nick_marzinski Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 <p>Last weekend, I was setting up for a portrait shoot, and I was having trouble seeing if my Speedlite flash slaves were firing with the master. To check my 580 ex ii slave, I cupped my hand near the head of it (about an inch away) and fired the master. Clearly, this was not one of the more intelligent things I've ever done. The flash from the slave didn't hurt my hand, but got me to move it away in a hurry (and firmly resolve never to do that again). There was also a slight burning smell (whether from my hand or the flash, I'm not certain), though no smoke. I checked the flash's printed manual, and it doesn't have any warnings about minimum distance or covering the flash. Furthermore, the flash immediately recharged and has worked fine since (at various power levels and zoom lengths) with no smell whatsoever, so I think it's unlikely that it's been damaged. Nonetheless, that burning smell has me thinking. I'm just curious if this could have hurt the flash. </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zml Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 <p>No idea whether such action can damage a flash but I routinely use glass and foil filters on my 580 EX IIs w/o any issues (and some filters are very thick glass attached directly to the head.)</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus Ian Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 <p>While you may have singed the hair off your hand, it's highly unlikely that you damaged the flash. BTW, the smell is the flash burned hair.</p> <p>Oh well, lesson learned... hopefully that doesn't give you hand cancer (probably won't unless you're in California ;-) )</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick_marzinski Posted February 23, 2012 Author Share Posted February 23, 2012 <p>I don't live in California, so I think I'm safe from skin cancer. Thanks for the replies. Looks like nothing damaged, except for my pride. </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_j2 Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 <p>Your Speedlite should be fine.</p> <p>I took the temperature reading about an inch away from the flash head of my Canon 580EX II Speedlite tilted upwards at a 90° angle to the horizontal with a Mastercraft Temperature Reader with Digital Display & Laser Pointer. The Speedlite was set to Manual 1/1 output.</p> <p>I fired three times in about 5 seconds. The temperature reading was <strong>110° Celsius</strong> on average. This specific warning may or may not be listed in the latest manual.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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