hussam_qasem

<p>I got my D700 fixed by replacing the hot shoe. Here's the deal:</p>

<ul>

<li>The original hot shoe has part number ending in 1.</li>

<li>The "new" (improved?) hot shoe has a part number ending in 2.</li>

<li>The new hot shoe is less shiny (somewhat matte). Seems to be made in part with a different material? It also has a tighter fit when inserting a flash.</li>

<li>The faulty hot shoe "looks" like new, with no sign of damage, whatsoever.</li>

<li>Here's the irony. The new hot shoe costs US $7.50 (I became friends with our local Nikon repairman!)</li>

<li>Nikon repair also had to replace the rubber grips (front, 2x rear, and bottom). The bottom rubber of my D700 was fine, so not replaced. Total cost for front+rear rubber grips was about $45.</li>

<li>Service charge was considered major, in the category of US $105. After discussing the issue, they agreed to lower the category to US $65.</li>

<li>Finally, I got another discount from the cashier. Total was US $105.</li>

<li>For the record, the D700 hot shoe is universal: SB-400, SB-600 and SB-800 as well. Didn't try other flashes.</li>

</ul>

<p>I got my D700 from the local Nikon dealer on July 2008, few weeks after the announcement. It's been working perfectly until couple of months back when I started experiencing the same flicker problem you discussed above.<br>

Everywhere I read, all concluded that the problem is with the D700 hot shoe, and the only effective way to fix the problem is to have the hot-shoe replaced by Nikon (~US $260).<br>

It has nothing to do with the SB-900 "weight". I have the same problem with my SB-400, which I use virtually all the time. I've also tested the SB-600 and SB-800 and get the same erratic behavior. I've never tried the SB-900 but can safely conclude it's the D700 hot shoe and not the strobe.<br>

The erratic behavior includes:</p>

<ul>

<li >

<p >hot shoe flash would fire on its own.</p>

</li>

<li>

<p >pressing the shutter button would not take a picture - exposure meter still turned off.</p>

</li>

<li>

<p >pressing the shutter button takes a picture without firing the flash - very very underexposed exposure.</p>

</li>

<li >

<p >pressing the shutter button takes a pictures with flash - expected behavior (although sometimes well overexposed).</p>

</li>

</ul>

<p>Very disappointed. Nikon should fix such a known and wide-spread issue for free.</p>

<p>Just an update. I believe <a href="http://www.studiolighting.net/e077-sekonic-pocket-wizard-lightsource-photography-podcast/">the Podcast Michael is referring to</a> is available on StudioLighting.net.</p>

<p>As for B&H, they have updated the Features' page of the Hensel Integra Pro Plus 1000 to avoid confusion and ambiguity.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Hello,<br>

<br /> Thanks for the responses.<br>

<br /> Michael- I would appreciate if you can share the link to the podcast.<br>

<br /> Howard- I appreciate the Hensel features. I was just hoping I could trigger the flashes without dangling the Hensel transmitter.<br>

<br /> Anyway, I received an email from <a href="../photodb/user?user_id=121726">Patrick Clow</a> of <a href="http://www.lpadesign.com/">LPA Design</a> , the actual Wizard in PocketWizard:</p>

<blockquote>

<p><em>PocketWizard radio products [including RT-32] and Hensel’s radios are not compatible, I’m afraid. 433.92 MHz is a somewhat crowded frequency which is why we [LPA Design / PocketWizard] went to either side of it in our CE products. Also, our CE radios are not available for sale in the US. </em> <br /> <br /> <em>The only way to trigger your Hensel units with the Sekonic meter would be to connect a Hensel Transmitter to your meter, or connect PocketWizard receivers to your flashes. </em></p>

</blockquote>

<p>I also spoke with B&H regarding their statement, their representative told me that I would require a PocketWizard receiver connected to the flashes (!). I already knew that, so I find that statement to be misleading.</p>

<p>Finally, Patrick Clow also commented on why Sekonic produces an FCC and CE versions of their light meters:</p>

<blockquote>

<p><em> The [sekonic L-358] meter tells the [RT-32] module what frequency to use. The modules themselves are region specific, too. The meters are sold in specific world regions so that the legal frequency is in use in that world region – other than point of sale there is no way to know what part of the world you might be in! Years ago we tried to make the modules universal, but we got better yields and distances from manufacturing if we made them for one world region or the other, so we went that route.</em></p>

</blockquote>

<p>Thanks to all,<br /> Hussam</p>

<p>Hello,</p>

<p>I have the <a href="http://henselusa.com/integra_proplus1.html">Hensel Integra Pro "<strong>Plus</strong> " 500</a> kit, and would like to remotely trigger the flash heads using my <a href="http://www.sekonic.com/products/products.asp?ID=4">Sekonic L-358</a> light meter.</p>

<p>As you're aware, the Hensel "Plus" versions are equipped with a built-in receiver. Hensel's documentation claims that it uses the 433.92MHz frequency. (I believe 433.92MHz is both FCC & CE approved, and hence, Hensel only manufactures a single model for the US and Europe.)</p>

<p><a href="http://www.sekonic.co.jp/English/product/meter/pdf/New%20RT-32FCC%20and%20RT-32CE.pdf">Sekonic RT-32 Transmitter Module</a> (for the L-358), on the other hand, comes in 2 flavors:</p>

<ul>

<li>FCC & IC: CH1 ~ 16 : 344.0MHz, CH17 ~ 32 : 346.5 ~ 354.0MHz</li>

<li>CE: CH1 ~ 16 : 433.62MHz, CH17 ~ 32 : 434.22MHz </li>

</ul>

<p>Now I don't understand a thing about RF Communications, but the CE model seems "close". So would the RT-32CE be able to trigger my Hensel "Plus" units? My research on the Internet yielded very little.</p>

<p>What's confusing is that <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/437427-REG/Hensel_8816SW_Integra_Pro_Plus_1000.html#features">B&H Features' page on the "Hensel Integra Pro Plus 1000" claims that it "<em>Allows wireless triggering with Pocket Wizard Transmitter or Transceiver.</em> "</a> (I believe PocketWizard uses the same frequency as the RT-32 - both manufactured by <a href="http://www.lpadesign.com/">LPA Design</a> ?)</p>

<p>Anyone has tried to trigger a Hensel "Plus" with PocketWizard or Sekonic RT-32? Or is anyone aware of any RF design differences between the Integra Pro Plus 1000 vs. 500?</p>

<p>Thank you,</p>

<p>Hussam</p>

<p>P.S. Would someone explain why the Sekonic L-358 comes in 2 flavors as well (FCC & EC)? Wouldn't radio transmission be controlled by the RT-32 Transmitter Module alone?! And obviously, the RT-32 (FCC or EC) must match the same L-358!</p>