Whats wrong with my flash?

petemc · 29-10-2005, 13:48

Last night I was out on a shoot and my flash was a bit wobbly. I took it off and saw that the base had cracked. I put it back on and then noticed that the wobbling was causing the flash to not register with the camera. My 10D would say 1 second for the exposure, then I would wobble the flash and it would be back at 1/200th. Later that evening the wobbling caused the base to completely break and a bit snapped off. With care I was able to put the flash back on the camera and get the shutter speed to say 1/200th. This was fine for a bit, but for some reason it got worse. The shutter speed was 1/200th, the flash was charged. I pushed the button and the flash fired with the shutter, however the picture was black. I spent about half an hour trying to fix it but every shot was black. The flash was clearly firing but the shots were as if it hadn't. I tired every mode, every button, everything I could think of but for some bizare reason the flash fired but the shot was too dark. I even tried it on 1/50 and still no sign that the flash had fired. Surely even if the base had broken the base is only there to hold the flash in place and make contact. Surely if the flash fired it would illuminate the subject. It makes no sense.

IanC_UK · 29-10-2005, 13:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by petemc

Last night I was out on a shoot and my flash was a bit wobbly. I took it off and saw that the base had cracked. I put it back on and then noticed that the wobbling was causing the flash to not register with the camera. My 10D would say 1 second for the exposure, then I would wobble the flash and it would be back at 1/200th. Later that evening the wobbling caused the base to completely break and a bit snapped off. With care I was able to put the flash back on the camera and get the shutter speed to say 1/200th. This was fine for a bit, but for some reason it got worse. The shutter speed was 1/200th, the flash was charged. I pushed the button and the flash fired with the shutter, however the picture was black. I spent about half an hour trying to fix it but every shot was black. The flash was clearly firing but the shots were as if it hadn't. I tired every mode, every button, everything I could think of but for some bizare reason the flash fired but the shot was too dark. I even tried it on 1/50 and still no sign that the flash had fired. Surely even if the base had broken the base is only there to hold the flash in place and make contact. Surely if the flash fired it would illuminate the subject. It makes no sense.

It may have flashed, but did it flash when the shutter was open ? Sounds like the link isnt so great and the flash cant synchronise to me ! (but then what do i know !

:coat:

CT · 29-10-2005, 14:00

What Ian said Pete. It sounds like it's firing but not synching with the shutter. There are a lot of contacts in that shoe these days!

Arkady · 29-10-2005, 14:11

Electrical contact is working but synch isn't. You say it broke?
Get it fixed or get a new one.
Sorry if that sounds a bit obvious, but it stands to reason if your hotshoe broke on the flash, that's why it isn't working...

petemc · 29-10-2005, 15:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arkady

Electrical contact is working but synch isn't. You say it broke?
Get it fixed or get a new one.
Sorry if that sounds a bit obvious, but it stands to reason if your hotshoe broke on the flash, that's why it isn't working...

Yer the plastic broke but I figured it was still ok because the camera would register the flash by setting the sync speed. When it wobbled the speed was around 1 second. Ok so I'm no expert on why it has so many connections, but I figured if the shutter speed changed then the connection was ok. Its still under warrenty so I'll be contacting Sigma on Monday. Bloody annoying when you have sexy girls asking for their photo to be taken.

Arkady · 29-10-2005, 16:31

Not a solution for everyone here due to budget constraints but...
carry spares.

As well as the two camera bodies, I carry two SB 800 flashes and an 'old' SB 80 in the spares bag in the boot of the car (or in the big Peli case when overseas).
Get a cheap(!) flash if it's something you need to rely on - don't ever, EVER let those sexy girls down again!!!

petemc · 29-10-2005, 16:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arkady

Not a solution for everyone here due to budget constraints but...
carry spares.

As well as the two camera bodies, I carry two SB 800 flashes and an 'old' SB 80 in the spares bag in the boot of the car (or in the big Peli case when overseas).
Get a cheap(!) flash if it's something you need to rely on - don't ever, EVER let those sexy girls down again!!!

I think thats a very good idea

I was kicking myself, trying so hard to get the damn thing working but it just wouldn't. In the end I had to go. When I got to my car I found the wing mirror had been smashed off. Such a fun evening.

Arkady · 29-10-2005, 16:39

*lol* God's trying to tell you something on days like that.

Matty · 29-10-2005, 16:45

bummer Pete...seems sigma flashes can be a bit dodgy, the one i got has a very temperamental battery door, so it sometimes just wont work, open and close door and its fine again!

Steep · 29-10-2005, 22:38

You could try superglue?

fingerz · 30-10-2005, 00:42

Could you not have muddled through with onboard flash for the rest of the evening? Or does the 10D not have one? I just assumed given that the 20D has onboard. Maybe that was one of the updates.

petemc · 30-10-2005, 12:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by fingerz

Could you not have muddled through with onboard flash for the rest of the evening? Or does the 10D not have one? I just assumed given that the 20D has onboard. Maybe that was one of the updates.

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA

/puts gun to head, fires. OMG Can you believe that I rely on this flash THAT much that I completely forgot that my 10D even has one! Oh god. Man this is just the stupidest thing I've probably ever done. How could I forget this.

CT · 30-10-2005, 13:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by petemc

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA
How could I forget this.

Probably the same way I went out the other week with no CF card in the camera.

DaveG · 30-10-2005, 13:54

I dreamt last night that I had gone on holiday and forgotten all my CF cards. Woke up in a cold sweat!

***Steve*** · 30-10-2005, 14:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by CT

Probably the same way I went out the other week with no CF card in the camera.

Not done that one yet but have shot all day on iso 800 by mistake :eyesup:

KenCo1964 · 30-10-2005, 14:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve

Quote:
Originally Posted by CT
Probably the same way I went out the other week with no CF card in the camera.
Not done that one yet but have shot all day on iso 800 by mistake :eyesup:

Sadly I have done both! Fotunately the no CF card was not an issue as the camera only came just incase...but the iso 800 hurt just a tad.

noah · 30-10-2005, 14:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve

Not done that one yet but have shot all day on iso 800 by mistake :eyesup:

i'll see your iso 800 and raise it to iso 1600