david_finchett

<p>Hi Tom,<br /> I'm a pro photographer using two d700's and solved this problem some time ago. The problem is the flash (SB900) is too heavy for the d700 hot shoe and eventually pulls the hotshoe until it causes a fault on the body.<br /> I bought a water guard for the body and the extra support it gives to the flash solved the issue for me. You can get them through Amazon. £20 (UK), $29.95 (US)</p>

<h1>Nikon WG-AS3 Water Guard</h1>

<p>Kind Regards<br /><br /> Dave Finchett<br /><br /> </p>

<p>I agree with those who believe that this issue should have been rectified by a redesign and recall. The SB910 certainly could have been redesigned to deal with the issue.<br>

Sean, I'm sorry to hear that the problem is also happening with the lightest of the three main guns, so it is reasonable to assume that the d700 hotshoe problem will be caused by the weight of any of the SB700/900/910 models.<br>

I have been using the Nikon water guard WG-AS3 which fits over the bottom of the SB900/910 flash and effectively increases the surface area that the flash has to sit on the camera. This puts less strain on the hotshoe by spreading the weight over the camera. I've been using the guard daily for three months (I'm a Press photographer), so far without the hotshoe problem recurring.<br>

Unfortunately I haven't found a guard for the SB700 on the net.<br>

For those of you with SB900's or 910's the guard is worth a shot, and a few dollars/pounds (I bought mine for around £24) on this is a cheaper solution than switching to Canon (assuming of course that it works long term and the problem doesn't happen again after six months or so). I'll let you know if it does.<br>

Good luck!</p>

<p>A user in this thread suggested that the Nikon water guard WG-AS3 for the D700 had worked for him. I've now bought one (£28.34 inc vat). The item itself is a small locking collar made of rubber and plastic that fits over the flash hot shoe. If it spreads the weight of the flash over a larger surface area that may help stop the fault from recurring. It does fit quite closely to the camera body. I had no problems mounting and unmounting the flash with it on.<br>

I'll use it on the repaired body and report back in six to twelve months!</p>

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<p>I posted earlier in the thread (October 2010) when my first D700 body was sent away. I bought a second D700 body (the D3 was out of my price bracket) just before it was sent away. One year later and that body has also developed the same fault. I can't believe that Nikon have not remedied this issue by strengthening the hotshoe or by changing the design of the SB900 flash mount to something more secure or have addressed the size/weight of the flash.<br>

The second D700 body has two years warranty and there were no protests from the Nikon repair centre when I sent it back for a free replacement hotshoe. That repair will also have a warranty.<br>

I can expect this fault to re-occur every six to twelve months because of a design fault with the SB900. I am considering other manufacterers of flashes, lighter flash guns/ ones with a more secure method of fixing to the camera for when all warranties have expired.</p>

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<p>Positive news. As a member of Nikon Professional User (NPU) scheme I rang the number for technical queries at Nikon UK. They said that the problem between the D700 and the SB-900 was now a known and common problem.<br>

At the time of writing, Nikon do not consider it to be a 'critical' fault. However, they did tell me to ask the repair centre for a hotshoe replacement. The centre agreed to do this for free as the previous repair and service to the camera has a six month warranty, and they did not spot the faulty hotshoe during that service. They have also agreed to collect the camera at no charge to myself this time.<br>

Whilst there may be no redesign of the hotshoe by Nikon, the repair centre are going to strengthen the mount of the hotshoe inside the camera.<br>

So hopefully everything will be okay, and the new hotshoe will have a warranty of six months.<br>

Phew!</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Thanks for replying Frances. A workaround some people have suggested is using a flash bracket with the D700 and SB-900, so that the camera hotshoe doesn't get the stress on it. I'm not sure this such a great option due to added weight, and whether you would get all the functionality out of the gun using a lead to the camera instead of using the hotshoe.<br>

Do you think that the fault appeared with your SB-600 because the damage had already been done to the hotshoe by the heavier SB-900? In your opinion, would the fault have happened if you had only used the SB-600 and not the SB-900 with the camera? (I'm trying to work out whether a lighter gun on an undamaged D700 would or would not develop the fault.)</p>

<p>Regards<br>

Dave</p>

<p>Hi All,<br>

I'm a pro photographer using the D700 and SB-900 for press and publicity photography. About a month ago I encountered the rapid random strobing/flashing problem and sent both camera and flash to the nearest authorised Nikon repair centre. I researched the fault on the net and spoke to someone at the repair centre regarding my concerns about the hotshoe. Their response was along the lines of 'people on forums can get the diagnosis wrong'.<br>

The camera was out of warranty by six months and I was charged £160+ for repairs to the camera only (but they did not replace the hotshoe) and the fault was still there when both camera and flash were returned after two weeks. It was as if they hadn't even tested it.<br>

They said there was nothing wrong with the SB-900 flash (But forums suggest that it is probably too heavy for the d700 causing both stress on the hotshoe and the resulting random flashing - this would be a design flaw).<br>

I conclude that there is a major problem with the hotshoe on the d700, but I can't believe that authorised Nikon repairers are ignorant of it, given so much about it on forums like this and dpreview. Surley there must be enough repairs going in to alert all the repair centres to the issue.<br>

This is costing money and business time.<br>

I would like to know if anyone who has had a hotshoe replaced has had the problem recur a few months later? Or have Nikon redesigned the hotshoe?</p>

<p>Dave.</p>

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