300D with Yongnuo YN565EX II not working

Test shots were taken in Full Auto mode and then when I realized something was wrong, I tried Tv mode on the premiss that if I forced the camera to use a 1/60 second exposure maybe it would sort out the aperture. That didn't work.

I can try Manual mode, set 1/60, 5.6 stop then close the stop down until I get a good exposure. But that isn't what I hoped for when I bought the flash.

Thanks.

Stephen P M Brown wrote:

The YN565EX II works, it fires when the camera shutter button is pressed fully, but the camera takes a long (1 - 4 second) exposure as though the flash isn't present / has not fired. Test shots taken in dimly lit room.

The flash also communicates with the camera to the extent that it displays the lens zoom level and aperture settings as they change.

My 300D is my main camera and although it is over 10 years old now, it still gives great results. Having recently become a Dad for the first time, I bought a 'speedlite' flash to take better pictures indoors now that winter is upon us (1st Christmas and all that).

My question is are the camera and flash incompatible or should I suspect a camera fault. I do not have access to a more modern camera to test the flash is good.

Thanks,

Stephen

Hmmm...

The 300D uses E-TTL flash metering not E-TTL II, it is possible the YN565EX II does not support the earlier metering standard.

Try setting the camera to manual mode with an aperture of f/8, a shutter speed of 1/100th and ISO set to 100. If the flash is communicating correctly then your indoor subject should be correctly exposed with a dark background.

I don't believe the 300D supports Flash Exposure Compensation but you may be able to manually set it on the YN565.

Hope this helps

Ian

Sorry. It turns out that the flash is not being fired at all, in any mode. The flash will work when the test button is pressed but not on the camera. It is strange that the flash is able to sense changes in focal length and aperture. That seems to indicate that electrical signals are coming through the hot shoe. And that the camera and flash are not completely incompatible.

Thanks.

Stephen P M Brown wrote:

Sorry. It turns out that the flash is not being fired at all, in any mode. The flash will work when the test button is pressed but not on the camera. It is strange that the flash is able to sense changes in focal length and aperture. That seems to indicate that electrical signals are coming through the hot shoe. And that the camera and flash are not completely incompatible.

Thanks.

Try putting the flash into it's manual mode and see if that allows it to fire. If it does then there is a fundamental incompatibility between the flash and camera. If it still doesn't fire then it could well be a faulty flash.

Ian

I have tried manual mode on the flash and it still will not fire.

Further note of interest: when I half press the camera trigger the flash lights the scene with a cross grid of red light, ie: you can see the subject illuminated by them as if you were shinning a red led torch beam. Does that make sense?

I have a couple of old 35mm film Pentax cameras around, if the flash were working correctly would a 1980s Pentax MX be capable of firing the flash, as a test?

It must be obvious by now I have no clue about external flash guns. I have never in 30+ years of photography used anything other than built-in pop-up flashes or those old-style one-time use flash bulbs.

Thanks.

Stephen P M Brown wrote:

I have tried manual mode on the flash and it still will not fire.

Do you mean the camera in manual mode or the flash in manual mode? Try setting the camera to manual mode ISO 100, f/8 and 1/100th then set the flash to manual mode full power (probably the default when you go into manual mode). Then see if this allows the flash to fire.

Further note of interest: when I half press the camera trigger the flash lights the scene with a cross grid of red light, ie: you can see the subject illuminated by them as if you were shinning a red led torch beam. Does that make sense?

That is the auto focus assist light. It makes it easier for the camera's auto focus system in low light (the sort of situation you would expect to use a flash).

I have a couple of old 35mm film Pentax cameras around, if the flash were working correctly would a 1980s Pentax MX be capable of firing the flash, as a test?

Should do with the flash set in it's manual mode. Set the shutter speed to 1/60th (MX X-sync speed) just to be sure.

It must be obvious by now I have no clue about external flash guns. I have never in 30+ years of photography used anything other than built-in pop-up flashes or those old-style one-time use flash bulbs.

Thanks.

I suspect it is either a breakdown in communications between the 300D and the YN565EX II (lack of backwards compatibility with the old E-TTL metering system) or a faulty flash. It is worth checking the reviews on places like Amazon especially the one star ones to see if other people have seen similar behaviour (also check the original 565EX reviews).

It might be a good idea to try contacting the supplier or Yongnuo directly to see if the 300D is a compatible camera.

Ian

I meant the flash in manual mode. I have also tried with the camera in manual as you have suggested. The flash still won't fire.

It seems that the camera and flash are communicating but just not the fire flash 'signal'. In my ignorance I assumed that the <press shutter button on camera, flash fires> part would work even if I couldn't use E-TTL etc.

I feel I should in all good conscience try the flash on another camera before I send it back. It was an Amazon seller (3C4U) purchase.

Thanks to all those that have responded.

Stephen P M Brown wrote:

I meant the flash in manual mode. I have also tried with the camera in manual as you have suggested. The flash still won't fire.

It seems that the camera and flash are communicating but just not the fire flash 'signal'. In my ignorance I assumed that the <press shutter button on camera, flash fires> part would work even if I couldn't use E-TTL etc.

I feel I should in all good conscience try the flash on another camera before I send it back. It was an Amazon seller (3C4U) purchase.

Thanks to all those that have responded.

In manual mode you should be able to fire the flash by shorting between the centre (odd one out of the five) pin and the common connection in the grove for the hot shoe with a piece of wire. If that doesn't work then I suspect you have a faulty flash rather than a problem with your camera.

Ian

Thanks for sticking with this Ian, I appreciate it.

The flash does indeed fire when the centre pin and shoe are shorted. So it is the camera that is suspect. I have cleaned the contacts with Iso alcohol.

Stephen P M Brown wrote:

Thanks for sticking with this Ian, I appreciate it.

The flash does indeed fire when the centre pin and shoe are shorted. So it is the camera that is suspect. I have cleaned the contacts with Iso alcohol.

Have you tried an old model manual flash on your camera before you bought the 565? Some old flashes have very high terminal voltages which can damage modern cameras.

It is possible that the flash doesn't fire because it's waiting for a signal on one of the other terminals that it is not getting. Though putting it in manual mode should negate that.

I'd definitely try it on a newer model camera and try and get the supplier/Yongnuo to confirm that the 300D is a supported camera.

Ian

Before the YN565EX II I had never used any kind of flash on the camera.

As you say it would be nice to know if the 300D is a supported model but I doubt I would get a definitive answer as I doubt whether a camera this long out of production would have been tested.

I won't post further until I have tried another flash on my camera or the YN565EX II on a newer camera.

Thanks again.

Stephen P M Brown wrote:

Before the YN565EX II I had never used any kind of flash on the camera.

As you say it would be nice to know if the 300D is a supported model but I doubt I would get a definitive answer as I doubt whether a camera this long out of production would have been tested.

I won't post further until I have tried another flash on my camera or the YN565EX II on a newer camera.

Thanks again.

If you do the opportunity to try an older manual flash check it against this listing:-

http://www.botzilla.com/photo/strobeVolts.html

It's by no means a definitive list but should steer you clear of any that could harm your camera. Basically if it not shown as safe on that list don't try it.

Ideally if you can get hold of Canon's 220EX, 420EX or 550EX (listed accessories in the 300D manual P128-129) they will work with the 300D.

All the best

Ian

For the benefit of anyone who may chance on this in the future. And with thanks to those who took the time to reply previously.

I returned the Yongnuo for a refund. I have since purchased a second hand Canon 430EX on eBay and it works faultlessly.

I found this thread http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/883898#forum-post-9364635

that describes a problem with third party flashes with electrical contacts that do not line up properly and although I cannot now verify this, I suspect that this was the issue I was having all along.

Thanks,

Stephen