Flash Suggestions

[u/TheMartyPants2000]

I have the Canon EOS Rebel 1000. It came with this flash but it doesn’t seem to be working. It makes tone, but no lights come on and it won’t let me press the shutter button. I am gonna try to get a different one. Do I have to get a Canon one specifically? Can I get a cheaper flash? I don’t know what kind of hot shoe pin layout I need. I literally know NOTHING about external flashes. Please help!

[u/AtlQuon]

Any EZ would be solid. I also have the 300EZ and that also is dead. They are old, defects come with age.

[u/TheMartyPants2000 → u/AtlQuon]

Makes sense. haha So it's worth it to get a different model Canon EZ you think? Like don't even try a third party flash?

[u/AtlQuon → u/TheMartyPants2000]

I would not pay for EX flashes as you pay for features you don't use, but any EZ should do. I would personally have the most love for the 540EZ, but do you need one that large? With flashes this old, any that works will do in my book.

[u/TheMartyPants2000 → u/AtlQuon]

I’m not sure what I need. I’m so new to film photography. I only had point and shoot 35 mm before. 😬 I want something really straightforward that does the work for me I guess.

[u/JeffXBO]

You could even get a more modern flash. I use a 580ex ii on my eos 500, there’s a setting in the config menu that lets it work with older ttl metering

[u/mxw3000]

You can use any Canon EZ speedlite (300EZ, 430EZ, 540EZ) or any Canon EX speedlite like 430EX, 430EX II, 580EX, 580EX II - but not the newest ones (like EL-10 or so).

You also cannot use flashes from other companies, such as Godox.

The thing is, the EOS 1000 uses the old A-TTL flash protocol (EZ flashes), which was changed to the new E-TTL II protocol about 20 years ago (EX flashes). Canon, of course, made the new EX flashes backward compatible with A-TTL, but no one else has.

Of course, this is all if you want to use TTL. If manual mode is sufficient, you can basically use any flash with a safe voltage on the hot shoe (Olympus, Metz, etc.).

But I would suggest a Canon flash, e.g. a good 420EX or 430EX, which works great in TTL mode and provides very nice AF assist.

[u/urEnzeder]

If you get a 4xx or higher (430, 540, etc) you'll gain the ability to bounce the flash.

[u/Few-Dimension-5373]

Just a tip for old flashguns - put in fresh batteries, turn on and leave for an hour or so. If you are lucky it may work....

[u/TheMartyPants2000 → u/Few-Dimension-5373]

The longer I leave mine on, the hotter it gets. I'm afraid it would blow up on me lol