Not sure an a7 is worth an overhaul and your description isn’t very accurate.

There’s no specific action called “releasing the flash”, especially without “activation” of the flash.

If you haven’t loaded anything into the C1/2/3 slots on the mode dial then those are all at the as-shipped factory defaults. Try shooting in those modes if they’re virgin. If that resolves the error issue then a user error is indicated.

Even if the C1/2/3 are not virgin, they most likely represent a controls set up prior to your current situation, so give then a try anywho !

If it’s not a user error you’re back to the money question. A fresh a7 with 180 day warranty is about $700 at KEH.

Like most of you my age, I've been there, done that & have the T-shirt. For 40 years of my life I was involved with the U.S. Army. First I was an enlisted man, then an NCO & later an officer. I retired after 20 plus years & thought that was the end of my association with the Army. A few years later I fell into a job at The (Then) Tank, Automotive Command in Warren, MI.(TACOM) as a civilian photographer. Over the course of the next twenty years I took pics of almost everything military you can think off.

One day I was ask to take a two to three hour overtime job at the nearby Tank Manufacturing Plant to photograph a VIP on a fact finding tour. No one knew who the VIP was. I was happy to get the overtime, grabbed my camera gear, lots of film & off I went. When I got there I found out the VIP was General Colin Powell who was just appointed Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. I have never been as impressed by one man in my life as I was by him in that two hours. He knew more about the process of making the M1 Tank than the plant execs. He treated everyone as an equal, never talked down the the employees, & asked intelligent to the point questions. Most VIP tours I covered were just photo ops & used to enhance the VIP's resume. This guy was all business. At the end he took enough time to thank me for being there. This man was a class act all the way.

Unused since new, this great monopod has been holding up a corner of the closet for a while now...

Description from Roberts Photo: The fastest monopod in the world!

The 685B features the innovative Neotec rapid opening and closing mechanism, just pull the leg downwards to open and it automatically locks in any position, with no screws, knobs, or levers to tighten or loosen. To collapse, simply squeeze safety latch, pull the trigger and push the leg closed.

From collapsed to fully extended in less than two seconds, literally. Step on the base, squeeze the trigger, pull it up to the height you want. Done.

A convenient rubber pedal attached to the bottom section allows you to open the monopod without having use your other hand. It's 'upside-down' leg construction also prevents water or mud from entering the monopod and a padded leg-warmer protects your hands from hot and cold weather. Extends to 66.93", Supports 17.64 lbs

More info here: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod..._685B_685B_NeoTec_Monopod_Deluxe.html/reviews

$130 includes shipping to ConUS