bokor wrote:
OK, I also sent in an email to the US distributor asking about any info on a firmware update. I just found out about the RD2000 problem earlier this week when I received my replacement 5Dm2. Here is the response I got:

We should be getting it in two weeks from Japan. I will let you know when we gwt it.

Thank you,

Sally Wall
Customer Service Supervisor
Tocad America, Inc.
53 Greenpond Road
Rockaway,NJ 07866
973-627-9600 x115
Fax 973-664-2438


Looks encouraging

sounds great, i should be able to exchange it next time i am up there

no news yet?

bushwacker wrote:
no news yet?

I think we should get something in another fortnight or so ?

skibum5 wrote:

and remember all those people who said they were writing to canon asking them to NOT put in a pop-up to the 5-series because then they wouldn't be pros or look like pros or something silly along those lines




While I would like to have a flash that works (waiting on news of the RD2000..) it actually doesn't worry me that the 5D doesn't have it as with my old 5D I got by using high ISO and every time I used the flash on the old 20D I got a crappy result. The RD2000 is ideal or would be if the on-off button was in a better place (they should make it turn off when folded up)

Hi guys,

good news! I just got the firmware updated for my RD2000 at my local distributor after getting a notification email from them a while ago.

Pretty seamless, painless process. Just brought it down with my proof of local purchase (although they didn't ask for it, but brought just in case), got referred to the tech guy, passed the flash to him and it was done in under 10 minutes! It seems to work well, the shots look correct with the right flash exposure on my 5Dmk2. Tested a few shots with the flash compensation, and yes they looked correct too!

So for those of you in the quandary like I was for this short while, do contact your local Sunpak distributor for the firmware update. And get to use this tiny, weeny but very usable flash !

Rather, all they did was change the camera-flash protocol to add new features, without giving a damn about backwards compatibility for any but their own gear. I agree that this is very disappointing. Canon should at the very least make a very small bounce-capable flash!

If they are backward compatible with their own equipment, then the problem is that Sigma did not reverse engineer the original protocol completely enough. Blame Sigma for an incomplete job of reverse engineering. Sigma is actually rather notorious for that.

BAD NEWS!!!
Just contacted the service depot in Sweden, they said the importer never got round to import this model, RD2000, before dumping Sunpak, so they do not have the equipment for updating the firmware.

I.e. I'm out of luck... yeah can ship it back to China.... will cost me roughly the same as buying a new flash. Bummer

Guess I'll mail Sunpak JP just to see if they do reply...

Seems that the new PW's have the same compatability problems with the 5D mkII, assuming that sunpak managed to update the firmware to fix the problem this fast hopefully it won't take the mighty PW too long to do the same.

Any US buyers have success with a firmware update? I have been waiting to buy the Sunpak RD2000 until the 5DII issue was resolved. Before buying it, I would like to know how to ensure that a particular flash unit has the updated firmware, and whom to contact if there is a problem.

htbyron wrote:
Any US buyers have success with a firmware update? I have been waiting to buy the Sunpak RD2000 until the 5DII issue was resolved. Before buying it, I would like to know how to ensure that a particular flash unit has the updated firmware, and whom to contact if there is a problem.

I just dropped by ToCAD and Sally Wall flashed it up for me in about 10 minutes on the spot. So if you live near Rockaway, NJ you can just drop right in or send it in from elsewhere.

HOWEVER, while it does fire now, it doesn't seem to do AF assist though. But again it does fire the flash though now which is nice.

Does anyone recall if it did AF assist on older models before like a 5D or 40D? I guess not all flashes do that (would be another reason canon shoulda just stuck a pop up in the 5dmk2). I thought it did though when I tried it on my 40D (since been sold), but perhaps not. She did ask for feedback as to whether it worked or not, so maybe there is still something not fixed like AF assist?

I also should add that I have rather little experience using flash, I know tons about photography outside of the realm of flash where I don't know all that much beyond parts of some of the basics. Maybe I have something set wrong? I will have access to a Rebel that I can test it on later tonight too.

Anyway, until this last part is sorted out, maybe don't send it in just yet (but maybe it never did AF assist to begin with or maybe I just have something set wrong).

Thanks, skibum5. I sent them an email, but haven't gotten a response. Buying an incompatible older unit & paying for shipping (no one stocks them locally), then paying for shipping to have the new firmware installed, is not an appealing option for me. As you know, the Canon flashes use IR (or near-IR) pulses to do AF-assist, so I hadn't expected that the Sunpak would do that. It would be nice if it did, however.

You might check CFn III-5, to make sure that AF-assist beam firing is set to on. I think that's the default, though -- and I think the camera expects to have a flash attached that includes the IR AF-assist beam.

htbyron wrote:
Thanks, skibum5. I sent them an email, but haven't gotten a response. Buying an incompatible older unit & paying for shipping (no one stocks them locally), then paying for shipping to have the new firmware installed, is not an appealing option for me. As you know, the Canon flashes use IR (or near-IR) pulses to do AF-assist, so I hadn't expected that the Sunpak would do that. It would be nice if it did, however.

You might check CFn III-5, to make sure that AF-assist beam firing is set to on. I think that's the default, though -- and I think the camera expects to have a flash attached that includes the IR AF-assist beam.

cfn iii-5 is on, so for external flashes it never triggers the flash itself to do AF assist?

does anyone still have this flash with the original firmware and a 40D or something to test if it does AF assist or not?

not the end of the world, but just want to make sure something didnt go wrong with the new firmware

As far as I remembered, it didn't on my 40D then. But I'm not 100% sure as I seldom used it that way, being used as a fill flash (with bounce) rather than a AF help function.

maxxevv wrote:
As far as I remembered, it didn't on my 40D then. But I'm not 100% sure as I seldom used it that way, being used as a fill flash (with bounce) rather than a AF help function.

ok, probably so, probably doesn't support AF assist (i mostly don't use it that way either, but it wouldn't have hurt for the times it comes in handy, but whatever. i'm used to having the xxD series with the built-in flash that flickers the flash for AF assist and some of the old film EOS that also had built-in flash).

Anyway, in that case, all is good, someone asked if things are all set for the fix in the US and the answer is yes. Mail them into ToCAD or stop by if you live near Rockaway, NJ (as I said, i drove up and they did it for me on the spot in like 10 minutes).

for those who said it costs to much to mail in and back, just use no insurance and some cheap shipping, i'm sure it can be done for like $6 or something, a lot less than the cost of the flash.

Do you have a Shipping address?

therock wrote:
Do you have a Shipping address?

Look up the page.

Aaargh! I just ordered a unit from Adorama, who told me they got the latest batch in 6 days before my order (around 2/26). So they should have the new firmware. But mounting it on my 5DII gives no joy. I may try to send it in, but I'm not sure it will get back to me before I leave for South America next Sat.

Well after calling and getting no replies to them or emails I sent mine in to Sally Wall to the address posted here. After a 5 day turnaround its back and fixed.

I included a letter with a mild complaint about the lacking of replies and a proof of purchase copy. Also noted the Camera model it would be used on.

All done.

Well I got a Sunpak RD 2000 mainly for my Rebel T1i
Not only does it not work on my 5D's, it fires once in a blue moon on my on the Rebel. What a piece of crap!

No Swiss watch for sure and it don't cost like one either.
You got one that needs a firmware update. The once in a blue moon thing is what I had.
Canon is the one who tossed Sunpak a curve ball. And I guess when some of them shipped the 50D was not released yet.
At least Sunpak will make good at it.
Don't call or email, just pack it up and .................

ATTN: Sally Wall
Customer Service Supervisor
Tocad America, Inc.
53 Greenpond Road
Rockaway,NJ 07866