What can I do? Can I repair this without sending it in... I am so lost... has this happened to anyone?

oh by the way.. the flash pops open.. but does not flash... the camera clicks but no flash is used.

Flash turned off in the menus?

Check there is no dirt in the hotshoe mount, sometimes a small piece of debris / grit can hold the pin down that tells it a flash is mounted. When that happens the pop up flash won't fire as the camera thinks there is a speedlight present.

is the hot shoe what is on top?

how much is a flash I can attach?

hot shoe is the little metal connector looking things on top.

http://www.usa.canon.c​om ...as/speedlite_flash_​lineup

Bang Bang Boy wrote in post #12008230
Flash turned off in the menus?

check this first...

sandpiper wrote in post #12008337
Check there is no dirt in the hotshoe mount, sometimes a small piece of debris / grit can hold the pin down that tells it a flash is mounted. When that happens the pop up flash won't fire as the camera thinks there is a speedlight present.

if the pin's stuck, the flash won't pop up. Sadly I think it's broken - on the plus side you can buy a good flash for what it would cost to repair...

Vickie17 wrote in post #12009339
how much is a flash I can attach?

depends where in the world you are...

checking adorama.com a 430ex II will cost USD$284 new, and a fair bit cheaper used.

With the flash up and the camera set to the "green box" mode, if you try and take a photo while pointing to a darker part of the room, does the flash strobe and the camera lens focus ?

thanks guys.. yes it does focus and the flash pops up but the pic is taken and the pic comes out rather dark b/c the flash does not go off even when the flash pops up.. does this make since..

joeseph wrote in post #12010151
if the pin's stuck, the flash won't pop up. Sadly I think it's broken - on the plus side you can buy a good flash for what it would cost to repair...

+1 - My camera has the issue where the pin gets stuck after I use an external flash. When the pin gets stuck, the flash does not even pop up. The flash menus then seem all confused - if I look at the menu for the popup flash, it tells me an external flash is connected; if I look at the menu for the external flash, it tells me an unrecognized flash is connected.

Given that your flash pops up, I'd say it's a different issue (maybe the bulb is burned out). I'm guessing your camera isn't under warranty, and if that's the case, like joeseph said, it probably would be a better use of money to buy an external flash.

The external flash would give you better pictures (less harsh as you can bounce, more range, etc), but you then have to deal with additional weight on the camera, as well as a different set of batteries to charge.

well.. I took it to Wolf Camera and they said it was the flash had burned out and it will cost over $200 to fix and would be gone for 8 weeks.. CRAZY... I can't live w/o my camera that long.. he suggested I buy a flash for $99 that fits Cannon they sell... what do you think of the Quantaray flash that sells for $99 and it takes batteries.. I could see me going thru a lot of batteries..

Vickie17 wrote in post #12014778
well.. I took it to Wolf Camera and they said it was the flash had burned out and it will cost over $200 to fix and would be gone for 8 weeks.. CRAZY... I can't live w/o my camera that long.. he suggested I buy a flash for $99 that fits Cannon they sell... what do you think of the Quantaray flash that sells for $99 and it takes batteries.. I could see me going thru a lot of batteries..

Yeah, external flashes take batteries or an external power supply. That's no big deal, but you should make sure you have a good supply. I keep both rechargables and "emergency" non-rechargables (because over time the rechargables can leak out their charge).

Believe me, an external flash can make a big positive impact in your photography. I don't know about the Quantaray brand -- one thing to check on is whether it has a swiveling head that you can angle up to bounce light from the ceiling or wall.

Eneloops are great... they hold their charge very well.

http://www.amazon.com ...e-Batteries/dp/B000IV2WA​W