SB600 stuck on camera
Jan 15, 2017 12:03:22 #
I have found a few posts on the internet but no success yet. The release lever on my SB600 (It's on a Nikon D700) will rotate a complete circle but at no position will the flash come off the camera (the flash does work with no other problems). I've tried a small drop of 3-in-one penetrating oil and held the camera in various positions. There are no camera stores in the area. Any ideas?
Jan 15, 2017 12:44:55 #
Not necessarily the answer, but worth a look: some shoe mounts have a second release tab or button that must be pressed in order to remove the flash. This is intended as an extra measure of security to prevent the flash from sliding off and falling to the ground by accident. Check the written instructions for both the camera and the flash to see if such a 'protection' exists in this case.
Jan 15, 2017 12:58:18 #
JimKing wrote:
I have found a few posts on the internet but no success yet. The release lever on my SB600 (It's on a Nikon D700) will rotate a complete circle but at no position will the flash come off the camera (the flash does work with no other problems). I've tried a small drop of 3-in-one penetrating oil and held the camera in various positions. There are no camera stores in the area. Any ideas?
Sounds like the lever latch that releases the lock pin has broken off if it's spinning, should only move 90 degrees. Sounds like breaking off that lever and trying to unlock the pin with a tool might have to be done to remove it without damaging the cameras hotshot.
Good luck.
Jan 15, 2017 13:07:10 #
The switch is not designed to spin all the way around. The coupling between the switch and lock pin is likely broken. If you don’t want to risk further damage to flash or camera you may need to send it to Nikon. If you’re handy with tools, and willing to take the risk, you may want to try the solution found below.
The following is a quote from AdamB at another forum (link included) who apparently had the same problem:
“Removing the 4 screws on the bottom works. That's the short answer. I was fortunate enough to find a very tiny, very short screwdriver in a watch maintenance kit I picked up for about $3 off Amazon awhile back. It's like 1.25" long and smaller then the normal electronics tweaker screwdriver. Eyeglasses screwdriver sized. I work in electronics so I've got a bunch of those little tweakers and was prepared to either bend one to 90 degrees or cut the head off, but it didn't fit the head of the screws in the flash anyways. The small, tiny screwdriver I found was small enough to almost fit the space available between body and flash, with just the tiniest bit of angle of attack. I used a tiny pair of vice grips to grasp the driver and push in. There's a little bit of resistance from the threads having cut into the virgin plastic at the factory as you start to turn the screw, but they were removed without any damage to the screw heads. They're about 5/16" long, they'll drop out pretty easily if you're not careful, and as soon as you have two out, the flash body will start to flop around a bit, and as you remove the fourth, it will topple and fall.ppaI worked on it while it was laid on the bodies side, which I assume most others would as well. The wires inside, you can't really just unplug and disconnect the flash from the foot. There IS a plug, but there's also a few wires that are soldered in place, so don't yank the body off or let it fall and topple too hard.
I should have taken a picture for reference, but I didn't. Maybe when I repair it I'll remember to take pics and post again. Towards the front of the base, is a small 1/2" long x 1/8" widepiece of metal. There's a screw on either side holding it in place. Poking through the center is the tip of the retention pin. If you stick a tiny flathead screwdriver, eyeglasses repair kit size, into the foot, you can lift that up and gently slide the assembly out of the camera's hot shoe. What has happened is the plastic coupling between the lock switch and the retention pin has broken. I imagine I broke mine by my ham fisted over rotation of the lock switch "Gee I wonder if this will turn all the way around". It shouldn't.
I now need to find a replacement piece coupling. I haven't started looking yet but I imagine it should be readily available online, if not I'll order from the LCS. It looks like you remove the two tiny screws that hold that thin strip of metal in place, and another screw or two by the lock switch to loosen up the assembly, carefully move this and that around, and voila.””
http://www.thephotoforum.com/threads/my-speedlight-is-stuck-on-my-camera-help.237790/page-4
The following is a quote from AdamB at another forum (link included) who apparently had the same problem:
“Removing the 4 screws on the bottom works. That's the short answer. I was fortunate enough to find a very tiny, very short screwdriver in a watch maintenance kit I picked up for about $3 off Amazon awhile back. It's like 1.25" long and smaller then the normal electronics tweaker screwdriver. Eyeglasses screwdriver sized. I work in electronics so I've got a bunch of those little tweakers and was prepared to either bend one to 90 degrees or cut the head off, but it didn't fit the head of the screws in the flash anyways. The small, tiny screwdriver I found was small enough to almost fit the space available between body and flash, with just the tiniest bit of angle of attack. I used a tiny pair of vice grips to grasp the driver and push in. There's a little bit of resistance from the threads having cut into the virgin plastic at the factory as you start to turn the screw, but they were removed without any damage to the screw heads. They're about 5/16" long, they'll drop out pretty easily if you're not careful, and as soon as you have two out, the flash body will start to flop around a bit, and as you remove the fourth, it will topple and fall.ppaI worked on it while it was laid on the bodies side, which I assume most others would as well. The wires inside, you can't really just unplug and disconnect the flash from the foot. There IS a plug, but there's also a few wires that are soldered in place, so don't yank the body off or let it fall and topple too hard.
I should have taken a picture for reference, but I didn't. Maybe when I repair it I'll remember to take pics and post again. Towards the front of the base, is a small 1/2" long x 1/8" widepiece of metal. There's a screw on either side holding it in place. Poking through the center is the tip of the retention pin. If you stick a tiny flathead screwdriver, eyeglasses repair kit size, into the foot, you can lift that up and gently slide the assembly out of the camera's hot shoe. What has happened is the plastic coupling between the lock switch and the retention pin has broken. I imagine I broke mine by my ham fisted over rotation of the lock switch "Gee I wonder if this will turn all the way around". It shouldn't.
I now need to find a replacement piece coupling. I haven't started looking yet but I imagine it should be readily available online, if not I'll order from the LCS. It looks like you remove the two tiny screws that hold that thin strip of metal in place, and another screw or two by the lock switch to loosen up the assembly, carefully move this and that around, and voila.””
http://www.thephotoforum.com/threads/my-speedlight-is-stuck-on-my-camera-help.237790/page-4
Jan 15, 2017 13:34:23 #
Rick, thank you very much it sounds like the solution. I'll put up a post after my attempt which could be a few days.
Thanks to all who responded.
Thanks to all who responded.
Jan 16, 2017 06:28:17 #
The lever moves the indicated pin such that it is flush with the bottom of the interface surface. The pin, indicated by the arrow, fits into a hole in the flash attachment bracket of the D700. I don't see an easy way to remove any of the components such that you can get to the pin. This may require a ship to Nikon to repair this.
--Bob
--Bob
JimKing wrote:
I have found a few posts on the internet but no success yet. The release lever on my SB600 (It's on a Nikon D700) will rotate a complete circle but at no position will the flash come off the camera (the flash does work with no other problems). I've tried a small drop of 3-in-one penetrating oil and held the camera in various positions. There are no camera stores in the area. Any ideas?
Jan 16, 2017 07:31:48 #
I've noticed that locking pin getting a little jammed with my flashes. What it seemed to be was the flash was positioned a little too forward or a little too much back in the camera's hot shoe causing side pressure to be exerted on the pin. You could try holding the camera upside down and sliding the flash a little more forward and a little more back in the camera's hot shoe. You might get it in the spot where there's no side pressure on the pin and it might fall down away from the camera.
Jan 16, 2017 07:59:58 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
JimKing wrote:
I have found a few posts on the internet but no success yet. The release lever on my SB600 (It's on a Nikon D700) will rotate a complete circle but at no position will the flash come off the camera (the flash does work with no other problems). I've tried a small drop of 3-in-one penetrating oil and held the camera in various positions. There are no camera stores in the area. Any ideas?
That whole bottom assembly of the flash is held on by four small phillips head screws. You may have a little trouble getting to them cause how close the flash is to the camera body. Anyway, unscrew these and the unit should lift off. As to how you remove the lower assembly from the hot shoe, I cannot help you there.
Jan 16, 2017 10:24:00 #
So far I went out yesterday to Rite Aid to buy a glasses repair kit, hoping for a small enough screwdriver. Upon opening the package I found only a flat blade screwdriver, not a phillips head. Some years back I bought a set of jewelers screwdrivers which instead of being very tiny are about 6 inches long. This job, as pointed out, requires a very short version of this kind of screwdriver. Maybe one with a flexible shaft. Back to the store today. Thanks for the help guys.
Jan 16, 2017 12:59:08 #
romanticf16
Loc: Commerce Twp, MI
JimKing wrote:
So far I went out yesterday to Rite Aid to buy a glasses repair kit, hoping for a small enough screwdriver. Upon opening the package I found only a flat blade screwdriver, not a phillips head. Some years back I bought a set of jewelers screwdrivers which instead of being very tiny are about 6 inches long. This job, as pointed out, requires a very short version of this kind of screwdriver. Maybe one with a flexible shaft. Back to the store today. Thanks for the help guys.
Do you have a Harbor Freight nearby? They sell several kits with small jewler's drivers
Jan 16, 2017 13:12:05 #
Real easy way to remedy it:
A D810, SB-910 and ask forgiveness instead of permission.
(Didn't say it would be cheap)
Good luck and let us know what you wind up doing.
A D810, SB-910 and ask forgiveness instead of permission.
(Didn't say it would be cheap)
Good luck and let us know what you wind up doing.
Jan 16, 2017 15:14:49 #
romanticf16 wrote:
Do you have a Harbor Freight nearby? They sell several kits with small jewler's drivers
Harbor Freight...forgot them. Thanks.
Jan 16, 2017 16:56:06 #
I thought I read about this before.
Found the following thread with a successful outcome.
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3090804
Look a the post toward the bottom of the thread with the diagram.
Hope this is helpful.
Found the following thread with a successful outcome.
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3090804
Look a the post toward the bottom of the thread with the diagram.
Hope this is helpful.
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