580EX does not work in Manual, Av or Tv modes

[texasphotogirl]

I've done a lot of testing with my camera and my flash, and I can not figure out what is going wrong. The flash (580EX) and camera (20d) DO work together in any automatic mode, such as full automatic, portrait, sport, macro, etc. But, as soon as I switch to anything manual (M, Av, Tv, P), it will NOT fire. I've checked the 580 manual and I should see the little flash icon through the camera's viewfinder. I see it in any automatic mode, but not in any manual mode. Anyone know what I can do to fix this before I shell out $$$ and ship it to Canon?

I did just see another post that showed how to tighten the screws. BUT, I don't think that is the problem since it seems to have something to do with the modes. Anything else I can try?

Thanks so much for any help!

[henryp]

FWIW, the manual for the 20D says if the camera's in manual and the flash's in TTL auto mode, the flash won't fire.

[tropicdiver]

Did you rotate the dial on the back of the flash? Amazing things that dial will do. ;-)

[bigv616]

here is how to get it work:
1. both camera and flash are off, attach the flash
2. turn on camera and dial to P mode, make sure you see ETTL on flash
3. turn on flash and dial back to Manual or AV, if you see ETTL on the flash, you are good, if u see TTL, repeat the whole process

[txphotog]

Also attach the flash to the camera and then turn both on. then go to your menu and find clear all camera settings. Select that and hit ok with the flash attached and powered on. This clears all the flash settings as well.

[chris kemski]

Hi holly, I just went through the same thing with mine, I almost gave up on it. I took it to Ritz Camera and they solved it so fast. I had the custom functions set on 03-1 it needs to be on 03-0 pg27-28. hit c.fn button for 2sec then set to f 03 0. Let me know if this helps.
Chris

[texasphotogirl]

Thanks so much everyone! After Wei posted yesterday evening, I started playing with it. I tried the suggestions, but to no avail. But, then I was just playing around with some of the camera's custom functions that I had previously set, and I noticed the one that was for flash firing was turned off! That did it! So, Justin and Chris, y'all are both right... although I have multiple custom functions set so I would not have wanted to clear all the settings unless a last resort! So, what happened? Well, one time I was waiting on a client to show up and it was just after I returned from a conference. So, while I was killing time, I was playing with the custom functions, and I must have accidentally set that one. Duh! Thank goodness I didn't pay $200 to have Canon tell me that!!!