Shutter problems: Canon EOS R1 intermittent flash sync failure

Hi everyone,

I’m having a small issue with my camera shutter of my Canon EOS R1.. It’s a basic shutter that doesn’t always trigger the flash when it fires. The mechanism itself works — the blades open and close normally — but the flash doesn’t go off consistently.

From what I understand, the shutter completes a simple circuit when fully open: a pin inside makes contact with a small brass spring connected to the hot shoe, firing the flash. I’ve checked the contacts and they seem a bit dirty, so I suspect that might be the problem.

Would cleaning or slightly bending the brass contact to improve connection be the right fix here? Or should I look at replacing the sync contact altogether?

Thanks in advance!

Welcome to Photrio!

Can you confirm your camera is actually an EOS R1? That's a digital mirrorless camera andit's virtually guaranteed that the flash sync is computer controlled, not physically linked to the shutter assembly as such.

When you refer to the non-firing flash, is this a flash unit that's mounted on the hot show of the camera or is it externally connected through the x-sync contact? What kind of flash unit is it?

Overall the problem sounds like an intermittent/poor contact between the camera and the flash unit.

PS: The camera was launched less than 2 years ago. This means that if this camera was purchased in the EU, as I expect is the case, it'll be within warranty. Contact Canin with the problem; don't mess with the camera yourself only to end up voiding your warranty.

Yes and sometimes it's the flash unit problem.

Are you sure the flash has recycled itself between shots, as in the light (green, red, whatever) coming back on? Some flashes die very quickly when the batteries are running down, but some gradually take longer and longer to recycle between shots.

I have a flash unit, a Sunpak PZ5000AF, which at times not firing.