I think my K7 has been permantently modified...

Dubious Drewski · 11-02-2009, 10:54 AM

After shooting a wedding two nights ago, I went home and tried to take my AF540 flash off of my K7 body, but it's stuck. It's very severely stuck. This flash has been difficult to take off before, but after some muscle, I have been able to free it. But not this time. I have been wiggling, retightening/untightening, yanking, pulling, grunting and cursing, and none of it is working.

Has anybody heard of this happening? I fear that if I continue to muscle it too hard, I'm going to actually break something.

jeffkrol · 11-02-2009, 11:10 AM

Originally posted by Dubious Drewski

After shooting a wedding two nights ago, I went home and tried to take my AF540 flash off of my K7 body, but it's stuck. It's very severely stuck. This flash has been difficult to take off before, but after some muscle, I have been able to free it. But not this time. I have been wiggling, retightening/untightening, yanking, pulling, grunting and cursing, and none of it is working.

Has anybody heard of this happening? I fear that if I continue to muscle it too hard, I'm going to actually break something.

See this:
Re: AF540 flash stuck on K10D: Pentax SLR Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1036&message=23847376
Also (not my quote):
Russell,
From memory, the lever that pushes the pin down into the recess on the flash shoe has broken inside the flash and will not lever up the pin that locates into said hole.
What you will need to do is to undo the four phillips head screws that hold the flash shoe of the flash onto the flash body itself. This may require the butchering of a small phillips head screw driver by bending the end at right angles, but you can pick up some reasonable quality ones from Dick Smith or Jaycar etc.
Once you have the body of the flash off the flash mounting shoe, you should be able to see the pin and pull it up thus allowing the removal of the shoe assembly.
I think you can manufacture a better system of levr for the pin arrangement so this will not occur again.

RBellavance · 11-02-2009, 11:11 AM

Sorry to hear that, but it seems to be a fairly common problem. Here is some information that may help you:

Pentax AF540FGZ flash Stuck on hotshoe
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/camera-studio-accessories/27773-pentax-af...em-survey.html

It seems unlocking and removing the flash while holding everything upside-down might help in some cases. Otherwise I think you have to consider unscrewing the base of the flash and lifting the locking pin manually.

Or sending everything to Pentax to get it fixed, naturally.

Blue · 11-02-2009, 12:35 PM

Originally posted by RBellavance

. . .

Or sending everything to Pentax to get it fixed, naturally.

And be sure to include a note the asks: "What the hell . . .?"

bymy141 · 11-03-2009, 07:27 AM

Originally posted by Dubious Drewski

After shooting a wedding two nights ago, I went home and tried to take my AF540 flash off of my K7 body, but it's stuck. It's very severely stuck. This flash has been difficult to take off before, but after some muscle, I have been able to free it. But not this time. I have been wiggling, retightening/untightening, yanking, pulling, grunting and cursing, and none of it is working.

Has anybody heard of this happening? I fear that if I continue to muscle it too hard, I'm going to actually break something.

This "problem" was my single most important reason to buy a Metz 58....

**Canada_Rockies** · 11-03-2009, 10:55 AM

Originally posted by Dubious Drewski

After shooting a wedding two nights ago, I went home and tried to take my AF540 flash off of my K7 body, but it's stuck. It's very severely stuck. This flash has been difficult to take off before, but after some muscle, I have been able to free it. But not this time. I have been wiggling, retightening/untightening, yanking, pulling, grunting and cursing, and none of it is working.

Has anybody heard of this happening? I fear that if I continue to muscle it too hard, I'm going to actually break something.

This is, as you will have noted from the other replies, not an uncommon problem. However, here is one method to try to get the flash off the camera without surgery, and if it works, good!

Unlock the flash with the lever
Push the flash hard forward (toward the lens)
Turn the camera hot shoe down
Play with the lock lever
Gently pull the flash off.

The only time mine stuck this worked. I suspect that I had pulled the flash so that the pin was binding in the hot shoe. Before I put the flash on the camera again, I am going to remove the pin.

**Ash** · 11-03-2009, 12:56 PM

This thread started by Will some time ago goes into the issue in some detail.
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/camera-studio-accessories/26752-540-fgz-s...st-mortem.html

It will be a recurring problem if not dealt with, so consider removing this pin, which will make the flash less secure on the hotshoe, but it's gotta be better than damaging the camera's hotshoe...

Arpe · 11-03-2009, 02:08 PM

Has anyone who has removed the pin had the flash fall off? Not that I know of, it seems a bit superfluous. Does the Pentax flash have the wind down washer-like thingy that also helps keep it on as per the Metz units? I think that alone, combined with the friction of the shoe itself, is way enough to keep it on.

**Canada_Rockies** · 11-03-2009, 05:01 PM

Originally posted by Arpe

Has anyone who has removed the pin had the flash fall off? Not that I know of, it seems a bit superfluous. Does the Pentax flash have the wind down washer-like thingy that also helps keep it on as per the Metz units? I think that alone, combined with the friction of the shoe itself, is way enough to keep it on.

Yes, it sort of clamps to the hot shoe, as did every other flash I have attached. I think the pin is a bit of overkill, myself. There is no engagement of the pin on the mount that comes with it to stand the flash while using it wirelessly, and I do have to un-fix the lever to get it off.

song_hm · 11-03-2009, 08:09 PM

Does the AF360 have the same problem, and solution?

frank · 11-03-2009, 09:13 PM

This happened to my K20D and 540 flash. Had to send to service center to take the flash off. After that, I just glue the lock pin on the flash back in to the hole, and it won't come out again.

Oh btw, the cure for this is exactly as jeffkrol post above, that's what our Pentax service guy told me.

Dubious Drewski · 11-03-2009, 09:30 PM

Ok, I've purchased a set of small screwdrivers tonight. After I get home from work, I'll get right to work. Wish me luck.

HGMonaro · 11-03-2009, 09:54 PM

Originally posted by Arpe

Has anyone who has removed the pin had the flash fall off? Not that I know of, it seems a bit superfluous. Does the Pentax flash have the wind down washer-like thingy that also helps keep it on as per the Metz units? I think that alone, combined with the friction of the shoe itself, is way enough to keep it on.

no, mine is still hard to get on/off and the locking arm does what the wind down thingy's do, just easier!

AdrianN · 11-04-2009, 08:34 AM

It's pretty easy to remove with a set of jeweller's screwdrivers. My 540 got stuck after a wedding and I just removed the stupid plastic locking pin and haven't had a problem with the 540 sliding off - it's pretty tight even without the screw-down lock.

Dubious Drewski · 11-05-2009, 09:21 PM

Fixed.

Yeah, that was pretty simple to do. I just taped the internal lever thing permanently to the side. Now That pin will never slide down again. You guys are right, the flash absolutely does not need that pin to stay firmly attached to the body. Silly outsourced design.

Thanks everyone!

11-02-2009, 10:54 AM	#1
Dubious Drewski Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Calgary Posts: 67	I think my K7 has been permantently modified... After shooting a wedding two nights ago, I went home and tried to take my AF540 flash off of my K7 body, but it's stuck. It's very severely stuck. This flash has been difficult to take off before, but after some muscle, I have been able to free it. But not this time. I have been wiggling, retightening/untightening, yanking, pulling, grunting and cursing, and none of it is working. Has anybody heard of this happening? I fear that if I continue to muscle it too hard, I'm going to actually break something.

11-03-2009, 10:55 AM	#6
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	Originally posted by Dubious Drewski After shooting a wedding two nights ago, I went home and tried to take my AF540 flash off of my K7 body, but it's stuck. It's very severely stuck. This flash has been difficult to take off before, but after some muscle, I have been able to free it. But not this time. I have been wiggling, retightening/untightening, yanking, pulling, grunting and cursing, and none of it is working. Has anybody heard of this happening? I fear that if I continue to muscle it too hard, I'm going to actually break something. This is, as you will have noted from the other replies, not an uncommon problem. However, here is one method to try to get the flash off the camera without surgery, and if it works, good! Unlock the flash with the lever Push the flash hard forward (toward the lens) Turn the camera hot shoe down Play with the lock lever Gently pull the flash off. The only time mine stuck this worked. I suspect that I had pulled the flash so that the pin was binding in the hot shoe. Before I put the flash on the camera again, I am going to remove the pin.

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11-02-2009, 11:10 AM	#2
jeffkrol Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wisconsin USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,434	Originally posted by Dubious Drewski After shooting a wedding two nights ago, I went home and tried to take my AF540 flash off of my K7 body, but it's stuck. It's very severely stuck. This flash has been difficult to take off before, but after some muscle, I have been able to free it. But not this time. I have been wiggling, retightening/untightening, yanking, pulling, grunting and cursing, and none of it is working. Has anybody heard of this happening? I fear that if I continue to muscle it too hard, I'm going to actually break something. See this: Re: AF540 flash stuck on K10D: Pentax SLR Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1036&message=23847376 Also (not my quote): Russell, From memory, the lever that pushes the pin down into the recess on the flash shoe has broken inside the flash and will not lever up the pin that locates into said hole. What you will need to do is to undo the four phillips head screws that hold the flash shoe of the flash onto the flash body itself. This may require the butchering of a small phillips head screw driver by bending the end at right angles, but you can pick up some reasonable quality ones from Dick Smith or Jaycar etc. Once you have the body of the flash off the flash mounting shoe, you should be able to see the pin and pull it up thus allowing the removal of the shoe assembly. I think you can manufacture a better system of levr for the pin arrangement so this will not occur again.

11-02-2009, 11:11 AM	#3
RBellavance Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Near Montréal, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,716	Sorry to hear that, but it seems to be a fairly common problem. Here is some information that may help you: Pentax AF540FGZ flash Stuck on hotshoe https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/camera-studio-accessories/27773-pentax-af...em-survey.html It seems unlocking and removing the flash while holding everything upside-down might help in some cases. Otherwise I think you have to consider unscrewing the base of the flash and lifting the locking pin manually. Or sending everything to Pentax to get it fixed, naturally.

11-02-2009, 12:35 PM	#4
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Originally posted by RBellavance . . . Or sending everything to Pentax to get it fixed, naturally. And be sure to include a note the asks: "What the hell . . .?"

11-03-2009, 07:27 AM	#5
bymy141 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,563	Originally posted by Dubious Drewski After shooting a wedding two nights ago, I went home and tried to take my AF540 flash off of my K7 body, but it's stuck. It's very severely stuck. This flash has been difficult to take off before, but after some muscle, I have been able to free it. But not this time. I have been wiggling, retightening/untightening, yanking, pulling, grunting and cursing, and none of it is working. Has anybody heard of this happening? I fear that if I continue to muscle it too hard, I'm going to actually break something. This "problem" was my single most important reason to buy a Metz 58....

11-03-2009, 12:56 PM	#7
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	This thread started by Will some time ago goes into the issue in some detail. https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/camera-studio-accessories/26752-540-fgz-s...st-mortem.html It will be a recurring problem if not dealt with, so consider removing this pin, which will make the flash less secure on the hotshoe, but it's gotta be better than damaging the camera's hotshoe...

11-03-2009, 02:08 PM	#8
Arpe Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,452	Has anyone who has removed the pin had the flash fall off? Not that I know of, it seems a bit superfluous. Does the Pentax flash have the wind down washer-like thingy that also helps keep it on as per the Metz units? I think that alone, combined with the friction of the shoe itself, is way enough to keep it on.

11-03-2009, 05:01 PM	#9
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	Originally posted by Arpe Has anyone who has removed the pin had the flash fall off? Not that I know of, it seems a bit superfluous. Does the Pentax flash have the wind down washer-like thingy that also helps keep it on as per the Metz units? I think that alone, combined with the friction of the shoe itself, is way enough to keep it on. Yes, it sort of clamps to the hot shoe, as did every other flash I have attached. I think the pin is a bit of overkill, myself. There is no engagement of the pin on the mount that comes with it to stand the flash while using it wirelessly, and I do have to un-fix the lever to get it off.

11-03-2009, 08:09 PM	#10
song_hm Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Pennsylvania, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 797	Does the AF360 have the same problem, and solution?

11-03-2009, 09:13 PM	#11
frank Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,202	This happened to my K20D and 540 flash. Had to send to service center to take the flash off. After that, I just glue the lock pin on the flash back in to the hole, and it won't come out again. Oh btw, the cure for this is exactly as jeffkrol post above, that's what our Pentax service guy told me.

11-03-2009, 09:30 PM	#12
Dubious Drewski Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Calgary Posts: 67 Original Poster	Ok, I've purchased a set of small screwdrivers tonight. After I get home from work, I'll get right to work. Wish me luck.

11-03-2009, 09:54 PM	#13
HGMonaro Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Melb. Aust Posts: 840	Originally posted by Arpe Has anyone who has removed the pin had the flash fall off? Not that I know of, it seems a bit superfluous. Does the Pentax flash have the wind down washer-like thingy that also helps keep it on as per the Metz units? I think that alone, combined with the friction of the shoe itself, is way enough to keep it on. no, mine is still hard to get on/off and the locking arm does what the wind down thingy's do, just easier!

11-04-2009, 08:34 AM	#14
AdrianN Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sydney Posts: 66	It's pretty easy to remove with a set of jeweller's screwdrivers. My 540 got stuck after a wedding and I just removed the stupid plastic locking pin and haven't had a problem with the 540 sliding off - it's pretty tight even without the screw-down lock.

11-05-2009, 09:21 PM	#15
Dubious Drewski Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Calgary Posts: 67 Original Poster	Fixed. Yeah, that was pretty simple to do. I just taped the internal lever thing permanently to the side. Now That pin will never slide down again. You guys are right, the flash absolutely does not need that pin to stay firmly attached to the body. Silly outsourced design. Thanks everyone!