580ex II problem also

oakfieldphotography.comoakfieldphotography.com Registered Users Posts: 376 Major grins
edited October 15, 2011 in Accessories
Hi everyone
I too have a problem with my flash. Was shooting at a wedding during the dance. would only work every third shot. I was bouncing it off a white ceiling. Battery was fine i think but then mabey this is normal if the bettery gets low. Did anyone else encounter the same problem with this flash gun?
Patrick.

Comments

  • ziggy53ziggy53 Super Moderators Posts: 24,133 moderator
    edited October 10, 2011
    What ISO?
    What f-stop?
    How far away was the subject?
    Did you use the fill card?

    For indoor photography, I generally use a "scoop" modifier. The scoop recovers approximately 1/2 of the flash output and redirects it forward. The remainder of the flash is allowed to spill forward off the ceiling. I'll also use ISO 800-1600, depending on the intended use for the image. (ISO 1600 works fine for most candids even using an old Canon 40D, which is fairly noisy in the shadows at ISO 1600.)

    An external, high-voltage power supply can drop recycle times down to around 2 seconds from a full pop, while giving around 3 times the number of images per 12 cell "set" of AA sized batteries. The Canon CP-E4 is ideal, but you do have to be careful not to overheat the Canon 580EX II, lest it stop working.

    Even using a Sigma flash with just the internal batteries I do fine with the scoop and ISO 800-1600.
    ziggy53
    Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
  • NeilLNeilL Registered Users Posts: 4,201 Major grins
    edited October 11, 2011
    oakfieldphotography.com wrote: »
    Hi everyone
    I too have a problem with my flash. Was shooting at a wedding during the dance. would only work every third shot. I was bouncing it off a white ceiling. Battery was fine i think but then mabey this is normal if the bettery gets low. Did anyone else encounter the same problem with this flash gun?
    Patrick.

    If you can see that the recycling LED is on the times the flash doesn't fire then yes it's normal.

    Neil
    "Snow. Ice. Slow!" "Half-winter. Half-moon. Half-asleep!"

    http://www.behance.net/brosepix
  • oakfieldphotography.comoakfieldphotography.com Registered Users Posts: 376 Major grins
    edited October 12, 2011
    sorry for the delay in answering your questions. I was shooting in good to poor light at people either dancing or sitting in front of me. I did see a red light on the back of my flash so i have to think it is the batteries. About every third shot failed to flash. I use rechargeable batteries and i dont think they recycled quick enough for me. Thanks for your responces. I may have to take 3 sets of batteries to my next wedding shoot.
    Kind regards
    Patrick
  • NeilLNeilL Registered Users Posts: 4,201 Major grins
    edited October 12, 2011
    oakfieldphotography.com wrote: »
    sorry for the delay in answering your questions. I was shooting in good to poor light at people either dancing or sitting in front of me. I did see a red light on the back of my flash so i have to think it is the batteries. About every third shot failed to flash. I use rechargeable batteries and i dont think they recycled quick enough for me. Thanks for your responces. I may have to take 3 sets of batteries to my next wedding shoot.
    Kind regards
    Patrick

    The LED will be off, show green or show red, if I am correct. Flash is possible when either green or red are showing. When it is green, quick flash limitations apply. I have had the same experience as you when shooting frames quickly with the flash on high output. My flashes have just come back from servicing at Canon, without any faults found.

    The test results for batteries for flash that I have seen indicate that Powerex or Eneloop are the best performers. Maha rechargers are the best.

    Neil
    "Snow. Ice. Slow!" "Half-winter. Half-moon. Half-asleep!"

    http://www.behance.net/brosepix
  • quantumhelpquantumhelp Registered Users Posts: 6 Beginner grinner
    edited October 13, 2011
    Bouncing off the ceiling is most likely using full power. depending on what batteries you are using for recycling in the battery compartment, you can experience normally 3 to 5 seconds recycle on a full power discharge. Using an external battery pack could cut that down to 1 - 1 1/4 second(s). Also, please read page 7 of the 580EX-II instruction manual and the reference to possibly getting into the 8 to 20 second slow down recycle mode. That could also be the cause of why you are missing shots. Flash is trying to protect itself.
  • Manfr3dManfr3d Registered Users Posts: 2,008 Major grins
    edited October 15, 2011
    After a burst of high power flashes my unit starts to take longer to recycle.
    The camera will continue to fire but without flash for a couple of frames then
    fire one with flash then another few without. This usualy happens only in burst
    mode or when I am shooting relatively fast with full power.

    Could also be that overheating protection prevents the unit to pop out more light.

    The permanent red light btw is normal and indicates the flash is charged and ready to use.
    “To consult the rules of composition before making a picture is a little like consulting the law of gravitation before going for a walk.”
    ― Edward Weston
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