Canon 7D and Sunpak RD2000 digital flash

[michelle_cox]

<p>I bought these two together at Adorama recently. Given the information on their site, they looked to be compatible. After not being able to get it working, I went to Sunpak's site and found that the 7D is not listed as one of the compatible cameras even though it's the same flash type: "Canon E-TTL II: Digital Rebel, XT, XTi, XSi, EOS D50, EOS 40D, EOS 30D, EOS 20D, EOS 5D"<br>

It seems strange that it works with all those cameras and not the 7D. Am I missing something? Is there a way to make it work? I've got an email into Adorama to find out if I can send it back if it can't be made to work but I'm hoping I can use it because the popup flash isn't very good.<br>

Thanks,<br>

Michelle</p>

[py-photography]

<p>Can you explain what you mean by not working? Does the flash not fire at all? Does the flash fire if you press the test button?<br>

A little more info would be a great help..<br>

Off the top of my head I don't see any reason the flash won't work with the 7D..</p>

[picturesque]

<p>You aren't missing anything. Starting with the 5DII, the flash is not compatible. The 7D came after the 5DII. If Adorama is selling both in a kit, I would return the flash and get full money back.</p>

[michelle_cox]

<p>Yes, test firing works. But the camera won't fire it. It recognizes there's a flash there. if I go into the flash options and try to do anything with the popup flash it says it can't because there's an external flash. But I can't figure out any way to get it to fire the flash. Even on full automatic it doesn't fire. And none of the options for external flash in the menu work because it says it's not compatible.<br>

Michelle</p>

 

[michelle_cox]

<p>Nadine - Sorry, missed yours while I was typing. Adorama didn't sell the flash in the kit but they listed it as being compatible with cameras that have the "E-TTL II" so I thought it would work. :(<br>

Thanks,<br>

Michelle</p>

 

[py-photography]

<p>Good info to know.. Thanks for clearing that up Nadine.</p>

[py-photography]

<p>After a little searching I found this info.. according to sunpak web site it does appear to be compatible..<br>

<a href="http://www.sunpak.jp/english/products/rd2000/rendou.html">http://www.sunpak.jp/english/products/rd2000/rendou.html</a> <br>

Both the 7D and 5D MKII show as compatible..</p>

[michelle_cox]

<p>Well, I'm confused. http://www.sunpak.com/sunpak/flashunits.html doesn't list the 7D or the 5D MKII but that link you gave clearly does. And I can't see any way to make it work. I've never had an external flash so I won't rule out user error but you'd think it would at least work in total automatic mode in an fairly dark room.<br>

Haven't heard back from Adorama, yet, but I only emailed them this morning.<br>

Might have to contact Sunpak directly. This is really confusing having all this conflicting info. :(<br>

Thanks,<br>

Michelle</p>

[py-photography]

<p>Confusing for me as well...<br>

Sorry I couldn't be of more help..</p>

[michelle_cox]

<p>I appreciate you trying. What can you do when the company contradicts itself from one page to another?<br>

Michelle</p>

[michelle_cox]

<p>Wow, Sunpak is fast with the responses...</p>

<blockquote>

<p>Yes it is compatible. Since the 7d just came out you need a firmware upgrade for the flash. You send the flash to us at Tocad America , 53 Greenpond Road, Rockaway, NJ 07866 and we upgrade it at no charge.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>I'm a little bummed having to ship off a flash that I just bought 2 weeks ago but at least I can use it. I think I'll wait and see what Adorama says first, though, in case they have some already upgraded in stock and can maybe just exchange.<br>

Thanks everyone for the help!<br>

Michelle</p>

 

[JAPster]

<p>I would try shooting the camera in manual mode with the flash in automatic mode.</p>

<p>First, set the flash up so it will shoot in regular automatic mode (the mode where its using its own built-in light sensor to make the exposure reading, not trying to talk to the camera and get a reading from the camera).</p>

<p>Then set the camera up so you can shoot with flash in manual mode. Try setting the shutter to something like 1/90th, (anything below the camera's max sync speed for flash, check your camera manual to find out what the max sync speed spec is). Then take some test pics by shooting in manual mode and see if the flash goes off. You might also have to turn on the FLASH setting on the camera, so the camera will know to send the trigger signal to the hotshoe.</p>

[helen_oster]

<p>Michelle</p>

<p>Could I have your order number? - perhaps I can resolve it for you without you needing to do anything drastic!</p>

<p><strong>Helen Oster<br />Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador</strong></p>

<p >http://helenoster.blogspot.com<br>

<a href="mailto:helen.oster@adoramacamera.com">helen.oster@adoramacamera.com</a><br>

<a href="http://www.adorama.com/">www.adorama.com</a></p>

 

[michelle_cox]

<p>@Alan: Thanks for the ideas but Sunpak did confirm it needs an update to work.<br>

@Helen: Thanks, I'll email you.<br>

Michelle</p>

 

[picturesque]

<p>Sorry just checking back in. The menu in the camera will not show that the flash is compatible. I believe third party flashes are not workable this way. However, I suspect you have the non-upgraded version of the Sunpak. Whatever needs to be done, you need the upgraded version.</p>

[michelle_cox]

<p>@Nadine: Yep.<br>

Ok, here's the latest in this saga. :)<br>

Adorama has been great in working with me on this. Even though it's really not their fault, they offered to ship me out a different flash with free next day shipping so I could have it in time for the event on Saturday. Unfortunately, they have no way of guaranteeing a different flash would work with the 7D, either. Plus, there just really wasn't any other flash in my price range that I liked.<br>

In the end I decided to just ship it in to Tocad and get it upgraded. It means having to use the pop up flash for the event, which sucks, but I think it's the best long term solution.<br>

I want to thank Adorama for going out of their way to help me with this and also Tocad for their quick response and being willing to update the firmware for free and also you on this thread helping me figure this all out. :)<br>

Michelle</p>

[picturesque]

<p>Where are you located? What's the event? If you are in the Bay Area of San Francisco, I'd lend you my 380EX. It's old but it would work with the 7D.</p>

[michelle_cox]

<p>That's very sweet of you to offer but I'm in Wisconsin. This is the event:<br>

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY10MW?sid=1003&type=fr_informational&pg=informational&fr_id=22877<br>

Unfortunately, it's supposed to be thunderstorms on Saturday so there's a very good chance it will move inside. I know even a hotshoe flash isn't great for that but it would be a bit better than the popup. Maybe I'll get lucky and the weather will change. :)<br>

Thanks,<br>

Michelle</p>

[picturesque]

<p>If you can use high ISO (7D is supposed to be good) and ambient as primary, with fill from the pop up, you will be pleasantly surprised, I think.</p>

[michelle_cox]

<p>@Nadine: I tried but I've never had much luck with that. I don't know if it's something I'm not doing right or what but my flash photos always look awful. :(<br>

Michelle</p>