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Flash acting up, any suggestions?
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Jun 29, 2018 18:44:45   #
Sharona Loc: Alpharetta, Georgia
 
Have been using the Nikon SB700 flash on (D7100) hot shoe for a year, same way shooting real estate. Recently, when carrying or moving tripod with camera and flash, there are random mini flashes. Hot shoe and flash attachment do not seem loose. Flash locked on properly.

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Jun 29, 2018 18:58:26   #
GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City
 
Sharona wrote:
Have been using the Nikon SB700 flash on (D7100) hot shoe for a year, same way shooting real estate. Recently, when carrying or moving tripod with camera and flash, there are random mini flashes. Hot shoe and flash attachment do not seem loose. Flash locked on properly.

And you’re not accidentally pressing the DOF button on the camera body, right? (Hate when that happens)

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Jun 29, 2018 20:35:51   #
Sharona Loc: Alpharetta, Georgia
 
Nope, thanks.

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Jun 29, 2018 23:30:59   #
Designdweeb Loc: Metro NYC & East Stroudsburg, PA
 
Sounds like a cracked solder joint internally or a short with the connections from the flash shoe

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Jun 29, 2018 23:33:04   #
JD750 Loc: SoCal
 
Sharona wrote:
Have been using the Nikon SB700 flash on (D7100) hot shoe for a year, same way shooting real estate. Recently, when carrying or moving tripod with camera and flash, there are random mini flashes. Hot shoe and flash attachment do not seem loose. Flash locked on properly.


Sounds like a hardware problem. You’ll should not get flashes, mini or otherwise, while merely carrying the camera.

Can you borrow another flash and see if it still does that with the other flash mounted to your camera? If it does it’s probably a camera malfunction. If not then your flash has likely malfunctioned.

Maybe time to contact Nikon support?

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Jun 30, 2018 07:12:08   #
Don, the 2nd son Loc: Crowded Florida
 
The connecting plates are attached to the ubits (body & flash) with tiny screws, tighten them, you will very likely find them a tad slack. Use ONLY a quality proper fit screw driver and don't overtighten. May solve to problem.

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Jun 30, 2018 08:01:39   #
billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
 
Sharona wrote:
Have been using the Nikon SB700 flash on (D7100) hot shoe for a year, same way shooting real estate. Recently, when carrying or moving tripod with camera and flash, there are random mini flashes. Hot shoe and flash attachment do not seem loose. Flash locked on properly.

If the flash is working well when you take the shot my suggestion would be to remove flash when your moving around the tripod. Something when you are moving is causing contacts to be made firing the flash. Simple fix.

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Jun 30, 2018 11:02:54   #
GENorkus Loc: Washington Twp, Michigan
 
A similar thing happened to me for a couple times. Mine turned out to be the third party flash mount contacts sort-of sliding on what little dirt that was there and breaking contact. My fix was to clean the contacts on both parts to make a better connection. No problems since. You might try that.

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Jun 30, 2018 11:18:52   #
rcarol
 
Those mini flashes may be the result of the camera using the flash to focus. If your camera is set to continuous focus, the camera/flash combination may fire if moved. Just a thought.

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Jun 30, 2018 13:39:43   #
cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA
 
rcarol wrote:
Those mini flashes may be the result of the camera using the flash to focus. If your camera is set to continuous focus, the camera/flash combination may fire if moved. Just a thought.


Not even close, unless you are pressing the shutter while you move. Focus Assist is provided by infrared, not flash. You can program a button for "modeling light" which could be a possibility here if that has been done. Best of luck.

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Jun 30, 2018 14:22:48   #
rcarol
 
cjc2 wrote:
Not even close, unless you are pressing the shutter while you move. Focus Assist is provided by infrared, not flash. You can program a button for "modeling light" which could be a possibility here if that has been done. Best of luck.


I will admit that I'm unfamiliar with the Nikon system but some of my Canon systems do indeed use mini flashes from the speed light for focus assist in dim lighting.

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Jun 30, 2018 14:25:02   #
cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA
 
rcarol wrote:
I will admit that I'm unfamiliar with the Nikon system but some of my Canon systems do indeed use mini flashes from the speed light for focus assist in dim lighting.


Nikon does not!

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Jun 30, 2018 14:29:41   #
rcarol
 
cjc2 wrote:
Nikon does not!


Okay.

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Jun 30, 2018 15:24:59   #
nadelewitz Loc: Ithaca NY
 
A flash can put a lot of strain on a hot shoe when you're moving around, tilting it, carrying it sideways on a tripod, etc. Connection problems/failure are the result. The bigger the flash the worse it is.
Better to use a flash bracket with a dedicated cord .

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Jun 30, 2018 23:46:42   #
JD750 Loc: SoCal
 
rcarol wrote:
I will admit that I'm unfamiliar with the Nikon system but some of my Canon systems do indeed use mini flashes from the speed light for focus assist in dim lighting.


Wow that is annoying. Nikon has focus assist light. You can turn it off if you wish (I usually do). The option is about 5 menu levels down. LOL.

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