Problems with 580ex

Hi all,

Just recently when I mount my 580ex on my 1DMKII, the flash doesn't wanna fire. I've done everything from changing the batteries from the camera and flash but no luck. I cleaned the contacts on the hotshoe and flash but still no luck.

I know the flash works because if I remove it off the camera and hit the pilot button it fires.

They both worked yesterday but today it doesn't wanna work.

I need your guys help, I already don't know what to do.

does the flash head zoom? does the test button work? have you tried shooting it in green auto mode on your camera?

could be a custom setting in which you disabled "flash emits"

I press the pilot/test button and the flash fires.

The flash zooms when I zoom it on the flash and when I leave it on ettl mode on the flash, it zooms when I zoom my lens.

Also, 1D doesn't have auto mode. But I did try it on P, TV, AV, Manual, and bulb still no flash fire.

I also thought I did something with custom settings but I set everything back to default on both the flash and camera and still no luck.

Do you have another camera to try it on? It's weird that the test button works when the flash isn't mounted, but fails when it is mounted.

tim wrote in post #9905206
Do you have another camera to try it on? It's weird that the test button works when the flash isn't mounted, but fails when it is mounted.

Was gonna try that tomorrow with my cousin's 5DII.

Do you guys think the problem could be the camera?

I know the connection is there because when I change the F/stop on the camera, the f/stop on the screen of the flash also changes when it's on ETTL mode.

I've never heard a problem like this before, trying it on another camera will give more information that will help diagnose the problem.

sounds like a custom function flash emits = off

issue.

c2thew wrote in post #9907961
sounds like a custom function flash emits = off

issue.

But I put both the camera and flash back to default setting.

Okay today I tested my flash on my cousin's 5D2 and it worked perfectly.

Lucky thing he has a flash too so I decided to try his 580exII on my 1D2 and the flashed fired.

But the thing is that when it's on ETTL mode on the flash, it doesn't meter. The shots I took was way over exposed, so the only way I could of got it perfectly was if I put the flash on manual.

contact issue? I know that ETTL flashes will fire @ 1/1 if they aren't connecting properly.

I agree with Kayl, it could be loose or dirty flash mount on the 1DII, or perhaps a faulty flash. Try tightening the flash mount (remove the plate, there's instructions somewhere around here) else send the flash to Canon.

kayl wrote in post #9910090
contact issue? I know that ETTL flashes will fire @ 1/1 if they aren't connecting properly.

My 580EX II does that a lot on my 1dmk2.

Check the button cell battery in your camera.

Enjoy! Lon

FlashZebra wrote in post #9910892
Check the button cell battery in your camera.

That's an interesting suggestion, i've never heard of either the symptom or cure before! Have you seen weird behavior when that cell's flat? What other weird things can a camera do when it's flat?

tim wrote in post #9910255
I agree with Kayl, it could be loose or dirty flash mount on the 1DII, or perhaps a faulty flash. Try tightening the flash mount (remove the plate, there's instructions somewhere around here) else send the flash to Canon.

Today I cleaned both the contacts of the camera and flash the a pencil eraser.

I also removed the flash plate and tighten the hotshoe.

I even followed almost everything on this link besides lifting the internal flash because the 1D doesn't have one.

http://www.conraderb.c​om/flashrepair/

Idk if it's a faulty flash because the flash worked perfectly on my family member's 5DII.