Canon Flash Won't Pop Up (D400, D400, D300 etc) - SOLUTION

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I've seen this problem reported everywhere on the web - including Talk Photography.

Some of the threads are long/involved and include poking with cocktail sticks.

I wanted to put this reply on its own thread - to (hopefully) make one solution easier to find.

PROBLEM
After buying/using a flashgun, the Canon D series can't tell that you have taken it off. As a result, while the auto-focus etc all work fine... BUT the flash on top of the camera won't pop up

CAUSE
Inspect the flash mounting carefully and there are 2 slivers of metal. Under one of them is a tiny 'button' which detects of the flash gun is still in place. It's 'gets stuck' in the 'YES - there is a flash gun' setting and won't let go

OTHER SOLUTIONS ON THE WEB
Reading all of the other threads, some managed to solve it by poking around with a cocktail stick and others had it 'solve itself' by going outside and trying to shoot in extreme cold

MY SOLUTION
Hit it a few times with a burst of air from a compresses air cannister. I'm not sure if it is the 'impulse' or the 'temperature drop', but it worked really well. It does not involve physical poking, relying on the weather or an expensive trip to a repair centre. Maybe it will work for you.

Overall, my 500D is great - certainly the best camera I have ever owned. What is a little upsetting is that Canon seems to have had this problem dating back to the 300 series. That's the best part of a DECADE!

Come on Canon - use some of your billions to improve your flash gun detection mechanism!


Hope this helps someone who got stuck like me :thumbs:
 
Sounds like a good solution, I am pleased this worked for you.

Just as a word of warning, I had a similar problem about this time last year on my 400D, and I did the take the hotshoe plate off and do the pokey thing with a cocktail stick. I ended up damaging the flash board somehow which resulted in me having to go out and buy a brand new 50D (much to the disgust of the wife). after she calmed down a bit, actually only a few weeks ago, I sent my 400D off to get it repaired, which cost around £200.

So be warned, unless you want an excuse to buy a new camera, don't mess with these things unless you are totally confident you know what you are doing.

Simon
 
Like I said - still not happy that Canon hasn't fixed this in over 10 years

You don't get the same number of complaints about other brands' flash connectors - seems to be a 'Canon special'

If anyone from Canon monitors these forums - we'd LOVE to know the official position on this
 
Sounds like a "fit for purpose" discussion with Canon over who is footing the bill should be the order of the day...
 
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