sigma EF-500 DG Super flash won't zoom - rip it apart?

I thought I'd post this up. Got this flash recently and it won't zoom. It did on the second day I had it and only for a quick session.

The bounce icon is lit in the bottom left.
ETTL in top left.
The flash is forward and locked.
Flash icon is on my 20D.
Tried with many different Lenses.
Same results on other bodies.
Cleaned contacts.

Most will probably say to send it back. I'm wondering if there's anything else obvious I should look at. There's probably a contact switch in the body that senses the angle, and it's not being picked up at 90 degrees, so I might just rip this thing apart.

Any other ideas before I break out the small screwdrivers?

Is there a mode selection for Autozoom vs. manual focal length selection on the Sigma? (My Metz has that choice!)

Wilt wrote in post #2294862
Is there a mode selection for Autozoom vs. manual focal length selection on the Sigma? (My Metz has that choice!)

Correct. I'm in autozoom mode, ETTL only. I was hoping that someone might have encountered this, or seen that I'm missing something obvious. I have strobes, but that might get a little crazy around Thanksgiving for candid shots.

I've tried Tv Av P and full auto with no luck. I've also tried timing the turning on of the camera first, then the flash, and vice-versa. I know I shouldn't have to do that. Also left the batteries out for a bit turned on to discharge any memory, off, then batteries back in.

Flash ready light is on and ready to go, test works, and the flash will fire every time.

Have you tried to manually set the focal length, to verify that at least the internal logic and mechanical parts are functioning properly, even if communications automation to the camera is malfunctioning?

Yes, I should have added that. I can manually set the flash focus length and it will zoom.

It's a problem with zooming the lens in auto ettl mode on the flash. It worked for a short time on both bodies as intended, on the second day I had it. I'm hoping it's just something stupid that I'm just overlooking.

It sounds like you do have a problem flash unit, and it needs to be fixed.

syntrix wrote in post #2294649
The bounce icon is lit in the bottom left...
The flash is forward and locked.

The bounce Icon should not be lit when the flash is straight forward. I think there is a problem with the flash.

It won't auto zoom because it only does this when it's pointing straight ahead, and for some reason it thinks it's not.

If the bounce icon is showing... I'd be willing to bet that the flash head is in the down pointing position. That's something that has bitten me a couple of times. Just gently lift up the head without pressing the button and listen and feel the snap.

Yup, I think forkball is right. I have the same flash and when the flash head is all the way down, pass the 90 deg click, the icon will flash.

Just move it up a little until it clicks in.

forkball wrote in post #2295766
If the bounce icon is showing... I'd be willing to bet that the flash head is in the down pointing position. That's something that has bitten me a couple of times. Just gently lift up the head without pressing the button and listen and feel the snap.

I thought maybe one up from the snap. I definately tested this when I got home tonight. Specs do say 7 degrees down, so I tried all the positions, in all the rotations, too. So I tried 'em all again tonight. NADA.

I have it apart and have been testing connections. Base to wiring seems fine. I have to take more apart to get the pivot mechanism apart... looks dangerous going in there though.

Oh well, we'll see where it goes

I will add, that it looks like adding a little mono or pc plug jack would be very easy. There's a lot of room in the base.

Well thanks for everyone's help!

Ultimately ripping it apart was the solution. It looked like the pivot piece wasn't assembled correctly from the factory, so it wasn't making contact for the "normal" postion. I'm glad I took things into my own hands as it's my daughter's first birthday tomorrow, and thanksgiving the day after. I couldn't have spared the time to return it

Happy Holidays everyone!


PS: don't ever rip a flash apart. I've been working electronics for decades. I even shocked myself (forgot the base plate ground). Ahhhh, better than coffee

LOL, I build gamecameras and sometimes I will disassemble a vivitar flash unit to use as a slave flash for night shots. Yes a flash will knock the you know what out of you if you arent careful. Been there and screamed like a girl

Happy BD to you little girl and Happy Thanksgiving to you also. Glad you got it fixed.

Greg