Trying to understand my 300ez speedlite w/my EOS 650 Camera

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I am a very amateur photographer (if I can dare use that word). Recently, a friend gave me an EOS 650 camera and a 300ez speedlite. Neither one of these items has a manual. Although I have been able to figure out the camera, I have not been able to figure out the speedlite. I have replaced the batteries, I have turned it on…however, I cannot get a flash-even in the darkest of rooms. What am I doing wrong? Are there any specific settings I should be using for the camera? Is it possible that the bulb in the speedlite has gone bad? What should I do? Can you help?

-- Kevin Trimell Jones (ktj@educ.umass.edu), December 30, 2000

Answers

Kevin

It just so happens that I have exactly this same outfit as my backup outfit. I've never used it much - I don't use flash at all, really, but here's what happens when I connect it.

If the camera's turned on, slide the flash onto the bracket, and turn on the flash - slide the r/h white knob on the back to the right (the | symbol). You should see the indicator light in the middle on the back turn red. Then compose something in the camera and focus - half- press on the shutter button. Whatever lens you're using, you should hear the zoom function in the flashgun buzz for a plit second as it adjusts the flash gun. If you've got a zoom on the camera, try zooming - you should hear the flash gun change it's zoom setting to match the lens setting, and you should see the figures on the back of the flash change as it's zoom setting changes - 28, 35, 50, or 70. On a 20-105, for instance, once you've focused the 35 will be illuminated at 28 to above 35mm on the lens, then the flash zoom will match the lens zoom, until above 70 the flash gun will keep 70 illuminated.

If you're getting a red light in the flash indicator (on the back) but no flash and no flash zooming activity when you change lenses or zoom the lens, try this - remove the flash from the camera and press the flash indicator light inwards (it's also a button). This should should trigger a full-power flash. If this works, then this suggests that the flash may still be functional but there's no data travelling from the cameras to the flash. This problem could be in either the camera or the flash; you could take the flash to a local dealer and ask if you can try it on another EOS body (perhaps a second-hand one they might have - take your own batteries!)

If none of these things are happening (red-light, off-camera full power flash), then I would suggest that you've got a dead flash gun. You could perhaps confirm this by borrowing another flashgun and testing it on the 650 body.

-- Tom Burke (tom@thbtotley.co.uk), January 01, 2001.


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