenty consecutive flashes'...let it cool for a bit

(how long you let it cool will be revealed to you when you read the manual as an owner, or someone who owns the 580EX posts that information for you!) :D

[René Damkot]

EOS Manuals (http://www.eosdoc.com/manuals/);)

[DDCSD]

Let me see if I can find the posting on POTN from the guy who fried TWO 580EX flashes before he saw the light!

Found it!
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=4910311&postcount=23
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=4910436

Wilt, that second link opens up a reply box..... I clicked it three times before i figured out it was the link.... Thought i was going crazy..... :lol:

[Wilt]

Wilt, that second link opens up a reply box..... I clicked it three times before i figured out it was the link.... Thought i was going crazy..... :lol:

Fixed. thanks.