problem: 430ex firing on its own.

[Christopher Steven b]

I just received a flashzebra sync cable--the 5m. version--and E-TTL seems to be working fine. But I did notice last evening that the flash was also going off on its own at a regular interval--seeming to go off at 1/1 and then go off again after it recycled. I had initially thought it was low batteries last night, but after a re-charge the problem is persisting. Has anyone heard of this? I've been using the 430ex on my 5d for about 6 months and haven't had this issue even once--it is only when using this new sync cable.

thanks in advance.

[Christopher Steven b]

the model, according the the text on the hotshoe portion is FC-E3. Can anyone confirm that this is the correct one?

[apersson850]

The flash doesn't go off on its own when the cable isn't connected?

If so, it seems obvious that something is wrong with your cable. Short-circuit, maybe, so as soon as the flash is charged, it fires again.

[alwaysonephotography]

The majority of the time when a flash is going off on it's own, it is a poor connection between flash and camera.

In your case it could be between camera and cord OR cord and flash. Of course, it could be the cord but my guess is something wasn't fully seated or tight.

Can you reproduce it today?

[Christopher Steven b]

Anders: exactly; the flash doesn't go off automatically when connected directly to the body.

alwaysonephotography: this might narrow it down. I connected it again today thinking that perhaps there is a misalignment between the cable and either the flash or hotshoe; so I tried getting them aligned (there is a little play there) and then tightening it down. No luck--still (mis)firing, though perhaps not at 1/1 as I suggested before. It re-fires at a steady rate though not necessarily just after it has fully re-charged.

Another clue: even when the camera is turned off and the cable still connected, the flash will continue its very slow strobing.

strange! and annoying.

Thanks for your input, guys.