Canon 580 EX Spares

[paul.deitch]

I recently dropped a 580 and broke the foot lock ring. Canon Germany told me spares no longer available for this model!

So I bought a replacement ring in the US and it arrived in 3 days. Looks original too as far as I can tell. Does Canon UK have the same policy? Anyhow they have many spare parts at US Cameras if you need them. Info might help someone here.

[LongQ]

paul.deitch said:

I recently dropped a 580 and broke the foot lock ring. Canon Germany told me spares no longer available for this model!

So I bought a replacement ring in the US and it arrived in 3 days. Looks original too as far as I can tell. Does Canon UK have the same policy? Anyhow they have many spare parts at US Cameras if you need them. Info might help someone here.

Paul,

If you are talking about an original 580 it's a pretty old model now and I would not be surprised if Canon no longer hold parts stock. To be honest I doubt they sold many spare parts anyway as prices for "retail" customers seemed to be high. Presumably that helped the authorised service centres.

There seems to be a different approach to "fix it yourself" options in the US for some types of products. It may be because the top end of the buying market seems to change product quite frequently on a "trade in" approach which means the potential for a more active second/third owner market.

At some point there is more money to be made from breaking up units for spare parts than there is in trying to sell on complete and working but old spec units and doing so seems to be a popular way to go over there.

[paul.deitch]

Yes it is an original 580 and I have three of them. And together with the old ST-E2 controller they've been very, very reliable have travelled to many countries. However as I no longer travel so much I have started to yearn for something more powerful but not so transportable, something with about 400 WattS and a 2 metre octagon.
It will be Xmas soon.

[LongQ]

paul.deitch said:

Yes it is an original 580 and I have three of them. And together with the old ST-E2 controller they've been very, very reliable have travelled to many countries. However as I no longer travel so much I have started to yearn for something more powerful but not so transportable, something with about 400 WattS and a 2 metre octagon.
It will be Xmas soon.

I have 2 580EX IIs that do any travelling, a random collection of old Metz units and a couple of other odd things picked up along the way but also an Elinchrom Quadra kit that gives 400W. No 2mtr Octa though.

Actually I have 2 control units for the Quadra kit and sufficient batteries for both so I guess I have 800W max output if needed.

You might find a decent failed unit usable for body parts on ebay at a sensible price?