Someone help! Flash problems.

Hey all. My 50D is telling me that the flash I have attached to my camera is "incompatible flash or flash's power is off". Last time I checked my 580 EX II is definitely compatible. Plus, it had been working fine forever and now all of a sudden it's not syncing. It's still firing, but it's not ETTL, or high speed sync. None of the options really work, other than the flash goes off.


Oh, and I'm getting that message when I try to go into my external flash options.


Anyone know what to do?? Thanks a bunch.





John

This is probably not your issue, but the last time I had that problem the flash was not fully seated into the shoe.

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Originally Posted by Don Burkett

This is probably not your issue, but the last time I had that problem the flash was not fully seated into the shoe.
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That's a good suggestion. I've had the 580EX not seat before and I didn't realize it at first. Also try fresh batteries if you haven't already.

+1 on Don and Sean's comments.

You may want to check to see if your hot shoe is loose on your camera. Its easy to fix and you can do it yourself.

I have had problems with the quick lock on my 580EXII not clamping tieght enough causing the flash to not fire. I have had this problem on both of my cameras and off shoe cords as well.


No problems with my 580EX.


Mark

I too have had problems with flash seating.

Well the flash is still working, that's the weird thing. It just won't talk to the camera other than telling it to flash. It won't evaluate, high speed sync....nothing. Then the camera just tells me it's not on or incompatible.





I might have to resort to desperate measures.....and go to a shop. SOB.

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Originally Posted by LoneSierra

I might have to resort to desperate measures.....and go to a shop. SOB.
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Be sure to let us know what you find out.

In the hot shoe there is a little spring loaded pin that pops up when the flash is not on the camera. Check it to make sure it is recessing properly.

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Originally Posted by LoneSierra

Well the flash is still working, that's the weird thing. It just won't talk to the camera other than telling it to flash. It won't evaluate, high speed sync....nothing. Then the camera just tells me it's not on or incompatible.

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See the big contact on top of your camera? I'm pretty sure that's the "FIRE!" pin, so it's easy for that pin to make contact.


All those little pins are the ones that let your camera "talk" to your flash. If they aren't making good contact, you'll have the problems you're having. Try fresh batteries, wiggling the flash, and cleaning the contacts with a pencil eraser or any other contact cleaning method that YOU trust. I have the same problems with my 580EX IIs (we have four of them) on our Canon bodies (we have three of them).

Hey thanks for the tip, but alas, it was to no avail. I'm not sure what the hell is going on. This equipment is new as of this year, and not heavily used yet so I'm not sure why it decided to all of a sudden start doing this.


The only thing that's happened that might even make a difference is that I dropped the camera the other day. On to my living room floor, which is wood, but the camera body is all that fell. From about 4 feet I'd say. Landed on a corner, so from what I can tell otherwise, no harm done.


The other pins on the flash are all popping out and spring loaded as they should be, so they should be making contact.


Well, I'll be getting back home tomorrow, I'll go by a shop, and see what they have for ideas.





Thanks again everyone, and I'll come back and let know what happens.





John