Canon 5D locking up with Metz 58 and off camera cords

canoflan

Ok, here is my setup:

Canon 5D, Metz 58 flash, off camera cords from Canon (cord 2) and Promaster for Canon.

Firstly, the promaster cord doesn't work with the Metz 58. Flash simply won't trigger. Promaster works fine with my 580EX. That being said, I had to use the Canon cord 2 with the Metz flash.

Canon 5D on manual mode, shooting RAW, CF 14 on average mode
Metz 58 on TTL with Canon cord 2.

The Metz, by the way, works fine on the camera's hotshoe. I have taken over 200 shots with the Metz on the 5D's hotshoe and no problem at all.

After about 4-5 shots with 5D and Metz flash with the Canon cord 2, the 5D looks like it is still on, but it don't record any more pictures. It will take pictures, but not record them. I have to remove the battery and reinsert it to get the 5D to "soft reset" from this locked up status.

My 580EX works fine with no locking up of the 5D what so ever. I tried it with the canon cord 2 (to ensure it isn't the cord) and the promaster cord.

I think that the Metz is perhaps in need of a firmware update or something. I know it has to be the off camera cord because it locks up only when using the cord.

Thoughts? Anyone have the same experience with the same equipment setup?

Thanks for your time and responses,
Pat

canoflan

canoflan wrote:

Ok, here is my setup:

Canon 5D, Metz 58 flash, off camera cords from Canon (cord 2) and Promaster for Canon.

Firstly, the promaster cord doesn't work with the Metz 58. Flash simply won't trigger. Promaster works fine with my 580EX. That being said, I had to use the Canon cord 2 with the Metz flash.

Canon 5D on manual mode, shooting RAW, CF 14 on average mode
Metz 58 on TTL with Canon cord 2.

The Metz, by the way, works fine on the camera's hotshoe. I have taken over 200 shots with the Metz on the 5D's hotshoe and no problem at all.

After about 4-5 shots with 5D and Metz flash with the Canon cord 2, the 5D looks like it is still on, but it don't record any more pictures. It will take pictures, but not record them. I have to remove the battery and reinsert it to get the 5D to "soft reset" from this locked up status.

My 580EX works fine with no locking up of the 5D what so ever. I tried it with the canon cord 2 (to ensure it isn't the cord) and the promaster cord.

I think that the Metz is perhaps in need of a firmware update or something. I know it has to be the off camera cord because it locks up only when using the cord.

Thoughts? Anyone have the same experience with the same equipment setup?

Thanks for your time and responses,
Pat

I am thinking now that the screws on the cords may be not as tight as they should be. I will check this this evening at home and see.

pathfinder

I have always wondered why Canon does not make a cord longer than about 30 inches or so. Maybe has to do with timing circuits or what.

I am sure there is a market for a ETTL cord of 7-10 feet in length.

canoflan

pathfinder wrote:

I have always wondered why Canon does not make a cord longer than about 30 inches or so. Maybe has to do with timing circuits or what.

I am sure there is a market for a ETTL cord of 7-10 feet in length.

See this thread for some ideas on getting the flash off camera -
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=308108

Here is a link to a gentleman that will take your stock Canon cord 2 and extend it to any length you want (just about), which will save TTL.
http://www.michaelbass.blogspot.com/

Actually, I think the tightness of me screwing the Canon cord 2 down to my RRS flash bracket was causing a bit of contact problem because when I use my Metz flash now in TTL on my Canon 5D, I have no problem at all (over 100 more shots with this setup now). I think I need to either no screw it down so hard, or use a couple washers to limit the extension of the screw into the hole in the Canon cord 2.

Pat

ziggy53

canoflan wrote:

... use a couple washers to limit the extension of the screw into the hole in the Canon cord 2.

Pat

Bingo (I am betting)

Good detective work!