tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913915168052873347.post286999592110334961..comments2024-03-26T13:00:25.188-07:00Comments on The Friedman Archives Blog: Possible Solutions to the Hot Shoe Design ProblemGary L. Friedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12816533617814819591noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913915168052873347.post-20851258784902499422016-02-01T15:35:26.640-08:002016-02-01T15:35:26.640-08:00There are size constraints when trying to mount th...There are size constraints when trying to mount the 'duck feet' on macro rings and light brackets for telephotos.<br />Hopefully time will solve the availability of solutions.sorry to quit but glad to be outhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00727628830667114294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913915168052873347.post-89499097133614062882016-01-24T14:48:32.039-08:002016-01-24T14:48:32.039-08:00I agree with everything you said except the very l...I agree with everything you said except the very last point. Yes, the pins are exposed but now they are less exposed (and therefore less vulnerable) than conventional connectors on conventional flash feet.Gary L. Friedmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12816533617814819591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913915168052873347.post-3010251855666722212016-01-24T09:20:41.463-08:002016-01-24T09:20:41.463-08:00Hi Gary,
Both of your solutions to protect the fla...Hi Gary,<br />Both of your solutions to protect the flash connector pins are interesting.<br /><br />Better yet: they answer 2 distinct needs...<br /><br />The 2-part system will be great if the camera-mounted ISO-Minolta adapter is very slim: it would allow some of us, who have the old-style Minolta flashes, to use them with the new bodies without having to install the thick and ugly Sony adapter (the one bundled with the A99 is functional but sucks from a design point of view!)<br /><br />The other solution, with retracting pins, is simpler and better from a design point of view: no extra part to lose or to install.<br /><br /><br />Here are the pros and cons that I see for both solutions:<br /><br />2-part system:<br />+ Camera-mounted ISO-Minolta connector would be mounted "permanently": would protect the pin sockets from dust / moisture. (Minolta connector was better in this regard)<br /><br />+ The Minolta-Flash part could be sold separately (0, 1 or more, as required)<br /><br />- 2 part system: may be costlier.<br /><br />- 2 part system will be thicker than using the pin-retraction system. Although it can be an advantage in some cases.<br /><br /><br />Pin-retraction:<br /><br />+ Simple: no extra part!<br /><br />+ No extra thickness between flash and camera.<br /><br />- The camera pin sockets still need to be protected from dust / moisture when flash is not mounted: connector cap is still required in that case.<br /><br />Just my cents ;)Patrick Mayerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10378586109376768886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913915168052873347.post-23961580303128411152016-01-23T18:58:41.286-08:002016-01-23T18:58:41.286-08:00In the long run, I agree... Maybe they could make ...In the long run, I agree... Maybe they could make the flash unit connectors out of something like carbon fiber and/or strong metal and provide better protection of the electrical connectors (such as in your blog). The current Sony flashes are basically too fragile. While I wait for Sony to solve the issue, which may = when the A7RIIII arrives, I have at least the option to keep the covers from getting easily lost. When I first got the A7RII and two current generation Sony flashes, I didn't realize the flash units had these design flaws. I also have 2 aged Minolta flashes (no probs) and 2 earlier Sony (Minolta) flashes (no probs). Meanwhile I hope Sony offers current customers some kind of fix or upgrade capability for their current lineup.JAMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09396707098006742293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913915168052873347.post-16233053059055538962016-01-23T18:46:50.282-08:002016-01-23T18:46:50.282-08:00Great. More stuff to futz with. I DON'T WANT...Great. More stuff to futz with. I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO PAMPER THAT CONNECTOR AT ALL!!!!! Especially in high-stress shooting situations when the luxury of time is just not there.Gary L. Friedmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12816533617814819591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913915168052873347.post-56907739598448104122016-01-23T18:39:56.278-08:002016-01-23T18:39:56.278-08:00You can use one of these to keep up with the hot s...You can use one of these to keep up with the hot shoe cover and/or flash foot protector cover. It attaches, e.g., to your camera strap or camera bags. (I have one):<br />http://www.adorama.com/OTMKBK.html JAMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09396707098006742293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913915168052873347.post-72495438353827443262016-01-23T18:29:49.552-08:002016-01-23T18:29:49.552-08:00Peter, the "duck feet" table stand that ...Peter, the "duck feet" table stand that came with your flash has a tripod socket on the bottom - I use that to attach it to tripods all the time.<br /><br />The "Not enough 3rd party stuff" complaint was rampant with the Minolta shoe too in the early days. Give it time.Gary L. Friedmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12816533617814819591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913915168052873347.post-71724987811281681192016-01-23T18:16:21.903-08:002016-01-23T18:16:21.903-08:00While the new Sony hot shoe addresses the size and...While the new Sony hot shoe addresses the size and shape compatibility problem it adds another problem. There apparently is no adaptor that can be used to attach a Sony flash to a light stand style flash mount - the screw about the size of a tripod screw. <br />That is needed when one wants to use the Sony flash with a big telephoto tripod mount or with a larger macro ring as well as in studio settings.<br />There was an adaptor that worked well with the older Minolta mount. <br />Your suggested solution would add a new range of possible solutions.<br />My biggest disappointment with Sony is that it doesn't have the range of solutions or third party options as do C or N.<br />I would be interested in either of the solutions you are working on. sorry to quit but glad to be outhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00727628830667114294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913915168052873347.post-62982732045205504562016-01-23T17:47:46.711-08:002016-01-23T17:47:46.711-08:00Great idea Gary.Great idea Gary.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913915168052873347.post-18392326582074931752016-01-22T15:35:45.055-08:002016-01-22T15:35:45.055-08:00Looking forward to downloading your ebook. I am do...Looking forward to downloading your ebook. I am doing a similar type of thing with my blogs. Converting them to books. This way my family will be able to access their content without elaborate passwords, etc.<br />Again you are on the top of the heap!!!<br />SheilaSheila Clapkin's Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07240851472481299995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913915168052873347.post-59129461656286865312016-01-21T05:06:49.255-08:002016-01-21T05:06:49.255-08:00I have been a Minolta SLR (Maxxum/Dynax 7000i and ...I have been a Minolta SLR (Maxxum/Dynax 7000i and 8000i)and Sony DSLR (a700) user for many, many years and have never had an issue with the Minolta-designed hot shoe - other than wishing I had a wider range of flash options like other brands). The camera straps provided with all three cameras included a device to store the camera flash shoe cover and to date, I have never lost any. I have not read or heard about the market research that you mention Sony conducted, but wonder why fix/redesign something that wasn't broken to begin with? Sounds to me like yet another marketing idea to increase revenue, like the myriad of USB-related connectors out there for various devices. Good luck with your response from Sony.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04299379875527521515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913915168052873347.post-13330819551241161222016-01-20T11:18:08.262-08:002016-01-20T11:18:08.262-08:00In terms of durability... It's hard to underst...In terms of durability... It's hard to understand what the engineers had in mind when designing the newest Sony hot shoe, flash foot. I've seen a discussion online where customer complains with Sony about flash foot falling apart and Sony puts it off as user fault.<br />JAMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09396707098006742293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913915168052873347.post-22726271538871701072016-01-20T10:47:42.670-08:002016-01-20T10:47:42.670-08:00I have two of Nissin flashes and both have the lit...I have two of Nissin flashes and both have the little plastic tabs in the middle of the sides broken off! One foot is totally mutilated due to a SOFT fall. It didn't even hit the floor, but the foot is unusable. <br />I have found that Sony and Phottix make a stronger foot, but of course the pins are still vulnerable.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12152132083931876882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913915168052873347.post-21482991330218130712016-01-19T19:05:04.924-08:002016-01-19T19:05:04.924-08:00I liked your idea of the tether for keeping track ...I liked your idea of the tether for keeping track of the Sony hot shoe protector... I have a bunch of those tethers that have the adhesive pad on one end... I'm going to experiment with these and also the gazillion Sony / Sony/Minolta adapters I have. Sony's latest hot shoe design is a mess and weak at that. I also hear about people's flash feet breaking, as well. I also find that I avoid using hot shoe adapters (with the latest MIS design) when I'd prefer to hold LED lighting, or microphones etc. on the camera hot shoe out of concern I'll accidentally damage the pins on the camera side.JAMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09396707098006742293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913915168052873347.post-5422756443564190042016-01-19T14:57:51.899-08:002016-01-19T14:57:51.899-08:00Bob, Your velcro idea is similar to my very first ...Bob, Your velcro idea is similar to my very first tethering idea - simple, effective, but still slows me down. (And no, I don't use lens caps either for the same reason. :-) ) Gary L. Friedmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12816533617814819591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913915168052873347.post-16324990044977212902016-01-19T14:52:47.554-08:002016-01-19T14:52:47.554-08:00I write this having just spent half an hour lookin...I write this having just spent half an hour looking for the cover for my new-ish Sony flashgun. My thoughts are to try using self adhesive velcro (even better use a contrasting colour or white so the cover can be more easily spotted if it does go walkies) apply a square to the bottom of the cover and a matching peice on some unused peice of realestate somewhere on the body of the gun. Then when I remove the cover i can stick it straight onto the gun where it will hopefully remain until it is needed again. The pins scare the hell out of me, to have something so expensive which it seems is so vulnerable to problems with these tiny pins seems like a really crap piece of design to me and I am surprised that Sony let it out into the market the way it is. Bob Toddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913915168052873347.post-13568131608249987422016-01-19T09:21:24.499-08:002016-01-19T09:21:24.499-08:00Your only problem has been NOT losing them? (Also...Your only problem has been NOT losing them? (Also, any "dumb" flash should work OK without TTL.)Gary L. Friedmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12816533617814819591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913915168052873347.post-72987914238169319372016-01-19T09:15:50.562-08:002016-01-19T09:15:50.562-08:00Excellent info,as always. On the flash pin issue, ...Excellent info,as always. On the flash pin issue, my only problem has been not losing those little safety caps. Beside that, would like to know what other flashes can be used safely on this shoe without using an adapter. TTL is not an issue.Dale Hardinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13014651768513802134noreply@blogger.com