430EX II modified for greater rotation

spjwebster

spjwebster

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Has anyone tried modding their 430EX II for greater rotation? Something like this, which talks about the original 430EX:

http://www.jedi.com/obiwan/photo/canon430head.html

I'd dearly love to be able to rotate the flash head beyond 90° to the right, predominantly so that when I'm stuck taking shots with on-camera flash in portrait orientation I can bounce it off the ceiling behind me for a softer light. Eventually I'll pony up and buy a second flash head, but for now this particular limitation of the 430EX II is grating on me.

Looking at the technique above, I'm rather disappointed that this seems to be an artificial limitation designed purely to make the upgrade to the 580EX II (and now, I guess, 600EX-RT) all that much more worthwhile.
 
It's quite a common mod for the brave/confident. Canon also forgot to fit a pull-out bounce card to the 430... :(
 
I've done it twice.
The first time I cut through a few wires and the optical cable while removing the plastic tab because I was a berk and tried to do it with a knife, I got it almost completely done then slipped taking the last bit off. I also mauled the outer casing trying to undo the little plastic clip on the side of the body and ended up breaking it anyway but that was purely cosmetic.

The second time around I just snapped the clip clean off to save damaging the case and used a file to remove the tab. It's easy to do as long as you're sensible about it.
I filed a bit more off the metal ring too so I got a little bit more than ninety degrees rotation to the left but I don't think I really filed it enough. Didn't feel it was worth opening it all back up again for though.

I used these instructions.
 
Thanks Darren. That mod seems more straight forward than the 430EX mod I posted earlier.

I'm really rather tempted to give it a go. Maybe I need a bit of Dutch cour… oh, that's probably not a great idea, huh?!
 
For clarity the one I've linked swaps the 180 degree rotation from left to right for use in portrait orientation. If you file the metal ring's tab down you get a bit more than 90 degrees to the left (I think mine is about 105 degrees) but it's still not 180 each way.
I wanted 180 to the right for the same reason as you (bouncing behind in portrait orientation) and wasn't bothered about the left rotation so the simpler modification is enough for me.

You could potentially get 180 both ways if you completely filed away the tab on the metal ring but then you'd be bound to forget which way you'd rotated the flash at some point and would twist the wires.
 
Allowing 180° clockwise and 90° (or a little bit more) anticlockwise would be a real improvement. I've ordered myself a set of needle files from Amazon whilst I contemplate whether it's wise to butcher my only off-camera flash 4 weeks before I shoot my first wedding.
 
spjwebster said:
Allowing 180° clockwise and 90° (or a little bit more) anticlockwise would be a real improvement. I've ordered myself a set of needle files from Amazon whilst I contemplate whether it's wise to butcher my only off-camera flash 4 weeks before I shoot my first wedding.
Click to expand...

If you dive in there, be aware that there is very high voltage about. Personally, I would take the batteries out and leave the gun overnight first.
 
HoppyUK said:
If you dive in there, be aware that there is very high voltage about. Personally, I would take the batteries out and leave the gun overnight first.
Click to expand...

Fear not. Back in the day I watched a mate get zapped by the capacitor powering the CRT in an oscilloscope because he was poking around in the back with a screwdriver. That didn't look like a whole lot of fun.

I have some almost flat rechargeables that I can put in the flash, do a full-power test fire, then whip them out quickly so it doesn't get anywhere near full charge. Then I'll be leaving it overnight (or maybe two) just to be sure.
 
HoppyUK said:
If you dive in there, be aware that there is very high voltage about. Personally, I would take the batteries out and leave the gun overnight first.
Click to expand...

Too true!!

I took a flashgun apart as a kid and found that the black cylinder thing inside had the magical ability to throw me across the room. Stupidly, while wondering what had happened I picked up (the still not fully discharged) capacitor and repeated the experience. Thirty years ago and it seems like yesterday;)
 
RJL2005 said:
Too true!!

I took a flashgun apart as a kid and found that the black cylinder thing inside had the magical ability to throw me across the room. Stupidly, while wondering what had happened I picked up (the still not fully discharged) capacitor and repeated the experience. Thirty years ago and it seems like yesterday;)
Click to expand...

lmao, I nearly spat my bishops finger everywhere when I read that !
 
Some examples of very irresponsible behaviour here.

Just wear rubber gloves, then you'll be safe holding on to your wife while she does it.
 
Rubber I understand but I didn't need gloves with your wife... :coat:
 
Anyone considering it please look at a few youtube vids on how to discharge high voltage capacitors with high Wattage resistors from maplins ets and will save you from a lot of pain.
A 10 watt ceramic resistor is 79p

Also note that caps stay charged for weeks so overnight doesnt help.
 
Thanks @ funkysam

what I do to discharge the cap is I press the flash button (on full power) and quickly opening the battery door just split seconds after the flash fires, before it starts to charge.. Don't know if that totally discharges the cap though..
 
strobemonkey said:
Thanks @ funkysam

what I do to discharge the cap is I press the flash button (on full power) and quickly opening the battery door just split seconds after the flash fires, before it starts to charge.. Don't know if that totally discharges the cap though..
Click to expand...

Very unlikely as they dont fully discharge per flash, also recycle times are fast.
If everyone is adamant on doing this kinda stuff then I may have to do a quick vid showing how to discharge them safely, anyone want?
 
yeah please do..
 
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