A day of disasters!!!

DaveS2

DaveS2

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Having not done any Macro for some time, I thought I'd have a play in the garden. Attached my Sigma EX 105mm f/2.8 macro, and the Nissin MF18 Ring Flash, to the 5D3, and set off down the garden hunting bugs.

The first thing I discover is that the manual focus ring on the lens rotates, but does nothing. AF still works fine though, so I thought I would press on regardless.

Next I find that only one of the two tubes on the ring flash is firing.

Carry out a full 'factory reset', only to find that it now it doesn't fire at all, via test button or camera.

Go to the Nissin website to download new or updated firmware.

Download the installer, which McCafee immediately quarantines as containing the Artemis virus. So now here I am with a half working macro lens, and a non-working ring flash. The latter which had only been used half a dozen times, but of course is out of warranty.

The lens I would have happily replaced with the Canon 100mm f/2.8 IS Macro, as it is quite a few years old, and not image stabilised. The ring flash however, isn't that old and has seen very little use.

Dave
 
Last edited:
That's very bad news.
Obvious question but have you replaced the batteries in the ring flash ?
My mr-14ex still shows the lcd display and allows settings to be changed but the flashes won't fire when the battery level is low.
 
DaveS2 said:
Having not done any Macro for some time, I thought I'd have a play in the garden. Attached my Sigma EX 105mm f/2.8 macro, and the Nissin MF18 Ring Flash, to the 5D3, and set off down the garden hunting bugs.

The first thing I discover is that the manual focus ring on the lens rotates, but does nothing. AF still works fine though, so I thought I would press on regardless.

Next I find that only one of the two tubes on the ring flash is firing.

Carry out a full 'factory reset', only to find that it now it doesn't fire at all, via test button or camera.

Go to the Nissin website to download new or updated firmware.

Download the installer, which McCafee immediately quarantines as containing the Artemis virus. So now here I am with a half working macro lens, and a non-working ring flash. The latter which had only been used half a dozen times, but of course is out of warranty.

The lens I would have happily replaced with the Canon 100mm f/2.8 IS Macro, as it is quite a few years old, and not image stabilised. The ring flash however, isn't that old and has seen very little use.

Dave
Click to expand...

Silly question but have you slid the focus ring forwards/backwards as I'm sure on my newer version of the sigma the focus ring moves position, one where it freely rotates and the other position it's stiff
 
Not a silly question at all Matthew, as that is exactly what had happened.

Thinking that I had nothing lose, this morning I gave the focus ring a push and a shove, and 'bingo' it clicked back into gear. :)

Have had this lens for quite a few years now, and never knew that it had this feature, but I do now :rolleyes:. That will teach me to read the manual.

The other bit of good news is, that having found the invoice for the Nissin Ring Flash, I discovered that it wasn't as old as I thought, and has a few weeks left on the warranty. :)

So, I have e-mailed both the retailer, and the distributor/importer, requesting that it is repaired or replaced under warranty.

I now believe that the fault is with the EHT generator circuit, which generates and supplies the high voltage to the discharge capacitor, as I can't hear the oscillator running.

Thanks for your input, much appreciated.

Dave
 
stu.artd said:
That's very bad news.
Obvious question but have you replaced the batteries in the ring flash ?
My mr-14ex still shows the lcd display and allows settings to be changed but the flashes won't fire when the battery level is low.
Click to expand...

Yes, I have done that Stuart, a couple of times with fully charged sets, but thanks for asking anyway.

Dave
 
DaveS2 said:
Not a silly question at all Matthew, as that is exactly what had happened.

Thinking that I had nothing lose, this morning I gave the focus ring a push and a shove, and 'bingo' it clicked back into gear. :)

Have had this lens for quite a few years now, and never knew that it had this feature, but I do now :rolleyes:. That will teach me to read the manual.

The other bit of good news is, that having found the invoice for the Nissin Ring Flash, I discovered that it wasn't as old as I thought, and has a few weeks left on the warranty. :)

So, I have e-mailed both the retailer, and the distributor/importer, requesting that it is repaired or replaced under warranty.

I now believe that the fault is with the EHT generator circuit, which generates and supplies the high voltage to the discharge capacitor, as I can't hear the oscillator running.

Thanks for your input, much appreciated.

Dave
Click to expand...

Well I'm glad to have been able to help you with the one fault :thumbs: glad it was just that :thumbs:
 
Had a prompt response back from Kenro, the Nissin distributor/importer in the UK, asking me to return the unit directly to them (not the retailer), and they will either repair or replace under warranty. :)

Great customer service. :)

Dave
 
True Jordon, but then I'm the 'for ever optimist' ;)

Dave
 
Mcafee has probably detected a false positive, if you wanted to update firmware, though sounds like you don't need to, you could disable Macafee for 15 min while you do the update ?
 
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