Well that's it! I'm sending this stupid flash in. I was shooting a very important event on Monday and the damn flash started shutting down on me, flashing 1 out of three clicks. Luckily I had a 580EX I on my belt as back up and was able to swap it out. The 580EXI fired 700+ clicks (on the same camera) without one mis-fire. On other occasions, the 580EX II has mysteriously switched to TTL mode and blasted full power overexposed flash. Luckily I'm a major chimper and I've caught it within two or three clicks.

I hate the fact that I bought Canon's latest and greatest flash and I can't even count on it to work. I know all about the shoe tightening, and the thermal protection thing a ma jig. I suspect it's either the quick release mount or the thermal protection (or both) that is causing these problems. I have two other 580's (original version) that have been fired over 20,000 times each without any problems.

Has anyone who has had these problems had success with Canon service?
Thanks,
Tell

Yup, at present sending my two 580 mkII flashes in every 3 months or so for repair, same thing happening. The repair lasts about 3 months then the hotshoe works loose again. Crap design and rather typical of canon design of late.

Tell,

The 580EX II suffers from two problems. The weather seal at the hot shoe causes problems with the connection and the result is usually full power blasts. The second is the over temperature switch will slow the cycling down to a crawl. I have had this happen to me in 30 degree F ambient temperature, shooting football player introductions. Two flashes per player, by player 20, it just takes a break. The 580 EX I would keep shooting even after it was starting to smell

Richard K.

Never had the over temperature thing but I'm a wedding shooter, never used machine gun mode in my life!

Yes it's usually the lack of proper contact seating.....

Beni,

I would think the repair would last for more than thirty days...What about the hot shoe on the camera? I use a bracket and off shoe cord for weddings. Does the flash fail on an off shoe cord or another camera?

I would be more than upset about knowing the UPS driver that well.


Richard K.

Hmm, judging by this, a 580EX I, would be better to buy than a II?

The only problem I've had with the 580-EX II is that the "auto-thyristor" (eg, non-ETTL) flash doesn't seem to work very well . . at least not when it's used for bounce flash.

Wish I hadn't gotten rid of my Metz flash. Thought the 580-EX II would let me have the best of both worlds (E-TTL and non-ETTL).

DavidP wrote:
The only problem I've had with the 580-EX II is that the "auto-thyristor" (eg, non-ETTL) flash doesn't seem to work very well . . at least not when it's used for bounce flash.

Wish I hadn't gotten rid of my Metz flash. Thought the 580-EX II would let me have the best of both worlds (E-TTL and non-ETTL).

I haven't tried the "auto-thyristor" thing. I bought it for the weather sealing when used with the MKIII.

Richard K.

mill4570 wrote:
Tell,

The 580EX II suffers from two problems. The weather seal at the hot shoe causes problems with the connection and the result is usually full power blasts. The second is the over temperature switch will slow the cycling down to a crawl. I have had this happen to me in 30 degree F ambient temperature, shooting football player introductions. Two flashes per player, by player 20, it just takes a break. The 580 EX I would keep shooting even after it was starting to smell

Richard K.

Good (and bad) to know. I shoot a lot of retirement parties where I do basically the same thing, two shots, small break, two shots, small break... I guess I'll have to stay with my 580 EX I for this. Sucks.
Thanks to all for the responses,
Tell

Better than being here in Argentina, broke my hotshoe in a melee, had to order parts from Canon USA because Canon Argentina does not carry parts plus Canon Latin America is based in Miami. Had it shipped to my parents, then to here. Total turnaround for a new hot shoe: 6 week or 1.5 months. If this was repaired in Argentina: 2-3 months for a 1 minute fix...

mill4570 wrote:
Beni,

I would think the repair would last for more than thirty days...What about the hot shoe on the camera? I use a bracket and off shoe cord for weddings. Does the flash fail on an off shoe cord or another camera?

I would be more than upset about knowing the UPS driver that well.


Richard K.

3 Months Richard, not 30 days.

I have yet to have an issue with any of my 580exII's... Well... Except for the one that fell 10 ft, only thing that broke was the hot shoe.

I of course can't remember the last time I had one on my camera though... Usually use them off camera.

I think that is the point, when on camera there is a huge amount of stress placed on the hotshoe as the weight is swinging from side to side, from horizontal to vertical the entire time. If the shoe allows itself to become loose then each change of orientation is weakening the connection further. With the 580mk1 you just tightened it down a bit further. You can't do that with the new one.

Are you checking to make sure your hotshoe contacts are clean? I have to constantly clean mine with a pencil eraser or I get full-power flashes and over exposure. The silver-colored hotshoe contacts seem get a rust-like corrosion on them which results in poor contact. This is especially true for the large center contact.

I've had this problem with every digital EOS body I've ever had (seven 1-series all total) and all the flashes 540, 550, both 580's, etc.

I was hoping the new design of the 580EX II contacts would help to minimize the flakey connection but unfortunately it suffers from the same problem.

As long as I give the hotshoe contacts a quick swipe with the pencil eraser every two weeks or so I never have a problem.

I had this just start happening to me...I removed the flash and re-seated it and all has been good. The only other trouble I had was when I dropped it and broke the lamp...you can't buy the lamp by itself you have to buy a "head assembly" it cost around $68 with shipping and it was pretty easy to replace.

mine was the WHOLE hot shoe assembly ($38)... *sigh* with the 580ex I, it was $11 plus sheeping(purposely spelled wrong) had to live with superglue & duct tape (no gaffer's tape here) for a while. Why can't they make it much more simpler to repair and have parts readily available at camera shops?

Just had my first equipment failure ever last night - a 580 I, the zoom head sounds like it's jammed and the motor it straining. Stuck at 80mm.