I'm about ready to throw my 580EX II into a pond

[Blitz]

My girlfriend graduated today and I thought it would be nice if I could get a shot of her walking the stage in addition to the one provided by the official photographer. Well, despite the constant reminders that friends and family were not to approach the stage for photos, I found a nice little spot near the stage and put on my 70-300 IS USM. Not ideal for the lighting, of course, but I was close enough so flash would compensate.

I fired a few tests on other people. Perfect.

My girlfriend's name is called. She's walking across the stage. She's all framed up. Click. No flash. Click. No flash. Click. No flash. Three perfectly framed shots all but useless because I was shooting at 1/60 at like 200mm and there wasn't nearly enough light.

I figure the battery is dead. I already learned the hard way that these things don't indicate when battery power is getting low. Okay, whatever. Give it a few minutes. A buddy of mine starts walking the stage. I decide to try shooting him just to see what happens. Click. Flash. Perfect (for me) photo.

I shoot 5 more shots in quick succession. Flash fires each time. Battery dead? I don't think so.

Someone want to tell me what went wrong at the exact moment I needed the thing to fire?

[Autonomous]

Maybe you used the flash to shoot too much and it used all its power and needed some time to recharge or recycle

[A.Tan]

Murphy's Law.

[runninmann]

Maybe you used the flash to shoot too much and it used all its power and needed some time to recharge or recycleOr cool down.

[Curtis N]

despite the constant reminders that friends and family were not to approach the stage for photos, I found a nice little spot near the stage...God's way of reminding you not to break the rules.

[JackLiu]

Consider getting a battery pack to compliment your flash unit (I assume its a Canon speedlite, ie, 580EX, etc). It will enable fast recycling time.

[runninmann]

God's way of reminding you not to break the rules.:lol::lol::lol:

[yogestee]

Lesson 101.. Always make sure your batteries are fully charged before going out to shoot whether it's camera or flash batteries..

Lesson 102.. Shoot a couple of test shots first..

[slewfoot]

power save mode?

[breal101]

All superstition aside, it could be a loose connection to the hot shoe causing it to fire sometimes and not others. The wheel lock can sometimes feel tight when it isn't.

[Anke]

All superstition aside, it could be a loose connection to the hot shoe causing it to fire sometimes and not others. The wheel lock can sometimes feel tight when it isn't.

The 580EXII doesn't have a wheel, it has a lever that clicks so it should be tight all the time. As long as it clicks of course :D

[breal101]

The 580EXII doesn't have a wheel, it has a lever that clicks so it should be tight all the time. As long as it clicks of course :D

Thanks, I didn't know that, I have the 580 EX, I hate on camera flash so it's doubtful I'll ever get an EX II.

[jeromego]

power save mode?

even if its on power save mode, once you hit the shutter the flash turns on and fires.

[FlashZebra]

My girlfriend graduated today and I thought it would be nice if I could get a shot of her walking the stage in addition to the one provided by the official photographer. Well, despite the constant reminders that friends and family were not to approach the stage for photos, I found a nice little spot near the stage and put on my 70-300 IS USM. Not ideal for the lighting, of course, but I was close enough so flash would compensate.

I fired a few tests on other people. Perfect.

My girlfriend's name is called. She's walking across the stage. She's all framed up. Click. No flash. Click. No flash. Click. No flash. Three perfectly framed shots all but useless because I was shooting at 1/60 at like 200mm and there wasn't nearly enough light.

I figure the battery is dead. I already learned the hard way that these things don't indicate when battery power is getting low. Okay, whatever. Give it a few minutes. A buddy of mine starts walking the stage. I decide to try shooting him just to see what happens. Click. Flash. Perfect (for me) photo.

I shoot 5 more shots in quick succession. Flash fires each time. Battery dead? I don't think so.

Someone want to tell me what went wrong at the exact moment I needed the thing to fire?
I think you need to also read this thread about "I am about to throw my flash under a truck. "

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=466874

Enjoy! Lon

[Blitz]

Lesson 102.. Shoot a couple of test shots first..

This is the thing that bugs me. I did, and I let it rest a bit before doing it again, so I don't think it was cooling down. I swear it worked like a charm for every shot but the ones I wanted to get right.

I should probably mention I'm shooting with a 300D that's close to 6 years old. Could that have something to do with it?

[Jannie]

Like the other person said, probably the power save mode, drove me crazy until I found out I could easily disable it when I wanted to. It automatically turns the flash off if you haven't used it in x number of minutes, you have to push the red button to activate everything again only when off it won't be red and that's how you can tell it's been shut off.

[kay188]

Don't throw it in the pond.

Give it to me. :)

[The Moose]

This is the thing that bugs me. I did, and I let it rest a bit before doing it again, so I don't think it was cooling down. I swear it worked like a charm for every shot but the ones I wanted to get right.

I should probably mention I'm shooting with a 300D that's close to 6 years old. Could that have something to do with it?

It's not the fact that it's an old camera that's the problem. The hotshoe is probably stuffed. I don't think you can do it on a 300D, but I took the plate off my 1D classic's hot shoe to tighten the screws and there was a fair bit of dirt around as well.

[Ukuleleman]

God's way of reminding you not to break the rules.


Amen! LOL :)

[Brett]

I think power save mode as well. Once it does that, it seems like it needs to completely recharge the capacitor until the red light comes on.

That would also explain why it worked fine for shots a short time later.

I've done it a few times.