I'm having a problem getting my 580EX & 420EX II flashes to work properly with my 1Ds when they're mounted on the hot shoe. Settings don't matter. The flashes flash, but any subject matter comes out dark. Have them set to E-TTL. Mode setting doesn't matter. Results are the same.
Also, the flashes will not work at all when the flashes are set to Manual.
HOWEVER, when I trigger the flashes remotely using my ST-E2, they work fine and are easily adjustable one way or the other via flash compensation.
So what do you think is going on? Thanks for helping.
Maybe the hot shoe is a bit loose on the camera and/or on the flash. The ST-E2 is lighter and has a lower profile (for reduced moment), and so it might not have the same connection problem. Check the camera to see if the contacts and/or the shoe rails move relative to each other. Same for the flash foots.
I know it's possible to easily DIY fix a loose shoe on some cameras, but I don't rmember if I've ever done it on a 1D series. It should be obvious if you can fix it yourself, or if you should sent it in, if that's the problem,
jcolwell wrote:
Maybe the hot shoe is a bit loose on the camera and/or on the flash. The ST-E2 is lighter and has a lower profile (for reduced moment), and so it might not have the same connection problem. Check the camera to see if the contacts and/or the shoe rails move relative to each other. Same for the flash foots. I know it's possible to easily DIY fix a loose shoe on some cameras, but I don't rmember if I've ever done it on a 1D series. It should be obvious if you can fix it yourself, or if you should sent it in, if that's the problem,...Show more →
Thanks. I'm suspecting a connection problem as well.
- Steve
Keep in mind that the 1Ds has the original (i.e. practically unuseable) of ETTL. Not that it's connected to your problem but keep in mind that ETTL and that body do not work very well at all. When I shot with a 10D and 1Ds I used a Metz flash for Auto mode and reliable flash.
Beni wrote:
Keep in mind that the 1Ds has the original (i.e. practically unuseable) of ETTL. Not that it's connected to your problem but keep in mind that ETTL and that body do not work very well at all. When I shot with a 10D and 1Ds I used a Metz flash for Auto mode and reliable flash.
Thanks. I'm going to try the flash in TTL (via custom functions) and see what happens.
- Steve
Had a similar problem twice with my 1Ds2 & it ended up being caused because the flash wasn't all the way forward in the hot shoe. I had to really work at getting it forward that last tiny bit to cure the problem.
Cicopo wrote:
Had a similar problem twice with my 1Ds2 & it ended up being caused because the flash wasn't all the way forward in the hot shoe. I had to really work at getting it forward that last tiny bit to cure the problem.
Tried pushing it as far forward as it will go. No difference. It's definitely something with the connection, though. Same flashes work fine on my other Canons, and the flashes do fire remotely. Time to send it in to CPS ....
- Steve
Andrew J wrote:
Any film flash with EZ in the name will work perfect provided the shoe is OK. Don't believe CPS will touch it.
Will touch what? If you mean the hot show on the 1Ds ... replacing it probably ... of course they will. Why wouldn't they? It's still a serviceable camera.
- Steve
Andrew J wrote:
Reports were anything before IIn, no go.
Well, you're right. Just talked with CPS. The 1Ds was put on the end-of-service-list late last year. They won't even clean the sensor. I'm surprised, amazed and perplexed. Canon has previously serviced film cameras up to 20 years old! Not sure what to do. The camera is pristine and has only 22,000 clicks. These are current pictures of my amazing 1Ds:
Ive had problems like this with my 1d2 and 1d2n, flash on camera or with a canon cord. You can check out this how to fix link http://www.conraderb.com/flashrepair/ which is extremely easy and not scary at all to do.
Neither of mine needed any screw tightening. Although the article doesnt mention it it seems that because of the flashes being heavy (and getting heavier with the 580 2), or in case of the camera cord the flipping of the camera bracket back and forth, the hot shoe plate connectors gets flattened and loses connection at times. Using a small knife or small flat head screw driver I unflatten mine from time to time and it seems to fix it for awhile.
I dont know if it will help your problem but I thought it may help.
_SBS_ wrote:
Ive had problems like this with my 1d2 and 1d2n, flash on camera or with a canon cord. You can check out this how to fix link http://www.conraderb.com/flashrepair/ which is extremely easy and not scary at all to do. Neither of mine needed any screw tightening. Although the article doesnt mention it it seems that because of the flashes being heavy (and getting heavier with the 580 2), or in case of the camera cord the flipping of the camera bracket back and forth, the hot shoe plate connectors gets flattened and loses connection at times. Using a small knife or small flat head screw driver I unflatten mine from time to time and it seems to fix it for awhile. I dont know if it will help your problem but I thought it may help.
veroman wrote:
Thank you VERY much. I will look into all this later today. Much appreciated ...
- Steve
It worked! Removed the hot show cover plate, removed the hot shoe and cleaned everything in sight, (particularly the contacts and the underside of the cover plate) then re-installed everything and tightened the screws w/LocTite (a produce I use often for other things). Problem gone. Thanks again.
- Steve
Just curious, If I remember right the hot shoe on the first 1D cameras was mechanical. That was the series that had a flash sync of 1/500s. Did the 1Ds had the same sync speed. I do know after the first generation of 1D series then the flash system/hot shoe became all electronic.
