Help! K1 hot shoe came off (warning: k1 gore)

rawr · 11-29-2017, 02:29 AM

Originally posted by yucafrita

It should have been easy to screw a metal bridge or cover plate into the chassis to support the flash unit.

At the design stage, I agree that applying strength to the top element of the body would have been a good idea.

Even a body that is [carbon fibre] plastic everywhere, like the D750, has a metal top plate.

The Pentax design choice on this for the K-1/KP must have some perfectly valid engineering or manufacturing logic. But I can't see it.

**ffking** · 11-29-2017, 05:24 AM

While it might have been prima facie preferable to extend the metal chassis to cover the hot shoe, we don't actually know whether or not this was in fact considered and if it might have been considered and rejected. It might just be another of those necessary design compromises that testing didn't show up as a problem - if it actually is a problem - does anybody know of any other instance of this occurring? Perhaps it should be classed as less ruggedness against a particular form of damage than as a weakness per se?

**bigoak** · 11-29-2017, 06:08 AM

Originally posted by ffking

Perhaps it should be classed as less ruggedness against a particular form of damage than as a weakness per se?

Lord Lucan · 11-29-2017, 06:36 AM

Originally posted by rawr

The Pentax design choice on this for the K-1/KP must have some perfectly valid engineering
or manufacturing logic.

Having worked in several engineering design offices I can assure you that is not necessarily true.

kjphilippona · 12-01-2017, 10:57 AM

Originally posted by Lord Lucan

Having worked in several engineering design offices I can assure you that is not necessarily true.

This is not good, i was planning to use my K-1 and Metz flash to take pictures at my family gathering Christmas! I tried taking pictures indoor without flash Thanksgiving with no luck :

Lucky i still kept my K3

**monochrome** · 12-01-2017, 11:16 AM

Originally posted by kjphilippona

This is not good, i was planning to use my K-1 and Metz flash to take pictures at my family gathering Christmas! I tried taking pictures indoor without flash Thanksgiving with no luck :

Lucky i still kept my K3

Jus don’t put unusual lateral stress on the flash shoe. Put the camera down on its back, not propped tripod style on the side and flash head. Don’t swing it around with one hand below your waist.

You should be fine.

**Alex645** · 12-01-2017, 11:54 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by kjphilippona

This is not good, i was planning to use my K-1 and Metz flash to take pictures at my family gathering Christmas!

I would not hesitate using an external flash on the K-1.
a) The Pentax flash that the OP used is very robust and weather-sealed. The Metz is not and I would expect 9 times out of 10 its foot would break before the shoe on the camera would peel off.
b) Whenever using an external flash on any hot shoe, care must be taken to not accidentally hit or put any undue stress on the attached flash unit. I wouldn't treat the K-1 any differently than a K-3, even if the K-3 has a stronger hot shoe.
c) If you use flash OFTEN, then I'd get a bottom mounted side bracket with a Pentax hot shoe adapter.

Vello CB-600 Straight Flash Bracket CB-600 B&H Photo Video
Vello Off-Camera TTL Flash Cord for Pentax Cameras (3') OCS-P3

Last edited by Alex645; 12-01-2017 at 04:07 PM.

kjphilippona · 12-01-2017, 12:03 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Alex645

I would not hesitate for one second using an external flash on the K-1.
a) The Pentax flash that the OP used is very robust and weather-sealed. The Metz is not and I would expect 9 times out of 10 it's foot would break before the shoe on the camera would peel off.
b) Whenever using an external flash on any hot shoe, care must be taken to not accidentally hit or put any undue stress on the attached flash unit. I wouldn't treat the K-1 any differently than a K-3, even if the K-3 has a stronger hot shoe.
c) If you use flash OFTEN, then I'd get a bottom mounted side bracket with a Pentax hot shoe adapter.

Vello CB-600 Straight Flash Bracket CB-600 B&H Photo Video
Vello Off-Camera TTL Flash Cord for Pentax Cameras (3') OCS-P3

Thank you Alex! Even though i do not like using my flash, those two are very inexpensive and a good investment. I have them on order

**bigoak** · 12-06-2017, 02:22 AM

got the cost estimate back from the repair house in Hamburg. €205,42 shipped back to me in "3 weeks or so". the top casing apparently costs €69,62, the rest is labor, shipping and taxes.

They deny any warranty coverage, they say it's caused by a fall. I know this isn't the case, but they're not going to believe me.

I'll close this out when it comes back. Waiting is the hardest part.

bdery · 12-06-2017, 02:11 PM

Originally posted by bigoak

Best I can get:

You know, you COULD try to just place it back and use some adhesive to attach it properly

Just kidding, while it might work the hotshoe would probably not be very sturdy and it would certainly be ugly...

**pentaxus** · 12-07-2017, 12:43 AM

I will play devil's advocate. Around 30 years ago I tested a Ricoh KR-5 with it's thin plastic top cover and mounted a Vivitar 285 flash on it. It took a lot of force to get that to break. Yes, a metal top would be more durable but I suspect that something happened that the owner didn't know about.

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11-29-2017, 02:29 AM	#46
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Originally posted by yucafrita It should have been easy to screw a metal bridge or cover plate into the chassis to support the flash unit. At the design stage, I agree that applying strength to the top element of the body would have been a good idea. Even a body that is [carbon fibre] plastic everywhere, like the D750, has a metal top plate. The Pentax design choice on this for the K-1/KP must have some perfectly valid engineering or manufacturing logic. But I can't see it.

11-29-2017, 05:24 AM	#47
ffking Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Llanelli, Wales Posts: 5,626	While it might have been prima facie preferable to extend the metal chassis to cover the hot shoe, we don't actually know whether or not this was in fact considered and if it might have been considered and rejected. It might just be another of those necessary design compromises that testing didn't show up as a problem - if it actually is a problem - does anybody know of any other instance of this occurring? Perhaps it should be classed as less ruggedness against a particular form of damage than as a weakness per se?

11-29-2017, 06:08 AM	#48
bigoak Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Bayern Photos: Albums Posts: 183 Original Poster	Originally posted by ffking Perhaps it should be classed as less ruggedness against a particular form of damage than as a weakness per se?

11-29-2017, 06:36 AM	#49
Lord Lucan Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: South Wales Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,912	Originally posted by rawr The Pentax design choice on this for the K-1/KP must have some perfectly valid engineering or manufacturing logic. Having worked in several engineering design offices I can assure you that is not necessarily true.

12-01-2017, 10:57 AM	#50
kjphilippona Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Enterprise, Alabama Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,298	Originally posted by Lord Lucan Having worked in several engineering design offices I can assure you that is not necessarily true. This is not good, i was planning to use my K-1 and Metz flash to take pictures at my family gathering Christmas! I tried taking pictures indoor without flash Thanksgiving with no luck : Lucky i still kept my K3

12-01-2017, 11:16 AM	#51
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by kjphilippona This is not good, i was planning to use my K-1 and Metz flash to take pictures at my family gathering Christmas! I tried taking pictures indoor without flash Thanksgiving with no luck : Lucky i still kept my K3 Jus don’t put unusual lateral stress on the flash shoe. Put the camera down on its back, not propped tripod style on the side and flash head. Don’t swing it around with one hand below your waist. You should be fine.

12-01-2017, 11:54 AM - 2 Likes	#52
Alex645 Site Supporter Join Date: May 2015 Location: Kaneohe, HI Photos: Albums Posts: 3,296	Originally posted by kjphilippona This is not good, i was planning to use my K-1 and Metz flash to take pictures at my family gathering Christmas! I would not hesitate using an external flash on the K-1. a) The Pentax flash that the OP used is very robust and weather-sealed. The Metz is not and I would expect 9 times out of 10 its foot would break before the shoe on the camera would peel off. b) Whenever using an external flash on any hot shoe, care must be taken to not accidentally hit or put any undue stress on the attached flash unit. I wouldn't treat the K-1 any differently than a K-3, even if the K-3 has a stronger hot shoe. c) If you use flash OFTEN, then I'd get a bottom mounted side bracket with a Pentax hot shoe adapter. Vello CB-600 Straight Flash Bracket CB-600 B&H Photo Video Vello Off-Camera TTL Flash Cord for Pentax Cameras (3') OCS-P3 Last edited by Alex645; 12-01-2017 at 04:07 PM.

12-01-2017, 12:03 PM - 1 Like	#53
kjphilippona Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Enterprise, Alabama Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,298	Originally posted by Alex645 I would not hesitate for one second using an external flash on the K-1. a) The Pentax flash that the OP used is very robust and weather-sealed. The Metz is not and I would expect 9 times out of 10 it's foot would break before the shoe on the camera would peel off. b) Whenever using an external flash on any hot shoe, care must be taken to not accidentally hit or put any undue stress on the attached flash unit. I wouldn't treat the K-1 any differently than a K-3, even if the K-3 has a stronger hot shoe. c) If you use flash OFTEN, then I'd get a bottom mounted side bracket with a Pentax hot shoe adapter. Vello CB-600 Straight Flash Bracket CB-600 B&H Photo Video Vello Off-Camera TTL Flash Cord for Pentax Cameras (3') OCS-P3 Thank you Alex! Even though i do not like using my flash, those two are very inexpensive and a good investment. I have them on order

12-06-2017, 02:22 AM	#54
bigoak Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Bayern Photos: Albums Posts: 183 Original Poster	got the cost estimate back from the repair house in Hamburg. €205,42 shipped back to me in "3 weeks or so". the top casing apparently costs €69,62, the rest is labor, shipping and taxes. They deny any warranty coverage, they say it's caused by a fall. I know this isn't the case, but they're not going to believe me. I'll close this out when it comes back. Waiting is the hardest part.

12-06-2017, 02:11 PM	#55
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,913	Originally posted by bigoak Best I can get: You know, you COULD try to just place it back and use some adhesive to attach it properly Just kidding, while it might work the hotshoe would probably not be very sturdy and it would certainly be ugly...

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12-07-2017, 12:43 AM	#56
pentaxus Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Central Coast, CA Posts: 1,212	I will play devil's advocate. Around 30 years ago I tested a Ricoh KR-5 with it's thin plastic top cover and mounted a Vivitar 285 flash on it. It took a lot of force to get that to break. Yes, a metal top would be more durable but I suspect that something happened that the owner didn't know about.