Canon 580EX II not working ...Wedding in a week!!

[iND]

I hesitated to intervene in your dilema, but now that you said it,
You can take the word of a long time wedding photographer,
Have a back up of everthing, even a back up photographer,
We are our experiences.

[ddt0725]

I hesitated to intervene in your dilema, but now that you said it,
You can take the word of a long time wedding photographer,
Have a back up of everthing, even a back up photographer,
We are our experiences.

No, reason to hesitate. Being a wedding photographer is not an aspiration of mine. If it were, I would never go into it un-equipped to handle the job. I just never needed two of everything to take photos of my dogs, flowers or butterflies. In fact, I always had much more than what I needed to photograph them! If I were to ever ...and that is a huge EVER get talked into doing this again, I would most definitely figure into my price enough to rent what else I needed until I was able to make the purchases of extra equipment. Oh, and also enough to pay my daughter 3x what she is making on this gig because she swears she'll never be my wedding assistant again ...LOL!

[ddt0725]

I did the online repair quote on Canon's site and it came back with $183 to repair the speedlite. All it did was ask me date of purchase and serial #. It didn't even ask what the problem was so how accurate is that to what it will really cost. Granted, it is an estimate but even with estimates your usually asked what the problem is first.

Has anyone ever sent something in and it was less than the "esitmate" or much more?

[HDNitehawk]

Has anyone ever sent something in and it was less than the "esitmate" or much more?

I doubt it would be less if that is the price they quote. That is probably what it cost them to Refurb one. They are out of stock now but a refurb 580 II is just $319, just $136 more. You could just buy a refurb 430 II for $192.

[ddt0725]

They are out of stock now but a refurb 580 II is just $319, just $136 more.

Funny how a year ago, I would have looked at it as just $319 ...now I look at it as the amount of a weekly unemployment check or the amount of my monthly car payment! The repair will just have to wait until I at least sell something that I need less than I need the flash. I still have my 430ex II for now.

[Richard Lane]

Granted, it is an estimate but even with estimates your usually asked what the problem is first.

Has anyone ever sent something in and it was less than the "esitmate" or much more?

Canon's estimates are fairly accurate. I beleive there is a "standard labor charge for repairing a speedlite (around $100-125)," plus the part and tax.

[ddt0725]

Canon's estimates are fairly accurate. I beleive there is a "standard labor charge for repairing a speedlite (around $100-125)," plus the part and tax.

Lovely ...now I can see why they make them so you can't take the front panel off and replace the bulb yourself.