580EX Battery Door Problem

[Mark_48]

I just recieved my new 580EX and am anxious to try it out...... :D

However :( when I tried to open the battery door there seems to be two tabs of plastic on the sides of the hinge that prevent it from opening fully. Only about 30 deg to the body of the flash and not enough to get the batteries in. I'm not sure if these tabs or whatever are supposed to be there or are a piece of plastic that was left over from the injection molding of the door. I'm afraid to force it too much lest I break something. If they aren't supposed to be there I could probably use an Exacto knife to sever them.
I've read some other threads regarding door problems, but I'm not sure if this is the same or not.

[MDJAK]

I had a slight bit of trouble opening the door the first time also.

Press in, slide down, and bend open backwards. It won't break.

[cactusclay]

It's scary isn't it, I felt the same way at first.

[glangston]

There seems to be a hitch in opening the battery case. I've felt like it was going to break but it did not. The guy at the Canon Service Center just opened it quickly and didn't seem to worry about the resistance so I'm figuring they know it won't break easily.

[Mark_48]

Finally got up the courage to try it. Came open with an ugly sounding snap :shock: , but it did open and didn't appear to break anything. Did it a couple of times and it seems to have loosened up a bit. Where it seems to catch I may put a trace of Vaseline to ease its opening.

Now to put batteries in and give it the real test !!! :D

Thanks all !!!

[Mills]

It was the same for me. My 550 EX also is like that.

[Cadwell]

The Canon flash battery door design is an incredibly bizarre thing. Whoever designed that needs some serious help.

[Huckaback Photo]

Hi Mark
we took this issue up with Canon reps on their stand at the Focus on Imaging show here in uk.
firstly they did not know of any problems with the battery compartment door, but did go to lengths to record the info we passed on.
it was then sugested a batch may have been produced like it ???
when my own arrived I could hardly open it.
just take care at first I assure you it does improve
take care if you feel like lubricating it as some products affect the plastics used.
Finally I do agree that a product costing that much should not have such a cr--- door hinge

Cheers
Martin (huckaback photo)

[pcasciola]

The thing is, it's actually designed that way on purpose!!! :rolleyes:

I've read several articles that say the main way they improved the recycle time was by improving the battery contacts between the door and the batteries, so that has to be why it feels that way.

I also had to work up the courage to open mine all the way for the first time, and that's when I came across the article. It really feels like it is about to snap off in your hand.

[Mark_48]

I did call Canon support to see what they had to say and the rep had never heard of any issues with the battery doors (hmm, does this surprise me :confused: ). He had one nearby and tried it himself and of course no problems. He couldn't talk me into really giving it a push.
I then called where I bought it from, B&H. This was around 12:30p. Very, very bad time of the day to call for this kind of question. The background noise of customers sounded like someone had just scored a homerun at a major league baseball game. I ended up getting bounced around the store as each person dumped me to another. Even got the guy in the cell-phone department who did his best at attempting to help out. In the end who ever I talked to last said send it back if I'm not sure.

Do you ever wonder if some of the members here asking questions, might just be Canon support reps in diguise looking for answers?? :wink: