Canon flash repair, any source other than Canon? Beyond service life 540EZ

JimKarczewski

Title says it all, I have a 540EZ that fully charges but ready light won't go on. Sent it to CPS with my other equipment needing service and they are returning it because it's past it's service light. I know the 500EX isn't, but I just picked up a few 540EZ's cheap and one decided to die.

ziggy53

According to another post you paid around $60 for the flash.

While you may be able to get this flash repaired, if the problem is that you can hear the charging circuits but that the "ready light" never shows and the flash will not fire, that generally means the main control board is bad. You can get replacement boards but the cheapest I have seen is $67 on up. (There are apparently 2 - different versions of the board, at different costs. I do not believe that the versions are interchangeable and the correct version would not be known until you opened the flash.) A ribbon cable may also be involved as might a second board.

I suggest that likely costs for repair would run between $100-$200USD.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CANON-SPEEDLITE-540EZ-B-CBA-REPLACEMENT-/390118331534?pt=Digital_Camera_Accessories&hash=item5ad4dd548e#ht_500wt_668

http://www.ebay.com/itm/OEM-NEW-CANON-SPEEDLITE-540EZ-FLASH-CBA-PART-/220433112025?pt=Digital_Camera_Accessories&hash=item3352d65bd9#ht_500wt_668

B&H are my primary recommendation for repairs, although I have also used Lundgren Camera & Video in Rockford, IL with good results (a little slow) (Hasselblad and Canon repairs for me at Lundgrens.)

My recommendation is to just purchase another used 540EZ if you can still find it for $60.

JimKarczewski

Thanks Ziggy. Yeah, unless I do a DIY repair, may not be worth it.. if it was a 550, I might.. because I know Canon will still, at this point service or replace them, which I thought they might do with the 540, but not the case. Oh well, I have a new 580II since they are $50 off till 1/7/12.. Guess I'll "have to do" with the new flash.

NeilL

In Melbourne - not much help to you, I know! - there's a well-respected shop which stocks used Canon components. There'd have to be someplace like that not too far from you, I'd guess, so if you can do the installing yourself the cost might still be low enough.

Anyhow, best of luck with it.

Neil