580exii - Experience with Canon service

My 580exii is going to go in for service by Canon. For the past couple months, it was flickering between ETTL and TTL. And, recently, even in ETTL, it only fires the preflash.... If I switch to manual, it only fires in full power.

And since I don't want to spend $500 to buy a new one, I am going to send this in for service.

What has been the experience by others who have sent speedlites back for service?

I sent in x2 580EX II that only fire pre-flash but not real flash. One is under warranty and one isn't. Canon changed the circuit board for both for no charge.

It's a known problem...Canon should fix it for you. Apparently they are also changing the shoes on flashes that go in from the rounded contacts to pointier ones...mine is going in soon.

so that is the design problem from canon? I always thought it is something to do with the pocketwizard tt5

I have a Flex and Mini and truthfully, this problem started long before I used them. I have not used my Flex with my 580II as I have a 430II and a 550ex. I am seeing my CPS rep in a few weeks and we will be discussing the issue.

Even though I have a Flex/Mini, this issue became apparent during a recent event when on the hotshoe of the camera.

I've had 2 this happen to, with only 1 repaired so far. The repair sheet said they replaced the battery box.

ugh, now I'm worried. I just got my 580ex II, is there any way to verify whether is working as it should be

I've had both my 580EXIIs in for repair. Similar solution, battery box and circuit board.
One failed within 10 flashes when testing after it came back.

Canon charges a flat rate for 580EXII repairs. I think it was about $100 when mine went in last year.

No problems since.

If you just bought a 580EXII you may have one that has benefited from manufacturing improvements. Us it, if it fails send it in for repair.

sent mine in to canon and they gutted the flash but still cost $$$$ heck of alot more than a USA canon 100 cheap bucks!!! IIRC it was just under 250 CDN.

stukovx wrote in post #12340658
ugh, now I'm worried. I just got my 580ex II, is there any way to verify whether is working as it should be

I have had mine for about 3 years and have never experienced that problem so I would not worry unless it happens to you.

dmward wrote in post #12340958
I've had both my 580EXIIs in for repair. Similar solution, battery box and circuit board.
One failed within 10 flashes when testing after it came back.

Canon charges a flat rate for 580EXII repairs. I think it was about $100 when mine went in last year.

No problems since.

If you just bought a 580EXII you may have one that has benefited from manufacturing improvements. Us it, if it fails send it in for repair.

Assuming that when it broke 10 uses after it came back from repair they didn't charge you another $100....?

It's a 6 month warranty on the same failure. It's a US $110 flat rate repair charge, plus shipping.

After reading the LPA report on the 580exii and the failure rate... I think the 580exiii has superceded the 5dmk3 as the item I want canon to come out with...

Canon service center is great. They will take care of you. As far as LPA report... take that with a grain of salt. Notice everyone in this thread has one thing in common, yep, they all used the tragic wizard tt5.