DC500 flash fire problem

[DandyDon]

Dandy Don. I don't even know what to ask for this since it would saddle someone with a whole lot of problems. I've had the camera for over 2 years and have read a lot about it. I think the camera needs to be retired.

Oh I understand, I think. You wouldn't want to sell it cheap just to avoid smashing it, and I wouldn't want to spend much to acquire a problem. I'd rather help if I could. I guess you downloaded the software update. Really, your best bet would to talk with Karl, see if he'd like to look it over.

I have 3 in a way: mine, my dive buds that I set up, and one without a housing I carry as a backup - and shoot vids with as I like the format it shoots vids. I'd be glad to play with it personally and send it back if I could help, but Karl would be better.

 

[dwhthediver]

Evey pic I have posted was taken with my DC500, I loved mine so much, just sold it to a buddy, and bought a DC800, hope I don't regret that, the only flash problems I have had are my fault, I knock the flashlink out of alignment, or I don't wait for it to cycle, I have enjoyed this camera for over 2 years and it went everywhere with me. It is Sealife cameras, not Perfect Cameras, and issues can happen, after all you are mixing electronics and water...

 

[uspap]

Sounds like you have a good one. Not sure I understand the perfect cameras comment. When you have issues on a constant basis, the camera works great on one dive but not the next (on the same day) then I don't think that is out of line to say there's a problem. On the last outing I cleaned the magnetic switch. Made sure the link wasn't kinked. Put fresh batteries in. made sure the settings on the camera were correct. Did a test fire on land and it worked. I got the thing underwater and nothing. The green light was on and the link was securely over the flash port. Nothing. I guess my main issue is not so much the camera as it is the strobe and link.

 

[uspap]

I forgot to ask. What flash do you have? Mine is the SL960D.

 

[DandyDon]

My bud & I both have DC500s with SL960 strobes - retrofitted by Karl at Sealife, flashlinks, upgraded firmware, upgraded batteries. I think he meant that Sealifes are not the fanciest and certainly not the most expensive camera & strobe kits as you can certainly spend several times as much on higher tech 5 mp cameras and strobes, but they are generally a good product for the money - and the company is tops in customer service. Have you phoned Karl to explain your extensive problems...?

 

[uspap]

Hey Dandy Don. No I haven't phoned him. I will. The issue I have is when someone seems to suggest that it is the nut behind the wheel before even reading all the posts. If I could fix the strobe problem I would keep the camera. I am way past "is the camera set right, have you waited for the strobe to recharge, is the flash link connected right". I have a real problem here.

I am not referring to you. You are probably the most helpful and polite person here. I value your opinion.

 

[DandyDon]

Hey Dandy Don. No I haven't phoned him. I will. The issue I have is when someone seems to suggest that it is the nut behind the wheel before even reading all the posts. If I could fix the strobe problem I would keep the camera. I am way past "is the camera set right, have you waited for the strobe to recharge, is the flash link connected right". I have a real problem here.

I am not referring to you. You are probably the most helpful and polite person here. I value your opinion.

Oh, it's generally common for many to try to operate a new gizmo by playing with it rather than reading instructions, and I've certainly been guilty of that with my first PC, my first Dive Computer, and my first couple of Sealifes - so while you may well be more diligent about such than many of us, it does tend to be a suspicion when helping each other around here. My own bluffing pitfalls & mistakes make me more of one to encourage friends to hold the book in one hand while playing with the other until fully read and understood. And of course the amount of typing required would be more if we all did our most to be diplomatic with each other so sometimes some of us can seem like we're not being respectful to a frustrated member when we want to cover the basics - but it's often best to start with those basics, and most people really do mean well. Glad you think I've been nice about all this, but that's certainly not always the case; sometimes I just type, think, and say the wrong thing - it happens to many of us, me more than most I think. Anyway, I understand your frustrations and sympathize with your predicament. While we try to help each other with basics and settings that the other might have overlooked, it really sounds like you ought to ask Karl to examine and test your rig.

Good luck. I'm still trying to figure out non-auto White Balance and ISO settings, still reading my book at times.

 

[uspap]

DD I think you to be more the Gentleman and less the rogue. Thank you for your incites. I have been quite the student of this camera. I think I need to move on from this camera. The camera is good but the strobe is killing me.

 

[TN Traveler]

I had problems with my SL960D when I first used it. Had lots of intermittent problems - would not fire all the time, sometimes it would turn on, sometimes not, sometimes it would fire a couple of times and then quit. I sent mine back to SeaLife after talking with them - turned out there were two problems: one - the flash link needed to be trimmed and repositioned, so that the end pointed directly at the camera flash; two (and most important) - the battery holder was shifting inside the flash head, causing the terminals to make poor contact. They changed out the battery holder (there was a undated design) and I have not had a problem since.

Talk with Karl - your problem sounds like the one I had.

 

[tequi333]

I have 2 batteries and the other accessories for the DC 500 that I no longer need. A friend borrowed my camera and i dont know what he did, but he flooded the case and the camera no longer works. I was going to just throw it all away. Do you still need them? You can email me at tequi333@yahoo.com