Non syncing flash

ShootinJack

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Richard
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Hi,

My 380EX flash gun fires but doesn't appear to sync with the camera, so shots come out as if the flash hasn't fired at all. Have tried the flash gun on both a 350D and a 40D with the same results. Have also tried it in all modes on the camera.
Took it to a local camera shop, and was quoted around 70 for the repair but it was still not garuanteed to work. Obviously I didn't get it repaired as it is only worth around that.
Has anyone here experienced this fault at all? Has the flashgun had it?

Cheers
Richard
 
Hi,

My 380EX flash gun fires but doesn't appear to sync with the camera, so shots come out as if the flash hasn't fired at all. Have tried the flash gun on both a 350D and a 40D with the same results. Have also tried it in all modes on the camera.
Took it to a local camera shop, and was quoted around 70 for the repair but it was still not garuanteed to work. Obviously I didn't get it repaired as it is only worth around that.
Has anyone here experienced this fault at all? Has the flashgun had it?

Cheers
Richard

Most of these kind of problems are set-up errors, and since you say the gun actually fires (presumably just the pre-flash?) then at least it's semi-working.

What happened when you tried it in the shop? Have you disabled the main flash in custom functions or something? What shutter speed are you using? Is the flash on-camera or are you using a remote trigger of some sort? Can you fire it manually?

Who quoted you £70? It's a good gun and even if something is wrong I would get it repaired for that - could be less if you send it to the right place.
 
Thanks for the response, much appreciated.
The flash fires when taking a photo, but the photo comes out like it hasn't fired. Had the same result in the shop too. Have just checked custom functions and it isn't disabled.
The flash is attached via the hot shoe on top of the camera and I have tried going as low as 1/30 shutterspeed.
http://www.dalephotographic.co.uk/ quoted me £70, any recomendations for other repair shops?

Cheers
 
It sounds like the pre-flash is working but the main flash isn't. (For E-TTL operation, there are two flashes from the gun, pre and main, but they go off so close together you normally can't separate the two visually.)

What happens when you press the pilot/test button? Are the contacts on the foot clean?

Check Canon repair centres on their website. They may give you the choice of a flat cost price, or a specific estimate. There are other places like ACS http://www.advancedcameraservices.co.uk/ which might be cheaper.
 
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