Camera Labs

I have a Canon and a blanking plate in the hot shoe.

The camera thinks that there is a flash present, and therefore refuses to fire the pop up flash.

Nikon come supplied with a blank anyway and I have not heard owners complaining that theirs will not fire.

Is there a way around this?

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Canon EOS 500D
Lenses: EFS 18-55mm IS, EF 50mm F/1.8 II

Try removing the blanking plate.
On Canon, in order for the camera to detect there is an external flash, and therefore disable the pop-up flash, there is a little metal strip where you slide the flash in. If it is not up, then the pop-up flash will be disabled.

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Canon 5DIII, Rebel XTi/400D
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II, 24-105mm f/4L, 50mm f/1.4, 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DO, 85mm f/1.8
Sigma 150mm F2.8 EX Macro
Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX, Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II
Canon 430EX II
Opteka 13mm, 21mm, and 31mm extension tubes
Vivitar 50mm f/1.8 for OM System

Hi,
Yes I am finding that I have to remove the plate out.

Are you suggesting that I remove the metal strip?

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Canon EOS 500D
Lenses: EFS 18-55mm IS, EF 50mm F/1.8 II

I am not advising that.

This is the only way the camera can tell if it has an external flash. Tampering with this will make the pop-up come up even when you have an external flash.

This is the cause of your issue though.

Personally, I prefer an external flash over the pop-up one.

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Canon 5DIII, Rebel XTi/400D
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II, 24-105mm f/4L, 50mm f/1.4, 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DO, 85mm f/1.8
Sigma 150mm F2.8 EX Macro
Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX, Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II
Canon 430EX II
Opteka 13mm, 21mm, and 31mm extension tubes
Vivitar 50mm f/1.8 for OM System

The pop up one works sufficiently for what I use it for.

It is funny that Nikon users aren't affected by it though.

_________________
Canon EOS 500D
Lenses: EFS 18-55mm IS, EF 50mm F/1.8 II