Broken 580 EX

So I had a wedding last night and my husband assisted me. He dropped my 5D + 24-70L +580EX...The camera and lens seem to be ok..for now. The little plastic piece to shoe mount the flash cracked in half so it won't stay mounted...I have another wedding this weekend so I went to order another flash this morning and the 580EX is discontinued and the 580EXII is not in stock yet. Would you get a 430EX or a Simga 500 for the 5D if you had no other choice. I do have a backup flash but I will not go with just 1....any advice?

The Sigma seems to be getting very good reveiws and seems to be in direct competion to the 580EX. I have getting the Sigma either this week or next for sure.

Either flash would be fine but you can (more easily?) use a 430EX as an IR slave to your 580EX once you get it back from CFS.

you can still readily find a 580, but to get it to you for this weekend wouldn't be cheep. Can you rent one for the weekend or borrow one? I don't think you'll be as happy with the others.

Did you have insurance?

I sent you a PM by the way.

Maui Kim wrote in post #3128609
So I had a wedding last night and my husband assisted me. He dropped my 5D + 24-70L +580EX...The camera and lens seem to be ok..for now. The little plastic piece to shoe mount the flash cracked in half so it won't stay mounted...I have another wedding this weekend so I went to order another flash this morning and the 580EX is discontinued and the 580EXII is not in stock yet. Would you get a 430EX or a Simga 500 for the 5D if you had no other choice. I do have a backup flash but I will not go with just 1....any advice?

Have you tried to repair it ,,same thing happened to me a while ago ,was freaked out when it happened but I found this>>
http://www.planetneil.​com/canon/580-hotshoe-fix.html

and this
http://www.uscamera.co​m/580ex.htm

Having had both the Sigma and now the 580EX, there is no comparison in build quality, quiet operation and compatability for wireless flash control.

I'm sure your remote location will play heavily in availability, but I'd go for the 430EX or a rental. The Sigma is about the equivalent in power as the 430EX but adds wireless master capability. Again, the latter feature is not very good between the brands.

-Mickey

TomásG wrote in post #3128736
Have you tried to repair it ,,same thing happened to me a while ago ,was freaked out when it happened but I found this>>
http://www.planetneil.​com/canon/580-hotshoe-fix.html

and this
http://www.uscamera.co​m/580ex.htm

Thank you so much!...that looks exactly like mine...broken in same spot! Thanks for the link...

Tragerman wrote in post #3129293
Having had both the Sigma and now the 580EX, there is no comparison in build quality, quiet operation and compatability for wireless flash control.

I'm sure your remote location will play heavily in availability, but I'd go for the 430EX or a rental. The Sigma is about the equivalent in power as the 430EX but adds wireless master capability. Again, the latter feature is not very good between the brands.

-Mickey

Thank you for that advice...I will get the sigma for now as a back up but how does everyone feel about repairing the hot shoe? Is it a good option..it looks pretty simple..just curious.

Maui Kim wrote in post #3129381
Thank you for that advice...I will get the sigma for now as a back up but how does everyone feel about repairing the hot shoe? Is it a good option..it looks pretty simple..just curious.

If mine was broken and out of warranty, I'd order those parts and do it in a heartbeat. If still under warranty, I'd send it to Canon and let them do it on their time and dollar...assuming they'd consider it a warranty repair. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't.

It's got only 1 more month under warranty...so I'm leaning towards just doing it myself..being in Hawaii I have to find out if it can be fixed at our Canon in Honolulu or if it has to go to the mainland..if it does it will take forever to ship and get back..thats why i'm leaning towards doing it myself...thanks everyone

With a small screwdriver you can replace this part in under 10 minutes.

All EX flashes share the same part except the 580 II.

Maui Kim wrote in post #3129447
It's got only 1 more month under warranty...so I'm leaning towards just doing it myself..being in Hawaii I have to find out if it can be fixed at our Canon in Honolulu or if it has to go to the mainland..if it does it will take forever to ship and get back..thats why i'm leaning towards doing it myself...thanks everyone

I keep forgetting about the Hawaii Five-0 Hassle.

Just order the parts & make like a DIY.

I don't know what I would do without you all!!! Thank you! Thank you!

Maui Kim wrote in post #3128609
So I had a wedding last night and my husband assisted me. He dropped my 5D + 24-70L +580EX...The camera and lens seem to be ok..for now. The little plastic piece to shoe mount the flash cracked in half so it won't stay mounted...I have another wedding this weekend so I went to order another flash this morning and the 580EX is discontinued and the 580EXII is not in stock yet. Would you get a 430EX or a Simga 500 for the 5D if you had no other choice. I do have a backup flash but I will not go with just 1....any advice?

You can get the replacement part shipped to you from Canon overnight. I had the EXACT same thing happen to me this weekend, only the camera was a 30D. Same broken shoe. I have two Sigma flashes and they served the purpose, but I really missed the head rotation... I think I'd go with the 430EX. But if you can get the replacement part, it's an EASY fix! 4 screws hold the bottom on. I just ordered the whole shoe assembly so $36.00 +/-. You take the 4 screws out.. the bottom falls off and a small connector needs to be undone. Then put in the new part the same way. It's as easy as changing batteries in a toy. Order one now and you'll be able to get it in time for this weekend.