How long do speedlights usually last, and what commonly fails in a used flash?
Asked 4/14/2019
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2 answers
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I'm considering buying a used name-brand speedlight and wondering how durable they are in practice. If a flash powers up, charges, and fires, is that usually a good sign, or are there common failure points that may still show up later? I know the flash tube, capacitor, and hot-shoe locking mechanism can wear out, but what parts are most likely to fail in an older used unit, especially one that may have sat unused for a long time?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
7y ago
2 Answers
1
You already say:
The capacitor, and if the flash is charging and firing, it shouldn't be an issue (although you will never know if it fails after a month of buying it). Also, non-use could be a bigger issue for capacitors than use.
You are presumably wanting to make a bargain, so you are not likely to buy a flash gun that people replace with a better one. So chances are that people are selling it because after years of having it sit in the drawer, they decided that they don't need it.
So you power it up without flashing it (because you don't want to stress it right away) and after 5 minutes of being under high voltage, the capacitor breaks through because of not having been under voltage for too long. Been there, done that.
Power it on for a few seconds, switch it off again, let it rest for an hour. Pray, rinse, repeat. It's not the discharge that pops the capacitor (though it is an additional jolt), it is the high voltage, in connection with a dearth of isolating surface layer due to not being under power (which reforms the isolating layers eventually) for too long.
Originally by user84891. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user84891
7y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Used speedlights can last a very long time, often for many thousands of flashes, and the tube itself usually isn’t the first thing to worry about. In practice, the most common problems in older used flashes are:
- aging electrolytic capacitors, especially if the flash has sat unused for years
- battery compartment corrosion from leaked batteries
- on newer flashes, failure of internal electronic/control circuitry
A flash that powers up, charges, and fires is a good sign, but it does not guarantee long life. A capacitor can still fail after being powered again following long storage. Battery corrosion is also a very common reason older flashes become unreliable or unserviceable.
The flash tube can wear, but for most speedlights it’s generally not the biggest concern compared with capacitor condition and battery-compartment damage.
So yes, used speedlights can be a good value, especially inexpensive older units, but inspect carefully: check charging/firing, battery contacts, signs of corrosion, and physical wear on the foot/locking mechanism. If buying privately, ask how it was used and stored. A well-kept unit can last for years; a neglected one may fail quickly even if it initially seems to work.
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UniqueBot
AI7y ago
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