40D flash doesn't pop up...

I don't use the built-in flash a lot, I usually prefer my Sigma 500....

However, as I didn't have my external flash with me yeterday, I wanted to take a few shots using the built-in flash. That's when I discovered that I couldn't make it pop up.

The camera simply does not seem to realize it has a built-in flash (maybe it knows it's not really useful) Whatever I do, it doesn't react and i don't hear anything like the camera trying to open the flash. I've tried using the force flash button in Av, Tv, M and P modes, or using green box night portraits and so on...

Couls I have changed a setting somewhere which could cause this behaviour? Or is the camera good for a trip to Canon?

Thanks for your help

Silly question but I have to ask. I'm assuming you pressed the flash button already?

Mine is the same way. I have to flip it up with a pocket knife as I press the button. I've been told this is a common problem with Canon SLRs. My camera is still under warranty, but since I almost never use the pop-up flash I haven't decided if I'm going to get it fixed.

Check hot shoe rails first.

Underneath the spring on one of them, there is a tiny micro switch that tells the camera not to lift built in flash when external flash is mounted.
Sometimes, that little switch gets stuck.
Jerk it a little bit with something sharp, like toothpick, work it out couple of times, pressing the flash button at the same time..

Check the flash menu and make sure you didn't disable it there.

jwcdds wrote in post #7430645
Silly question but I have to ask. I'm assuming you pressed the flash button already?

Done

Hermeto wrote in post #7430685
Check hot shoe rails first.

Underneath the spring on one of them, there is a tiny micro switch that tells the camera not to lift built in flash when external flash is mounted.
Sometimes, that little switch gets stuck.
Jerk it a little bit with something sharp, like toothpick, work it out couple of times, pressing the flash button at the same time..

Done and not stuck...

captclick wrote in post #7430781
Check the flash menu and make sure you didn't disable it there.

Where could this be hiding in the menu. I had a look at the menu but didn't find anything which seemed to disable flash Is there a specific function that I oversaw?

thomascanty wrote in post #7430684
Mine is the same way. I have to flip it up with a pocket knife as I press the button. I've been told this is a common problem with Canon SLRs. My camera is still under warranty, but since I almost never use the pop-up flash I haven't decided if I'm going to get it fixed.

I can't flip it up anymore while pressing the button as without pressing. Pressing the button really seems to have no effect at all.... (not even the slightest noise of flash trying to open. :rolleyes

DDA wrote in post #7430836
Where could this be hiding in the menu. I had a look at the menu but didn't find anything which seemed to disable flash Is there a specific function that I oversaw?

Go to flash control, flash firing, and enable.

^ Don't think that matters. I just disabled mine and I can still get my flash to pop up w/ the button.

Me thinks DDA's got a bad pop-up switch.

DDA wrote in post #7430847
I can't flip it up anymore while pressing the button as without pressing. Pressing the button really seems to have no effect at all.... (not even the slightest noise of flash trying to open. :rolleyes

How about green box mode? It should pop up automatically.

If it doesn't then I am quite sure switch in the hotshoe is sensing an external flash.

Here is a link that might help: http://www.conraderb.c​om/flashrepair/

jwcdds wrote in post #7430914
^ Don't think that matters. I just disabled mine and I can still get my flash to pop up w/ the button.

Me thinks DDA's got a bad pop-up switch.

Right you are. I should of checked that.

msowsun wrote in post #7430957
How about green box mode? It should pop up automatically.

If it doesn't then I am quite sure switch in the hotshoe is sensing an external flash.

Done and doesn't work and no, the switch isn't sensing an external flash...

When you go into the in-camera Flash control menu, (Built-in flash func. setting) what does it look like?

It should read....

- (Flash mode E-TTL II) (all grayed out) (at least it does on mine???)
- Shutter Sync. 1st curtain
- Flash exp. comp "0"
- E-TTL II Evaluative

If you see:

Then you have a problem with the external flash sensor switch.

msowsun wrote in post #7431168
When you go into the in-camera Flash control menu, (Built-in flash func. setting) what does it look like?

It should read....

- (Flash mode E-TTL II) (all grayed out) (at least it does on mine???)
- Shutter Sync. 1st curtain
- Flash exp. comp "0"
- E-TTL II Evaluative

If you see:

Then you have a problem with the external flash sensor switch.

:o Yep, that's it The switch looked perfectly normal from outside though. I managed to unlock it with a needle. I'll do a few tries and if it gets stuck everytime I attach the external flash, it'll make a trip to Canon!

Thanks a lot for your help

msowsun wrote in post #7431168
When you go into the in-camera Flash control menu, (Built-in flash func. setting) what does it look like?

It should read....

- (Flash mode E-TTL II) (all grayed out) (at least it does on mine???)
- Shutter Sync. 1st curtain
- Flash exp. comp "0"
- E-TTL II Evaluative

That's what mine shows. The problem I always had was that the internal flash was just physically stuck. If I press the button I could hear the camera go "Ssssshhhhhk... Ssssshhhhhk... Ssssshhhhhk... ", then an error would show on the LCD and I'd have to turn the camera off/on to be able to use it again. I just grabbed it so I could post the exact error message I've been getting, but now the flash pops up just fine. WTH?!?

Funny... I've had the thing 10 months and the damn flash has never worked until now when I actually wanted it to fail.