D30: No flash, no error

[schwim]

Hi there everyone,

I've got a d30 that I'm unable to part with and it works dandy save for one aspect of it: Since I purchased it(used), the flash has never worked. I've read the manual, and find that it should provide an error if the flash refuses to rise, but I have never received an error due to the flash. If I manually lift the flash, it still doesn't light. Pushing the flash button on the left of the body doesn't do anything. Setting the camera to auto and attempting to take a picture in low light sometimes results in an underexposed shot(flash won't fire) and sometimes it will not take a shot.

Never an error.

I am wondering if there is some kind of override that may prohibit the flash from operating, or is this most definitely broken? Everyone says it's not worth the money to fix, but it was my first DSLR, and I would like to fix it if possible and maybe hand it over to my daughter to start taking pictures with. Your thoughts and suggestions would be welcome.

thanks,
json

[D Thompson]

Go into custom functions and make sure that #7 is set to 0-fires.

Sorry, just looked again and you're saying D30, the above is if you have the 30D.

[cdifoto]

If it's not the CF that Dennis mentioned - there's a little switch on the hot shoe that sometimes sticks or goes missing and causes the camera to either think there's a flash attached even when there isn't or not realize there is a flash when there isn't...resulting in no flash and no popup even when the button is pressed.

Scroll about halfway down on this page (where it says "How to test for a switch problem on the Canon 20D flash hot shoe" in huge font):

http://www.conraderb.com/flashrepair/

I'm not saying it is the problem, since you report no actual errors, but it could be.

[schwim]

Hi there Dennis, and thanks so much for the response.

It was set to 1:, so I set it to:

0: 0 -> - -> + /Enable

and saved it. I pressed the flash button and nothing happened. I pulled the flash up and took a shot while in manual. No flash. I set it to auto and when I tried to take a shot, it chose a 6 second exposure instead of firing off the flash.

Any other ideas are welcome. Thanks for the help you've already provided.

thanks,
json

[schwim]

Holy cow!

Between the two of you, you guys solved my problem. It was actually compounded by two aspects, both of which you solved:

1) When I first bought the camera, I could not get the flash to work. I'm sure now it's because of the custom function setting.

2) After a few months of owning the camera, I bought one of those hotshoe dust covers that you slid into it to protect the contacts. cdifoto's link brought to my attention that there was a switch probably being depressed by the dust cover.

Once I changed the c.fn setting and removed the dust cover, I successfully used the flash while in auto.

I can't thank you guys enough for your help. I am completely ecstatic about having a completely functional d30 for the first time! :)

thanks,
json

[D Thompson]

Glad we helped! Enjoy your flash.