Problem: Flash fires, no light in photos

OK, let me start by saying this...I have a cheapo Sunpak flash for my T3i. I don't have the cash for a different flash at this time.

When I got the flash, it worked perfectly for about 2 weeks. Now, when I take pics, the flash fires with the click, but something is "off" because the flash doesn't show in the pic, which is usually all black.

I usually shoot 200-f/11-ISO 200 (Usually macro), but any lens & setting has the same result.

I tried changing the flash setting to the 2nd curtain, nothing.

I reset the flash settings, nothing.

Changed the batteries, nothing.

It just seems out of sync or something. Another weird thing is, the button on the back of the flash that you can push to fire the flash will not work while it's on the camera, yet works fine when it's disconnected from it. The red 'sensor' works when I spot meter.

I only paid $50 for it, so I wasn't expecting much, but it did work perfectly for what I needed for two weeks.

Here is some exif to show it has worked:
Exposure 0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture f/11.0
Focal Length 100 mm
ISO Speed 200
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash On, Fired

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One thing that I just figured out...if I press the FE button before I shoot, everything is fine. Weird. I think I'm going to have to break down and at least get a 270EX II next week

1/200 may be too high for the T3i sync speed?

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #14742493
1/200 may be too high for the T3i sync speed?

But that's all I shot at for the two weeks that it worked fine. The fly pic show the exif, 200. Really confusing, if it wouldn't have worked at all I could understand.

Have you tried cleaning the contacts on your hot shoe?

All the connection points on your flash are good? None are "soft" and not protruding from the flash foot like they should?

Max sync is 1/200...so you're good there. Maybe the flash itself is broken and firing late?

I cleaned the connection points on the flash & the camera, all good there.

The flash works fine if I hit the FE button first every time (Found that out after first post in this thread).

Is this on / off camera?

I shoot Nikon - that said, in my flash menu options, I can change the onboard flash to off but it still sends a signal to trigger off camera flashes. I've had my flashes off then on and forgot to change it back to ttl / manual etc. resulting in the same as you describe. Might be worth checking out.

Sounds like the flash is flashing at the ETTL preflash and not for the real shot. When you hit FE separately, you are giving it more time in between, so maybe it's a recycle issue.

So far, I've just been hitting the FE button before every shot...works, but is a pain in the ass. Someone on Craigslist has a 420EX for $115...does this work as good as the EX II? Is it compatible & such?

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There is no 420exII. This is the precursor to the 430ex and exII. It is a good flash. It is ettl only. There is no manual mode. You will have to adjust the flash power using FEC on the camera.