Built-in flash is stuck, won't pop up

aine · Dec 11, 2006

Somehow my built-in (pop-up) flash is stuck closed. Pressing the little button to the side does not bring it up. Even taking a picture in a dark room on "green" does not bring up the flash. There is no sound when I press the flash button.

Is it safe to try to "pry" the flash open, or is this too risky, or is there another recommendation? Is this a common problem?

Typically, I use my 420EX, so I have a backup, but I would like the popup to work as well!

CityLights · Dec 11, 2006

Take a look at the hot shoe where you mount your external flash. Take a probe and push around on the buttons and clips.

One of those detects when you have an external flash mounted and prevents the onboard flash from poping up. I am not sure, but I think it is under the side rails of the hot shoe...

Free the stuck button and your onboard flash will pop up again.

--
CityLights
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robby50649 · Dec 11, 2006

This is not a common problem to my knowledge. I would be very careful if you try to pry it open, not using much force and certainly stop if it doesn't act like it will come up. Sounds like the activation button is not disengaging the mechanism to allow the flash to pop up, just guessing so someone who knows how this button actually works may have a different answer. My flash on a A2 film camera would give me a problem similar to what you are describing, but all I had to do was switch the camera to the off position then back on. You might try to push down, lightly on the flash housing while pushing the button to see if it will release the flash. Someone else may weigh in on what they think/know is going on behind the button to cause this problem....robby

Gary W. · Dec 11, 2006

same prob, local camera repair couldnt fix it, the hidden button under the rail could be the answer though, at the moment the flash is responding, two pushes of the flash button though to activate it.
http://www.pbase.com/woody/galleries

Doug Pardee · Dec 11, 2006

CityLights said:
Take a look at the hot shoe where you mount your external flash.

Here's a picture of the switch that CityLights is talking about:

( http://flickr.com/photos/dougpardee/133066175/ )

If that switch is stuck down, your camera thinks that you have an external flash mounted and will not release the popup flash.

CityLights · Dec 12, 2006

Thats it! I knew that switch was under there somewhere. Thanks for the visual.

Doug Pardee said:
Here's a picture of the switch that CityLights is talking about:

( http://flickr.com/photos/dougpardee/133066175/ )

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CityLights
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G. Gray · Dec 12, 2006

Check control function in menu or stuck sw on hotshoe
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1019&message=19624772
Gerry

aine said:
Somehow my built-in (pop-up) flash is stuck closed. Pressing the
little button to the side does not bring it up. Even taking a
picture in a dark room on "green" does not bring up the flash.
There is no sound when I press the flash button.

Is it safe to try to "pry" the flash open, or is this too risky, or
is there another recommendation? Is this a common problem?

Typically, I use my 420EX, so I have a backup, but I would like the
popup to work as well!

aine · Dec 13, 2006

Outstanding ... the external flash detect button was indeed the problem. I just "bowed" the little metal strip so that it did not engage the switch, and problem solved! Thanks everyone!!

( Again, thanks to the people on this forum. Before I posted here, I emailed Canon USA, and their response? First suggestion: Push the flash button while in P, Av, Tv, or M. Really? Never thought of that! Second suggestion: make sure you battery is not dead. OK. If that does not work, send the camera at my expense to a service center in distant city, wait two weeks, and they will try to fix it, again at my expense. So I'm glad I posted here!! )

samkatz · Dec 13, 2006

clever set-up..

I had a problem "getting my flash up" once....I ate a jelly donut and a gob of it dropped on to the prism housing, virtually gluing together the opening of the flash. My swiss army knife and some alcohol solved the problem...

truth is stranger than fiction

Pol 600 · Feb 3, 2007

I had the same problem with my 3 day old XTi, called Canon and they told me the same thing they told Aine, so I remembered reading about this problem and searched this forum and Bingo that was the same problem I had. Man this saved me sending my camera back and all that trouble.

You Guys & Gals are AWSOME, you should get a job with Canon haha And MANY THANKS for your help, sometimes this internet thing is a big help.

So far still learning how to use this camera and thought for sure I goofed something up. A big difference from the Minolta XG 7 SLR I had and several point & shoot digital cameras since 1998.

Pol 600

santamonica811 · Mar 28, 2007

Okay, my turn.

I am having the same problem, and was directed (by this forum) to this particular thread. Sounds like I have the same issue. But--looking at my 20D camera under bright lights, I cannot find the switch you all have been talking about. From the (very helpfu!) photo, it looks like the switch is supposed to be under the right-side rail (from the perspective of somone behind the camera). But my camera has no switch. At least; no visable switch. Not over or under the thin metal 'rod'. I checked the left side of the hot shoe, just in case. No switch there either.

Any suggestions?
-josh

ledittmar · Mar 28, 2007

Now you have to feel for the owner's of the Canon 5D camera, trying to open their on board flashes.
Can you picture them trying?

Mark Goergen · Mar 28, 2007

Leave it down and use an external flash

Seriously, in 80,000 shots with two bodies that have an internal flash, I have never used an one. Getting the light off of the lens axis will greatly improve any image. Also, you will also have a much more powerful flash that can be bounced or diffused and doesn't suck the camera's battery.

My two cents (wirth almost a penny)

Mark Goergen

Doug Pardee · Mar 28, 2007

santamonica811 said:
But--looking at my 20D camera under bright lights, I cannot find
the switch you all have been talking about. From the (very
helpfu!) photo, it looks like the switch is supposed to be under
the right-side rail (from the perspective of somone behind the
camera).

On the 20D and 30D, it's under the LEFT-side rail. Why it's on different sides on the two camera lines, I have no idea.

santamonica811 said:
I checked the left side of the hot shoe, just in case.
No switch there either.

It's there on the left, just stuck down. Keep looking on the left side. Maybe prod (gently) with a toothpick or something?

Doug Pardee · Mar 28, 2007

Here's a site with instructions on doing a couple of repairs to the 20D hotshoe:
http://www.conraderb.com/flashrepair/

A good shot of the 20D hotshoe, showing the switch in its correct position when no flash is mounted, can be found in that article:
http://www.conraderb.com/flashrepair/peeking2.jpg

santamonica811 · Mar 28, 2007

Thanks guys for the links. I followed the initial directions, and easily pried off the top plate. Now, it was easy to see where the switch should be. Unfortunately, it somehow got sheared off, and now is flush with the surface. No way to remove it, unless I can manage to unscrew the 4 screws and remove the next layer. None of the hardware stores I've tried so far has a Phillips screwdriver the right size, but it can't be impossible to find.

mfenske · Jun 14, 2022

CityLights said:
Take a look at the hot shoe where you mount your external flash. Take a probe and push around on the buttons and clips.

One of those detects when you have an external flash mounted and prevents the onboard flash from poping up. I am not sure, but I think it is under the side rails of the hot shoe...

Free the stuck button and your onboard flash will pop up again.

Super helpful, thanks!

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