10D flash problem

[tedh]

Hallo all,
My 10D's internal flash pops up when it should but the camera gives almost direcly an error code 05 and can only be resetted by the power switch or juggling with the batterys.
When the flash pops up (either by hand pressing the button or by the camera itself) it makes ,after the flash has popped up, another two noises, more or less similair as when the flash is popping up.
To my understanding err code 05 means that something is blocking the flash and that the camera will try two more times to release the flash and gives after that the error code. In my case the flash pops up the first time but apparendly the camera doesn't notice that and tries it two more times (still doesn't notice the flash is already up) and gives error code 05.
Queations :thirst is my asumption of the above correct, second (apart from sending it to canon or getting an external flash) does anybody knows a remedy for this.

Thanks ,Ted.

[Jon]

Nothing in the hot shoe that might be interfering with the flash opening fully? ISTR some people got the Olympus viewfinder shutter, which stores there, and found that it interfered with the pop-up flash.

[tedh]

nothing in the hotshoe

[tweatherred]

I have been having the exact problem on my 20d; our problem differs from most of the error 05 threads I have found in that the flash actually pops up fully, but the camera doesn't seem to recognize that it is up and tries twice more to release it (the two clicks after it is up) and then goes to error 05 mode. I have found that if I gently pull on the flash when it first pops up it will stop the error message from appearing, but the flash will not fire. Perhaps it has somethng to do with being named Ted. Anyone have any suggestions before I bite the bullet and call Canon for an RMA?

[tedh]

Nice to hear that I am not the only Ted around here. Still having the same problem, time to buy an external flash I think.

Ted

[Jon]

Try exercising it a few times - press the flash release, then gently pry the flash up with your finger nails. Repeat a few times, then again on a monthly basis. Also take a close look at your hot shoe. Under the guides there's a small pin that sticks up when external flash isn't present; if it's stuck down, the internal flash won't pop up because it thinks there's an external flash present. ISTR there was at least one thread discussing self-help on this problem 1-2 months ago.

[tweatherred]

I have looked at those things, but the problem is not that the internal flash won't pop up, it pops up fine, but the camera apparently thinks it has not popped up. It is not a major problem for me, as I usually use an external flash, but for what a 20D costs, everything should work right.

[Jon]

If it behaves when you pull it up, but not when it pops up, it sounds like it's not popping all the way up on its own. Try exercising it, lok around the edges for some crud that might be blocking it, and if that doesn't work send it to Canon for repair before the warranty runs out.

[robertwgross]

Try exercising it a few times - press the flash release, then gently pry the flash up with your finger nails. Repeat a few times, then again on a monthly basis. Also take a close look at your hot shoe. Under the guides there's a small pin that sticks up when external flash isn't present; if it's stuck down, the internal flash won't pop up because it thinks there's an external flash present. ISTR there was at least one thread discussing self-help on this problem 1-2 months ago.

Interesting idea there, Jon. I wonder where you got it.

Unfortunately, the original poster does not have this problem. The built-in flash is going up when needed, but there is an additional sensor someplace that detects that it actually went up. If it posted the Err 5 message, then that means that it thinks a baseball cap bill or something similar has blocked it. Of course, the flash head went up fully despite what the sensor reported. I think finding that sensor might be a trick, and I would simply turn it over to the Canon boys.

---Bob Gross---