cineski wrote:
Solution: Dump your 580EX2 and get a 580EX1. Actually, my 550EX serial number 811 is till working quite quite well.
I agree with holding on to or finding a 550 or two. I actually had to get stuck into my 550 with a hammer to get it off an OC3 cord. Broke the red cover for the AF but still works fine. You can also add a battery pack.
The bummer with the 580EX1 is that it doesn't have the thermal cut out. I fried 2 of mine and some reason they seem to hard to find.
Get rid of the rubber boot and most of the connection issues go away.
Oh well, the OP has gone .... Now for that loose screw.
ukphotographer: You nailed it. The problem usually occurs when I am in portrait mode. Alot of the times when I am working I have to jerk the camera at an angle or swing it around to capture the moment.
I think all this wear and tear might have loosened it. In addition to not firing, sometimes it just randomly switches to manual while in portrait mode and then overexposes the hell out of the image. i have to flip it back, reset the flash, and then all is good to go.
I am amazed that the flash/camera is not as durable as i would expect.
