XSi - built in flash won't fire

I have a new XSi that is less than a year old. It is just back from the factory because I was getting "Error 05" when the pop up flash wouldn't pop up. I discovered last night that the built in flash won't fire. I hope this doesn't mean another trip back in for warranty. I put in a freshly charged battery, checked to see that flash was enabled, tried in several different modes: Auto, P, portrait, etc.

Any idea?

gayla

Could it be that little switch on the hotshoe you've probably never noticed? I have an XSi and had a problem with it once.

Check out this thread.

This problem is common to any Canon camera with a pop-up flash, no matter what model and no matter when it was made. I have had five different Canons, three digital and two film that had pop-up flashes and every single one had this problem at one time or another.

Canon has used the same design since they marketed their first cameras with a built in flash and it hasn't been changed in all that time.

Todd,

Thanks for the idea about the tiny button. I never would have looked there. However, it does seem to be working.

Nuts, I hope I don't have a lemon.

gayla

I just talked to Canon. It is headed back to the factory for repair.

Nuts.

Gayla

gaylams wrote in post #8942745
I just talked to Canon. It is headed back to the factory for repair.

Nuts.

Gayla

If it is indeed that microswitch on the hot shoe, it will happen again. There is no way to prevent dirt and crud from getting in there and gumming it up again. If they charge you for the repair, you may have wasted your money.

It's a flawed design and for the life of me I don't know why Canon hasn't come up with a better design in all these years...