580EX II Random Errors

[Starbucker]

I've got a new 580EX II mounted on a bracket tethered to a gripped XSI. It also has the external battery pack attached. I shot around 400 shots yesterday. I shot in all modes including both ETTL and full manual. On occasion, the flash would not fire, maybe around 5% of the time or less. I checked and it occurred in both full manual (flash and camera). I checked different settings both on the flash and the camera and it didn't seem to be limited to a specific setting. Oddly enough (and this could be completely random) it seemed like when I switched from landscape to portrait and used my grip triggers, it failed more frequently, but I can't recall completely because I was focusing on getting the shots out. I'm a little concerned because I have more important shoots coming up in December and I need reliability, or to at least understand if I'm missing something important.

So, given this, is this normal? If not, how do I nail the problem down, or what should I check settings in either the camera or flash? Thanks in advance for any insights.

[Curtis N]

I've got a new 580EX II mounted on a bracket tethered to a gripped XSI. What kind of tether? Canon Off Camera Shoe Cord? Aftermarket cord? PC cord? Hemp rope?

[DDCSD]

What bracket?

[Starbucker]

The Bracket is a CB Junior (custom brackets) at www.custombrackets.com

The tether is a RPS Studio HD ETTL Off-Camera Canon 3ft cord.

The bracket works well and is machined tight, no complaints. Don't really know if the cord is the issue but I would think that if it works, it works, and if it doesn't it wouldn't.

Thanks for any assistance.

[DDCSD]

Does the flash seem loose at all in the off-shoe cord hot shoe? I am suspecting that it is a bit loose and loosing contact, causing your issue.

I'm not sure how that bracket holds the flash when flipped into portrait, but if it holds the flash horizontal when flipped, that would explain why it seems worse in portrait.

Or the cord might be bad and when the flash is at a bit of an angle it puts stress on something internally in the cord hot shoe, causing it to lose contact.

Also, make sure that the part of the cord that attaches to the camera hot shoe is all the way forward and that there isn't to much play when it is snugged down.

I would make sure that the flash is locked down tight on the cord and the cord is nice and snug on the camera hot shoe. If everything seems to be nice and snug, I would get a different cord. I've seen a fair number of complaints on here about the 3rd party off-shoe cords.

[PhotoMatte]

I posted a very similar comment about a week ago and wondered if anyone else was having this problem. On both my 580EXII and my 580EX, there are times when the flash does fire, but doesn't register as firing (that is, in the EXIF data, on my info panel in PhotoShop, etc)....and completely overexposes the scene. Has this happened to you? I too shoot in Manual mode (camera) and ETTL (flash). There are times when the flash doesn't fire but that 's only after I've shot like 10 in a row or something and it probably hasn't recycled yet (I do use the external battery packs).


I've got a new 580EX II mounted on a bracket tethered to a gripped XSI. It also has the external battery pack attached. I shot around 400 shots yesterday. I shot in all modes including both ETTL and full manual. On occasion, the flash would not fire, maybe around 5% of the time or less. I checked and it occurred in both full manual (flash and camera). I checked different settings both on the flash and the camera and it didn't seem to be limited to a specific setting. Oddly enough (and this could be completely random) it seemed like when I switched from landscape to portrait and used my grip triggers, it failed more frequently, but I can't recall completely because I was focusing on getting the shots out. I'm a little concerned because I have more important shoots coming up in December and I need reliability, or to at least understand if I'm missing something important.

So, given this, is this normal? If not, how do I nail the problem down, or what should I check settings in either the camera or flash? Thanks in advance for any insights.

[Rellik]

I think it the cord. If there is a loose connection somewhere, it may work intermittently. Do some test with just the flash on the body and see if you get any misfires. If you don't, then you know it's the wire.

[Starbucker]

Looks like I'll start by testing the cord. It was pretty stiff to tighten down, but I got it to, hope I didn't go to far and squash anything on the flash end. I could live if I broke the cord, but not the flash :) Thanks everyone, I'll report back if I can determine the cause.