Canon EOS 10d flash broke

[starzbuhite]

Help Me!! My camera is 2 yrs old and the auto flash doesn't work. It will pop up but will not flash. Does the bulb need replaced and if so how do I do it? Any ideas?????

[Lionheart]

Help Me!! My camera is 2 yrs old and the auto flash doesn't work. It will pop up but will not flash. Does the bulb need replaced and if so how do I do it? Any ideas?????

My two 10D's are about the same age as yours, but fortunately seem to be functioning well at this time despite averaging about 35-40 shots apiece daily 5 days a week for the last two years-and that's just office use, doesn't include the weekends when I've taken at least one of them home for personal use when I crank 300+shots out on a given outing. It really bites when cameras breakdown, just not as tough as the old mechanical film cameras. Try the local camera shop and see what they think, but I wouldn't mess with replacing the bulb yourself unless you've done a lot of self repair jobs on cameras. The problem may not even be a bad bulb (i've never seen a flash bulb go bad in 16 years of using Canon EOS cameras and flashes). Call up Canon USA and check to see how much a diagnostic is and send it in for evaluation. They're not cheap to repair in most cases once the warranty expires. The last time I sent in a DSLR for repair out of warranty was my D30, and that was over $500. It was the only time I've ever had to send anything in to them. Might be cheaper just to buy an external flash like a 420EX or 550/580 EX.

[almo]

This is why I always use a flash gun. I would suggest seeing your local canon dealer. If it is the bulb they can replace it.

[starzbuhite]

LIONHEART-I do have the 420EX and use it BUT....it seems to be really slow in between photos. I can't get the blast like the built in. Am I doing something wrong? Maybe setting it wrong??? I need the blast because I take photos of live bands and can't wait for it to warm up.....Any advice there..

[Lionheart]

LIONHEART-I do have the 420EX and use it BUT....it seems to be really slow in between photos. I can't get the blast like the built in. Am I doing something wrong? Maybe setting it wrong??? I need the blast because I take photos of live bands and can't wait for it to warm up.....Any advice there..

I'm not familiar with the 420EX, but as I recall, it doesn't have an external power connector like the 550 and 580 (I could be wrong). I use Quantum Turbo's to power up my 550 on weddings and other events so that the recycle times are fractions of a second depending on how quickly you're draining the capacitor. You may need to invest in a 550 or 580 and a quantum pack or two (depending on how quickly you deplete your batteries-the Turbo is good for about 400 full charges, and recycle time is 1 or 2 seconds for a full capacitor charge depending on what mode you have it in). The 550 and 580 are worth the investment, and the quantum packs aren't cheap, but you'll wonder how you ever got by without them when flash lighting is your primary source of light at photo events.