Canon Speedlite 580 EXII...help!

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Hello all, I am new to the forum. I recently purchased a Canon Speedlite 580 EXII for my Canon EOS 7D. The flash works well when the camera is set to auto and the flash is on ETTL. I only shoot in manual, so I want to set the flash to function in manual as well. I've changed the custom functions to external metering: manual and changed the ISO and aperature to match that of my camera (also in manual). According to the owner's manual, I should now be getting a flash range to display on the speedlite's LCD. Instead I am getting nothing.The pilot light won't light up and there's no reading for a range. I'm getting frustrated because it's as if the flash isn't even on the camera. Am I missing something or is there a problem with the flash? Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated!
 
You don't have to change any custom functions to do what you want to do (change them back to the defaults until you know what to change and why).

The meter does not display in bounce position. Rotate the flash head down to the direct flash position and try again - it should be there.

One of the custom functions changes the display to show meters or feet. You may need to change that to your preferred system, but I would change all other custom functions back to the default until you know why they need changed.

(Except maybe for the auto power-off one, you may want to disable that - maybe not though.)
 
You live in DE, so I'm going to assume you measure in feet...

C.Fn 00 - set that to 1 (that will switch it to feet)
C.Fn 01 - set to 1 if you want to disable auto power off

Everything else, leave on 0 for now.

C.Fn 05, which is what it sounds like you changed, should be on 0 unless you're using a film body that doesn't support E-TTL. (Changing this is what is making it act like it's not even on the camera. You're basically telling it to ignore the camera by changing it to manual.)
If you leave that on 0, the flash will automatically detect the ISO and focal length as long as it's on the camera.


The pilot light/test button should be lighting up though... I missed that part of your post.
Try fresh batteries and make sure they're in the right way. If you still get nothing, the flash might be defective...

edit - well, you changed settings, so the batteries must be in the right way, lol. Maybe they're just really low. Try new ones.


edit
damnit. I just noticed that I passed my 6,666th post.... I wonder which one it was... :lol:
 
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