speedlite 430ex II trouble on Rebel XS

[kalyekid]

Hi, I recently bought a new Speedlite 430EX II Flash for my Rebel XS Camera but I have trouble firing it. I have tested firing it using the pilot button and it fires. I have checked & checked the Flash Control Setting in the Camera and it can change the settings on the flash fine. I made sure the contacts are clean. But i still can't get it to fire. I think i might be missing something...help!

I am a newbie. This is my first external flash and my first digital SLR. Thanks

[inkista]

Did you check that it isn't in slave mode?

[kalyekid]

Originally Posted by inkista

Did you check that it isn't in slave mode?

Yes, I did. the slave indicator text or message is off.

[Doug Pardee]

If you've got Flash Control set to Enable, the flash properly mounted, turned on, charged up, and not in slave mode, the flash should go off when you operate the shutter.

Just as an experiment, select 2nd-curtain shutter sync in the Flash Control menu, put the camera into Tv mode and select a long exposure (about 1 second). Watch what happens when you press the shutter button. You should get an immediate low-power "preflash", and then at the end of the exposure you should get the actual "light up the subject" flash. (The picture you capture will probably be trash.)

Another experiment is to take the camera and flash into a very dark room and with the flash turned on, half-press the shutter to see if it throws the reddish autofocus assist beam.

[kalyekid]

Originally Posted by Doug Pardee

If you've got Flash Control set to Enable, the flash properly mounted, turned on, charged up, and not in slave mode, the flash should go off when you operate the shutter.

Just as an experiment, select 2nd-curtain shutter sync in the Flash Control menu, put the camera into Tv mode and select a long exposure (about 1 second). Watch what happens when you press the shutter button. You should get an immediate low-power "preflash", and then at the end of the exposure you should get the actual "light up the subject" flash. (The picture you capture will probably be trash.)

Another experiment is to take the camera and flash into a very dark room and with the flash turned on, half-press the shutter to see if it throws the reddish autofocus assist beam.

I tried all those things above that you mentioned, to no avail. Thank you.

A new friend of mine lent me his Speedlite 430EX to test on my camera and it's not firing either. I guess there is something wrong with my camera.

I appreciate all your suggestions.

[kalyekid]

Originally Posted by Doug Pardee

If you've got Flash Control set to Enable, the flash properly mounted, turned on, charged up, and not in slave mode, the flash should go off when you operate the shutter.

Just as an experiment, select 2nd-curtain shutter sync in the Flash Control menu, put the camera into Tv mode and select a long exposure (about 1 second). Watch what happens when you press the shutter button. You should get an immediate low-power "preflash", and then at the end of the exposure you should get the actual "light up the subject" flash. (The picture you capture will probably be trash.)

Another experiment is to take the camera and flash into a very dark room and with the flash turned on, half-press the shutter to see if it throws the reddish autofocus assist beam.

in addition to my reply above...

i am testing both flash units in my camera and what i noticed common to them is i don't get the lightnight bolt icon in the viewfinder when i half press the shutter release button, even if i press it for a long time and even if i adjust the apperture or shutter speed or iso, at different instances and different shooting modes. why?

i also did not see the beam from the AF assist you mentioned when i tried it last night.

thanks.

[Samanax]

Are you sure that Flash Firing is set to Enable in the Flash Control menu (page 116 in the owner's manual)?

[Doug Pardee]

It sounds to me like your camera's hot shoe is just not functioning at all. I'm afraid you'll have to exchange your camera (if possible) or get it repaired.

[HowardG]

Originally Posted by kalyekid

Hi, I recently bought a new Speedlite 430EX II Flash for my Rebel XS Camera but I have trouble firing it. I have tested firing it using the pilot button and it fires. I have checked & checked the Flash Control Setting in the Camera and it can change the settings on the flash fine. I made sure the contacts are clean. But i still can't get it to fire. I think i might be missing something...help!

I am a newbie. This is my first external flash and my first digital SLR. Thanks

Have you ever used a flash on the camers that was not meant to a digital camera. If you have, the flash voltage on older non digital flashes damage the circuitry.

[kalyekid]

Originally Posted by Samanax

Are you sure that Flash Firing is set to Enable in the Flash Control menu (page 116 in the owner's manual)?

yes. I made sure many times that it is enabled. thanks.


@ Doug Pardee... I brought the camera to a best buy store and tested a similar flash on my camera and it won't fire. they tested the flash on another Rebel XS, and it fired right away. I believe you are right, the hot shoe is not functioning. I guess i may have to call Canon service since it is still under warranty. i bought the camera at BH Photo sometime in Feb of this year, and i don't think they can still replace it. what do you think? Thanks.

@ howardG... i never used any kind or type of external flash before. This is my first experience with external flash. thanks.