580 EX II is freaking out on me - help

ShimaShima Registered Users Posts: 2,547 Major grins
edited April 6, 2012 in Accessories
Ok new issue... was playing around with shots at a party today... and the 580 EX II started to freak out. It says it's at 14mm... when the lens is really a 24-105... which it can tell for a split second when I turn it on, it will say 24mm for a sec then go to saying 14mm... I can't figure it out. All the settings on the flash display just keep blinking. I tried taking the batteries out, putting them back in, resetting the flash settings in the 40D, taking the lens on and off... nothing is helping. I can't figure out how to fix it. Help......
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  • ShimaShima Registered Users Posts: 2,547 Major grins
    edited May 11, 2008
    Shima wrote:
    Ok new issue... was playing around with shots at a party today... and the 580 EX II started to freak out. It says it's at 14mm... when the lens is really a 24-105... which it can tell for a split second when I turn it on, it will say 24mm for a sec then go to saying 14mm... I can't figure it out. All the settings on the flash display just keep blinking. I tried taking the batteries out, putting them back in, resetting the flash settings in the 40D, taking the lens on and off... nothing is helping. I can't figure out how to fix it. Help......


    Hmm evidently if I put the wide panel back in it doesn't do this... odd...
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  • Eric&SusanEric&Susan Registered Users Posts: 1,280 Major grins
    edited May 11, 2008
    The wide panel is meant to help spread the light around more evenly when using a wide angle lens. When the flash is in 14mm mode it spreads light out wider where as at 105mm it would be more of a pin point light source.

    Eric
    "My dad taught me everything I know, unfortunately he didn't teach me everything he knows" Dale Earnhardt Jr

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  • ziggy53ziggy53 Super Moderators Posts: 24,133 moderator
    edited May 11, 2008
    I moved this to the "Accessories" forum since it isn't specifically about cameras or lenses.
    ziggy53
    Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
  • SloYerRollSloYerRoll Registered Users Posts: 2,788 Major grins
    edited May 11, 2008
    Eric&Susan wrote:
    The wide panel is meant to help spread the light around more evenly when using a wide angle lens. When the flash is in 14mm mode it spreads light out wider where as at 105mm it would be more of a pin point light source.

    Eric
    This does the same thing for the SB-600/800. There's a little slide out/flip down diffuser that you can cover the "face" of the strobe. When you have this down. The distances aren't the same for the reason Eric&Susan said.

    I only know this cuz my wife came home day w/ one of her SB-800's and freaked out since she couldn't get it to the setting she needed. I didn't really "fix" it. I just stumbled over this feature.
  • RobinivichRobinivich Registered Users Posts: 438 Major grins
    edited May 11, 2008
    The flash can detect if the wide panel (which is for 14mm FOV) is pulled out a little bit, in which case it assumes you're using it, thus "14mm" will show on the display. You just need to push it in a little bit more. Canon flashes actually match up pretty perfectly with the 24-105mm, since the range of the lens is also the range of the flash zoom heads, so unless you're extremely concerned about the evenness of light, I wouldn't bother with the wide panel, it'll just lower the effective power of the flash.
    http://taylorinlight.com
  • PineapplePhotoPineapplePhoto Registered Users Posts: 474 Major grins
    edited May 11, 2008
    Best piece of advice ever... read the Instruction's Manual for any/every new toy you get. mwink.gif
    Body: Canon 1D Mark II N | Canon 30D w/BG-E2 Flash: Canon 580EX II | Quantum T4d | Strobes & Monolights
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  • Scott_QuierScott_Quier Registered Users Posts: 6,524 Major grins
    edited May 12, 2008
    Robinivich wrote:
    The flash can detect if the wide panel (which is for 14mm FOV) is pulled out a little bit, in which case it assumes you're using it, thus "14mm" will show on the display. You just need to push it in a little bit more. Canon flashes actually match up pretty perfectly with the 24-105mm, since the range of the lens is also the range of the flash zoom heads, so unless you're extremely concerned about the evenness of light, I wouldn't bother with the wide panel, it'll just lower the effective power of the flash.
    I never use the dispersion panel, but after having it not quite seated for most of a reception and having lighting issues, I now ALWAY check this thing before I shoot. Push it in until you feel the thing click into place.
    Scott
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  • ShimaShima Registered Users Posts: 2,547 Major grins
    edited May 12, 2008
    PineapplePhoto wrote:
    Best piece of advice ever... read the Instruction's Manual for any/every new toy you get. mwink.gif

    yeah yeah :P

    Amusing this is I've had this flash for about a year and never had it slide out like that and go crazy on me before.
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  • DebPixDebPix Registered Users Posts: 1 Beginner grinner
    edited October 3, 2011
    Robinivich wrote: »
    The flash can detect if the wide panel (which is for 14mm FOV) is pulled out a little bit, in which case it assumes you're using it, thus "14mm" will show on the display. You just need to push it in a little bit more.

    You just saved me from sending my flash in to have it repaired. Couldn't get the display to stop blinking zoom 14mm. Many thanks!
  • NeilLNeilL Registered Users Posts: 4,201 Major grins
    edited October 3, 2011
    yep it's the dispersion screen it's not going crazy that's the user!mwink.gifDthumb.gif

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

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  • David_S85David_S85 Administrators Posts: 13,245 moderator
    edited October 3, 2011
    All fine; operating normally. When out, the WA dispersion screen overrides the electronic lens mm readings. If it is only partially out and not even looking like it is sticking out, the switch inside assumes it is fully extended.
    My Smugmug
    "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - Wayne Gretzky
  • GraeneyMacGraeneyMac Registered Users Posts: 1 Beginner grinner
    edited April 6, 2012
    Hi!
    Thanks to all concerned on this thread. Very useful.
  • SamSam Registered Users Posts: 7,419 Major grins
    edited April 6, 2012
    Shima wrote: »
    Hmm evidently if I put the wide panel back in it doesn't do this... odd...

    rolleyes1.gifroflrolleyes1.gifroflrolleyes1.gif

    I have done this by mistake..................I know that it will go to 14mm but in the heat of battle it's not the first thing one might look for.

    Sam
    www.samlinvillephotography.com
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