Sunpak PF30x

Beware of compatibility issues: All the literature says this flash is compatible with the Canon 450D. Having bought one, I discovered it did not work! Further digging into various chat rooms identified that the flash requires a firmware upgrade to make it compatible with my camera. I am not sure if this is a unit that has been knowcking around for a while, or if it stil applies to units going out tho stores, wither way, there are probably a fair number of flash units on the shelves with the same issue. I am still trying to identify who is responsible for the units in ths country - and the misleading literature, as well as somewhere that can do the upgrade. (Intro 2020 can do it but will only provide me with an estimate when I send them the flash - not my preferred way of doing things) so looking for alternatives. - Any suggestions?

"that the flash requires a firmware upgrade to make it compatible with my camera". isn`t the camera who recuires a update? how do you update the firmware in a flash?

January 2010 - Checked with Sunpak Japan before buying, to make sure its ok with a Canon SX10is. They said yes, I bought one, it didnt work! Now they say - oooo you need to upgrade it to version 6. Thats 27 quid, plus 15 quid postage, plus up to three weeks waiting for it - IF it even works when it gets back here! Don't bother, get the proper canon one!

I picked one up last year from Curry's for £30 new, having heard about the firmware issues but having also heard that they would honour a free upgrade if it was an issue. It did, and they have - works fine now on my 450d and I reckon is an absolute steal (just a shame head doesn't rotate around both axes but you can't have everything at that price).

I bought this model for my 450d after looking on the sunpak website which says it is compatible, however when it arrived it didn't workm so sunpak told me to send it to intron 2020, which i did and they confirmed it needed a firmware upgrade, so i got in touch with sunpak again and asked them if they would stand the cost of the upgrade, as it did say on their website it was compatible, and they agreed to do the upgrade for free. Just got the flashback today, and it works fine now, but beware, it cost me £2.98p to send it first class recorded (signed for) delivery, and intron 2020 charged me £8.81 to send it back...