400D Built-in flash problems...

Hello all!!

Just under a year ago I had picked up a 20D from a coworker at a good price. Didnt know jack about taking pictures! Today I just know a tad bit,a very small tad bit. Have loved every moment with the camera,but the opportunity came my way a couple weeks ago to pick up a 400D with a few accessories for $300,so I picked it up.

When I first looked at it I could see it hadnt been babied. Looked like somebody had it hanging around their neck as they ate something and some crumbs had gotten sandwiched under the flash. When I first went to use the camera the internal release mechanism was trying to release the flash,but the flash woulnt flip up. Took a tooth pick and small paint brush and cleaned it up - looks practically new. Today I pull the camera out of the bag to snap a few shots of the squirels in the yard from inside the house. Camera was set on the FULL AUTO mode,and it was dim enough inside the room that the flash should have flipped up but it didnt,nor did it try to. Took a few more shots inside the house and no flash. Set the camera to P mode,pushed the flash button and still nothing. After a few more attempts is started working again properly. Put camera in FULL AUTO and flash pops up fine,no strange noises outside of the release motor/mechanism working. Put it back in P mode and it seems to function properly when I manually pop up the flash.

Should I be concerned about this? Is it common? Is it something I can fix or have fixed? I bought the 400D to replace the 20D,feeling it was a small upgrade...but now Im starting to really feel buyers remorse

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

Ed

Oh,by the way. I tried searching for ANYTHING simular to my title but came up empty. If this has been covered completely already forgive me for missing it. But perhaps my title will help future searchers.

I had the same problem with my 400 d I found the the camera casing / pop up flash was out of align so I just pressed the case with my hands and it was ok since , are you getting an error sign in the viewfinder ?

tongard wrote in post #14020967
I had the same problem with my 400 d I found the the camera casing / pop up flash was out of align so I just pressed the case with my hands and it was ok since , are you getting an error sign in the viewfinder ?

No error codes. But when I first got it,before cleaning it,I would get an error warning - "there was an obstruction on the flash,turn camera off then turn back on",or something to that affect. After cleaning and taking about 75 shots it was fine,until this morning.

Most Canon cameras have a little micro-switch under one of the leaf springs in the hotshoe, on one side or the other. Those tend to get stuck, and when they do the built-in flash is prevented from opening (the micro-switch is there to prevent it opening when an accessory flash is mounted in the hot shoe).

If you do a search online, you probably can find info about this and some photos. I know I've seen some, but haven't got a link for you. It's a relatively easy, do it yourself fix.

However, to be honest, the best fix would be to get an accessory flash and use that instead of the built-in flash. The built-in is pretty anemic and located in the worst possible place for redeye and ugly shadows... even is blocked by some lens hoods and is relatively unusable close-up. An accessory flash can do a much better job! If Canon offered versions of all their models that didn't have built-in flashes, I'd buy em instead!

EDIT:

Did a quick search and found this... scroll down a bit, there's a photos of the micro-switch in the hot shoe.

Clean around the switch, something sticky might be preventing it from popping back up. But most often it's that the leaf spring isn't allowing it to pop all the way back up. Use something small such as a precision screwdriver and "tweak" the leaf spring a little to lift it off the micro-switsh a little more... that might work.

amfoto1 wrote in post #14021750
Most Canon cameras have a little micro-switch under one of the leaf springs in the hotshoe, on one side or the other. Those tend to get stuck, and when they do the built-in flash is prevented from opening (the micro-switch is there to prevent it opening when an accessory flash is mounted in the hot shoe).

If you do a search online, you probably can find info about this and some photos. I know I've seen some, but haven't got a link for you. It's a relatively easy, do it yourself fix.

However, to be honest, the best fix would be to get an accessory flash and use that instead of the built-in flash. The built-in is pretty anemic and located in the worst possible place for redeye and ugly shadows... even is blocked by some lens hoods and is relatively unusable close-up. An accessory flash can do a much better job! If Canon offered versions of all their models that didn't have built-in flashes, I'd buy em instead!

EDIT:

Did a quick search and found this... scroll down a bit, there's a photos of the micro-switch in the hot shoe.

Clean around the switch, something sticky might be preventing it from popping back up. But most often it's that the leaf spring isn't allowing it to pop all the way back up. Use something small such as a precision screwdriver and "tweak" the leaf spring a little to lift it off the micro-switsh a little more... that might work.

Thanks for the info and link! After posting this response I will check out the camers micro switch. But I really like the idea of picking up a flash to put on the hotshoe.

amfoto1 wrote in post #14021750
Most Canon cameras have a little micro-switch under one of the leaf springs in the hotshoe, on one side or the other. Those tend to get stuck, and when they do the built-in flash is prevented from opening (the micro-switch is there to prevent it opening when an accessory flash is mounted in the hot shoe).

If you do a search online, you probably can find info about this and some photos. I know I've seen some, but haven't got a link for you. It's a relatively easy, do it yourself fix.

However, to be honest, the best fix would be to get an accessory flash and use that instead of the built-in flash. The built-in is pretty anemic and located in the worst possible place for redeye and ugly shadows... even is blocked by some lens hoods and is relatively unusable close-up. An accessory flash can do a much better job! If Canon offered versions of all their models that didn't have built-in flashes, I'd buy em instead!

EDIT:

Did a quick search and found this... scroll down a bit, there's a photos of the micro-switch in the hot shoe.

Clean around the switch, something sticky might be preventing it from popping back up. But most often it's that the leaf spring isn't allowing it to pop all the way back up. Use something small such as a precision screwdriver and "tweak" the leaf spring a little to lift it off the micro-switsh a little more... that might work.

So I looked at my micro switch and its small lever/actuating arm. It 'appears' to be clean and not sticking. But thats now,likely not so earlier. Matter a fact it has been good all day,no hitches or hang ups. But the next time it acts up (thats if it even does it again,and assuming I havent gotten a hotshoe mount flash) I will pay especially close attention to this area.

Thanks again for the input and the link. Now Im feeling better about my purchase