p.1 #1 · How do I use Canon speedlite, it doesn't do anything :/
I bought a used Canon 420ex speedlite to use with 40D and it fires off pretty powerfully when taking pictures but it actually doesn't make pictures brighter.. just changes the shade of them. I just spent 2 hours trying to make this work and drained 2 sets of batteries and now I am out of ideas. My theory is that it's not synchronized with the camera and goes off too quickly or late?
Flash turned off:
Speedlite turned on:
Built in flash:
I tried all shooting modes and probably every setting combination that I could think of.
p.1 #10 · How do I use Canon speedlite, it doesn't do anything :/
420 ex doesn't have a lot of settings that could cause such behaviour. Make sure that the switch on the flash is not set to "slave" by any chance (should be set to off).
What camera do you have? Some camera bodies allow you to control the flash from the camera menu system - check if you didn't turn something off in there. Also some other ones have custom functions that can prevent the flash from firing.
Does the head zoom in and zoom out if you zoom your lens (if you have a zoom lens)? If you are using a prime - does the flash stay at 24mm or goes to a number close to the focal length of your lens?
After the shot - the ready light normally should be green confirming proper exposure - does it happen?
p.1 #11 · How do I use Canon speedlite, it doesn't do anything :/
I'd check if the flash exposure compensation has accidentally been set. Just press the flash exposure compensation on the top of the camera and see if it's anything but zero.
p.1 #12 · How do I use Canon speedlite, it doesn't do anything :/
jahoo wrote:
420 ex doesn't have a lot of settings that could cause such behaviour. Make sure that the switch on the flash is not set to "slave" by any chance (should be set to off).
What camera do you have? Some camera bodies allow you to control the flash from the camera menu system - check if you didn't turn something off in there. Also some other ones have custom functions that can prevent the flash from firing.
Does the head zoom in and zoom out if you zoom your lens (if you have a zoom lens)? If you are using a prime - does the flash stay at 24mm or goes to a number close to the focal length of your lens?
After the shot - the ready light normally should be green confirming proper exposure - does it happen?
J. ...Show more →Yes, it's not in slave mode. Camera I have is 40D and Tampron 17-50mm lens and the flash head does zoom in and zoom out and displays correct zoom position. Where the green light is supposed to be? The only lights there are red
The only flash controls in the body that I have are Flash exp. comp (and it does make a diff if its 0, -2 or +2.. all the same) Shutter sync ( I tried 1st and 2nd curtain, no diff) and E-TTL II ( I tried average and evalutive, no difference) I also tried resetting controls and no difference.
p.1 #14 · How do I use Canon speedlite, it doesn't do anything :/
I suspect you might be seeing the pre-flash, but the main flash isn't going off for some reason, probably contract related. Check the contacts on the flash and camera. The bigger center contact is the one used to fire the main flash.
If you can see the flash going off through the viewfinder of the camera you are seeing the metering pre-flash, not the main flash.
p.1 #15 · How do I use Canon speedlite, it doesn't do anything :/
The green light is the one directly to the right from the red pilot light / test firing button. It comes on for about 3 seconds after the exposure is taken.
It does look like there is some miscommunication between the camera and the flash. Try the cleaning the contacts and the hot shoe as cgardner suggested and make sure that the flash is fully inserted into the hot shoe (but you've probably checked that already).
If you press the DOF preview button on the body, does the flash fire in a kind of stroboscopic mode (modeling flash)?
You said that there is a pop from the flash when you fire the shutter. Can you tell if it is full power or not? if it's full power then it will take a few seconds for the ready light to come on, otherwise it will be instant.
Other than the contacts I'm out of ideas. You probably need to test the flash with another body (maybe in a camera store?), or your body with another flash unit to determine whether it's a problem with the camera or the flash.
p.1 #16 · How do I use Canon speedlite, it doesn't do anything :/
I had the same problem with w flash I bought used a couple months ago. I returned it to the seller. In figuring out the problem (it was just the pre-flash going off, not the flash itself) I found this POTN thread helpful. Try taking a photo in the mirror.
p.1 #17 · How do I use Canon speedlite, it doesn't do anything :/
Thank you for your help guys, I was getting very frustrated. It does seem that only the preflash is firing off. When taking a picture in the mirror there is no flash visible on the photo either. I'll start the return process...Thanks again
p.1 #20 · How do I use Canon speedlite, it doesn't do anything :/
Daniel K wrote:
Did you check the cameras custom function for the external flash? It could be set to not fire.
I tried checking it but when clicking in the menu, it says: "This menu cannot be displayed. Incompatible flash or flash's power is turned off." But flash is on so I don't know.
big country wrote:
are you putting it on the camera correctly? i've seen that happen before.
I think I am putting it correctly...all pins seem to align.
