Hot Shoe Cover

**dadipentak** · 06-17-2012, 06:50 PM

OK, I'm just getting started with flash. I'm totally confused but at this point I have a really simple question: what's the flash noob speed record for losing that piddley piece of plastic? Given my past performance with lens caps and remotes, I think I've got to be a contender for a new world record.

**monochrome** · 06-17-2012, 06:55 PM

I think mine disappeared from my K10D the first week. It miraculously reappeared on top of my dresser a few months ago - after 5 years!! I lost my remote in the battery grip slot, as well as a spare 32Gb card.

I got a Pentax strap with little pockets and everything is perma-snapped in them now.

**blackcloudbrew** · 06-17-2012, 07:20 PM

I buy them by the dozen...

**jatrax** · 06-17-2012, 07:22 PM

I took mine off when I unpacked the camera and put it away in the box so it will be safe in case I ever sell the camera. It's not really lost, but is that the record?

**JimJohnson** · 06-18-2012, 12:52 PM

Originally posted by jatrax

I took mine off when I unpacked the camera and put it away in the box so it will be safe in case I ever sell the camera. It's not really lost, but is that the record?

I did the same - and popped a tiny bubble level in its place (not the big dual portait/landscape type - just a tiny landscape type). It was US$3 so I won't cry too loudly if I lose it. I find it handy when I'm setting up a tripod on an uneven terrain - and for those rare times I hope to stitch together a panorama and don't want to waste a bunch of each frame.

**LaurenOE** · 06-18-2012, 01:16 PM

Good thing they are back in stock in the USA. For a while, they were unavailable. The cheap ones on eBay don't work and are not compatible.

**dadipentak** · 06-18-2012, 05:05 PM

Well, it's been three days since I first removed it to mount the flash and the cover's back on the camera now so I guess I'm out of contention for the record. Thanks for the replies confirming my suspicion that this is going to be problematic. I'm guessing, btw, that, once I do lose the cover, I should stop parking my chewing gum up there, huh? ;~)

sterretje · 06-18-2012, 11:16 PM

I'm sure one of mine disappeared in either the vacuum cleaner or the washing machine

But I have spares on other cameras if I have to

**JimJohnson** · 06-19-2012, 05:08 PM

While I posted that I keep a bubble level in my hotshoe when not in use ... what is the issue with not having any form of cover? So long as you aren't doing something like accidentally on purpose (oxyMORON intended) shorting the contacts, what difference does it make?

Allison · 06-20-2012, 04:03 AM

Mine is somewhere...when I take it off I put it in a memory card wallet, the flash pouch, a camera bag pocket, the lens cap pocket, or somewhere. I always put it somewhere...but then I forget where. Within a few hours at an event I have "lost" it. Right now I am working on it being MIA for about 4 months, but I fully expect to accidentally pull it out of something soon.

bdery · 06-20-2012, 04:52 AM

Mine has never been on, and it's never been a problem.

sterretje · 06-20-2012, 08:13 AM

Originally posted by JimJohnson

While I posted that I keep a bubble level in my hotshoe when not in use ... what is the issue with not having any form of cover? So long as you aren't doing something like accidentally on purpose (oxyMORON intended) shorting the contacts, what difference does it make?

Missing the first line of defense? Shooting in the rain can short those contacts

**dadipentak** · 06-20-2012, 11:21 AM

Originally posted by sterretje

Missing the first line of defense? Shooting in the rain can short those contacts

It's hard to believe that thing represents serious weather-sealing.

excanonfd · 06-20-2012, 11:23 AM

Originally posted by sterretje

Missing the first line of defense? Shooting in the rain can short those contacts

Do you really think so? If so, for the flagship models with WR, such claim would be false considering the hot shoe cover isn't WR. I think it's more of a visual thing than anything else, mine is somewhere in the clutter that surround my PC - I took it off when I started shooting with the ring flash, it hasn't been back on since.

**JimJohnson** · 06-20-2012, 12:07 PM

Originally posted by sterretje

Missing the first line of defense? Shooting in the rain can short those contacts

Actually, pure water is a great insulator. It is the electrolytes dissolved in water that create problems. Rain water may not be pure, but its close. Salt spray on the ocean is something else again.

Personally, I have always taken some kind of steps to protect my gear in the rain, weather resistance or not. I carry one of the cheap plastic rain hoods in my bag, and even if I don't normally shoot with a filter, slap one of those on the lens.

I think the biggest risk of shorting comes from whatever bag you carry your camera in. A loose piece could bounce around. A hot shoe cover would offer some protection. Even there, and even though I am as brain-washed as many others and keep a cover on the hot shoe, I can't come up with a good reason for bothering with a cover under typical camera usage and storage.

06-17-2012, 06:50 PM	#1
dadipentak Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,590	Hot Shoe Cover OK, I'm just getting started with flash. I'm totally confused but at this point I have a really simple question: what's the flash noob speed record for losing that piddley piece of plastic? Given my past performance with lens caps and remotes, I think I've got to be a contender for a new world record.

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06-17-2012, 06:55 PM	#2
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	I think mine disappeared from my K10D the first week. It miraculously reappeared on top of my dresser a few months ago - after 5 years!! I lost my remote in the battery grip slot, as well as a spare 32Gb card. I got a Pentax strap with little pockets and everything is perma-snapped in them now.

06-17-2012, 07:20 PM	#3
blackcloudbrew Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cotati, California USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,460	I buy them by the dozen...

06-17-2012, 07:22 PM	#4
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	I took mine off when I unpacked the camera and put it away in the box so it will be safe in case I ever sell the camera. It's not really lost, but is that the record?

06-18-2012, 12:52 PM	#5
JimJohnson Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Summer:Lake Superior - Michigan Winter:Texas Hill Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,772	Originally posted by jatrax I took mine off when I unpacked the camera and put it away in the box so it will be safe in case I ever sell the camera. It's not really lost, but is that the record? I did the same - and popped a tiny bubble level in its place (not the big dual portait/landscape type - just a tiny landscape type). It was US$3 so I won't cry too loudly if I lose it. I find it handy when I'm setting up a tripod on an uneven terrain - and for those rare times I hope to stitch together a panorama and don't want to waste a bunch of each frame.

06-18-2012, 01:16 PM	#6
LaurenOE Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Back in Florida, but worldwide gigs! Photos: Albums Posts: 3,690	Good thing they are back in stock in the USA. For a while, they were unavailable. The cheap ones on eBay don't work and are not compatible.

06-18-2012, 05:05 PM	#7
dadipentak Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,590 Original Poster	Well, it's been three days since I first removed it to mount the flash and the cover's back on the camera now so I guess I'm out of contention for the record. Thanks for the replies confirming my suspicion that this is going to be problematic. I'm guessing, btw, that, once I do lose the cover, I should stop parking my chewing gum up there, huh? ;~)

06-18-2012, 11:16 PM	#8
sterretje Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Roodepoort, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,561	I'm sure one of mine disappeared in either the vacuum cleaner or the washing machine But I have spares on other cameras if I have to

06-19-2012, 05:08 PM	#9
JimJohnson Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Summer:Lake Superior - Michigan Winter:Texas Hill Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,772	While I posted that I keep a bubble level in my hotshoe when not in use ... what is the issue with not having any form of cover? So long as you aren't doing something like accidentally on purpose (oxyMORON intended) shorting the contacts, what difference does it make?

06-20-2012, 04:03 AM	#10
Allison Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 667	Mine is somewhere...when I take it off I put it in a memory card wallet, the flash pouch, a camera bag pocket, the lens cap pocket, or somewhere. I always put it somewhere...but then I forget where. Within a few hours at an event I have "lost" it. Right now I am working on it being MIA for about 4 months, but I fully expect to accidentally pull it out of something soon.

06-20-2012, 04:52 AM	#11
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	Mine has never been on, and it's never been a problem.

06-20-2012, 08:13 AM	#12
sterretje Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Roodepoort, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,561	Originally posted by JimJohnson While I posted that I keep a bubble level in my hotshoe when not in use ... what is the issue with not having any form of cover? So long as you aren't doing something like accidentally on purpose (oxyMORON intended) shorting the contacts, what difference does it make? Missing the first line of defense? Shooting in the rain can short those contacts

06-20-2012, 11:21 AM	#13
dadipentak Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,590 Original Poster	Originally posted by sterretje Missing the first line of defense? Shooting in the rain can short those contacts It's hard to believe that thing represents serious weather-sealing.

06-20-2012, 11:23 AM	#14
excanonfd Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,421	Originally posted by sterretje Missing the first line of defense? Shooting in the rain can short those contacts Do you really think so? If so, for the flagship models with WR, such claim would be false considering the hot shoe cover isn't WR. I think it's more of a visual thing than anything else, mine is somewhere in the clutter that surround my PC - I took it off when I started shooting with the ring flash, it hasn't been back on since.

06-20-2012, 12:07 PM	#15
JimJohnson Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Summer:Lake Superior - Michigan Winter:Texas Hill Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,772	Originally posted by sterretje Missing the first line of defense? Shooting in the rain can short those contacts Actually, pure water is a great insulator. It is the electrolytes dissolved in water that create problems. Rain water may not be pure, but its close. Salt spray on the ocean is something else again. Personally, I have always taken some kind of steps to protect my gear in the rain, weather resistance or not. I carry one of the cheap plastic rain hoods in my bag, and even if I don't normally shoot with a filter, slap one of those on the lens. I think the biggest risk of shorting comes from whatever bag you carry your camera in. A loose piece could bounce around. A hot shoe cover would offer some protection. Even there, and even though I am as brain-washed as many others and keep a cover on the hot shoe, I can't come up with a good reason for bothering with a cover under typical camera usage and storage.