380 EX Flash Gun

[leorcid]

Hi all,

I have posted this same problem some time back, but unfortunately didn't get any reply. Now I have some more information I hope would be helpful to add to that. I shall start from the beginning. I am using 1000D and 380EX Speedlite. The problem I am facing is that, sometimes even when the flash fires the photo comes out like it did not, and it embarassed me a lot of times. I have done extensive research online, but could not find a helpful solution. It seems no one has yet figured out what's wrong. Of late I happened to read an article about operating Speedlite flash units as TTLs or manual mode (full power). So when once the flash began to fail, I just isolated the left back side pin on the hot-shoe from the flash and the pictures were well exposed. Since I had no control over the flash output power, I had to use the only available variable, the aperture, to expose the scene properly. As you all know, it has its own limitations. Does anybody have an idea now with this new discovery? Please let me know. Thank you all.

[bmpress]

You should run a test to see if it is a camera problem or the flash. Try another external ETL flash gun on your camera and see if the problem disappears. If so, then your flash should be sent out for repair. Alternatively, try your flash with another camera body, using ETL mode. If it fails, then your flash gun is the problem.

[deemery]

Could the problem be recharge time?  I've noticed, particularly with 'tired' batteries, that my older 420EX flash doesn't recharge very fast.  Try some speed tests making sure the flash 'ready light' is lit (and trying when it's not lit) just to make sure that's not the problem.  (If that is the problem, the solution is probably a combination of very fresh batteries and operator training :-)