Tip: 580EX & 580 EXII Auto-shutoff Function For Remotes

My Gear - What you wanted to know but were afraid to ask_034If you are an owner of a Canon 580EX, like me, or upgraded to the 580EXII and plan to use it remotely, make sure you take this quick step to avoid having the flash auto-shutdown after each one minute period of inactivity and avoiding you some not so good mentioned comments like... what the fxxx happen to the flash?... or why this sxxx doesn't work anymore, it was working a couple of minutes ago?.

Well just save yourself from this and follow along :)

Most of the shooting I engage myself in that requires off-camera flash can be covered by my Canon Speedlites. The old 550EX power switch has 3 positions: Off, On, On w/Power-saving automatic idle shutdown.

With the 550EX's successor, the 580EXII (the updated 580EX), there are only two positions: Off, On. The automatic shutdown is enabled by default, and only requires an idle time of 60 seconds to shut the flash down. If you were using the flash on-camera, the flash would automatically power itself on when camera activity is detected but when the flash is detached, it doesn't wake back up.

These are the simple steps to disable automatic idle shutdown on a Canon 580EXII series flash:

1. Power the flash on (does not need to be attached to camera or PW)
2. Hold down the backlight/C.Fn button until "Fn 00 0" appears on the screen
3. Rotate the selector wheel until you see "Fn 01 0"
4. Press your selector button down so that the 0 begins flashing
5. Rotate your selector wheel to change the 0 to a 1
6. Rotate the selector to the "Fn 14 0" position and set it to 1
--- Update --- On the 580EXII is "Fn 01 0"
position and set it to 1 ---//---
7. Press your selector button to save this parameter
8. Press your Mode button to return to the main screen

Pay attention that in order to disable auto-shutoff on the original 580EX series, select the "Fn 14 0" and set it to 1.

--- Update --- And for the 580EXII to disable auto-shutoff is "Fn 01 0" position and set it to 1 ---//---

Done! Now your flash will stay on as long as your power switch is in the "On" position.

Remember to switch it back on whenever you need to save some power when using the on camera flash.

--- Update --- I'm adding, bellow, 2 images taken from the Canon website with all the functions for each of the flashes, this way would be much better for you to change what best suits you on both models.

Custom functions for 580EX

Custom functions for 580EXII
---//---

7 comments:

Unknown said...

This has been bugging me for a while now. Kept meaning to look it up in the manual, but never got round to it!

Just one point... My 580EX II doesn't have a C.Fn 14. After 13, it goes back to 00

ruimleal said...

Hi Jay,

thanks for the comment in fact you are quite right.

I've updated the blog so people could have both custom functions available.

Since I do not own the 580EXII that part missed me and I was thinking that they had the same C.Fn for both. But now I think all is good.

Just take a look and download the images accordingly to what you may need.

Again thanks for the comment.

Best regards,

Rui

Anonymous said...

another way to get around this problem is to turn your flash to slave mode before turning it to manual (and using them w/ the pw). they will stay on for an hour if not being used. for the 580exII's you hold down the zoom button for a second of two until a little flash icon starts to blink. then turn the dial.

i like this better because it does cover my back incase i forget to turn them off.

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Unknown said...

This worked just fine. Thank you!

Lew said...

If you change batteries, does it default back to "00"

ruimleal said...

Hi Lew,

no it does not.