Nikon D700 Hot Shoe Problems
So this post is more about something to watch out for.
I have a couple D700s and have had the same problem on each of my bodies with a couple Nikon SB-900 Speedlights. What ends up happening is that the speedlight flickers and misfires when any sort of movement happens. I must have gotten flashed a hundred times last week.
The D700 is an amazing camera and its low light capabilities is just stellar. However, I still use flashes A LOT and it is a real bummer that this camera can’t keep up with a heavier flash.
For the time being, I took a hammer to the hot shoe, very gently, and tapped the hot shoe flaps so they fit the speedlight tighter. I also used needle nose pliers to gently pry the metal things inside the hot shoe as well to make for a tighter fit. There is a $30 Nikon WG-AS3 Flash Water Guard which I used more to keep the flash tighter to the camera ever since this happened the first time. Unfortunately, I lost mine . A new one is on the way and hopefully that can help to further keep the D700 in working order without needing to be sent to Nikon.
Anyone else have (or had) similar problems? Comment below and share your stories.
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10 Responses to “Nikon D700 Hot Shoe Problems”
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It should be free as long as your D700 is still under 1 year old. That is then covered under Nikon’s warranty. Hope that helps.
Hi There Michael
I was beginning to think I was the only one with this problem. I shoot mainly weddings (37 a year) and this began happening to me about 2 weeks ago. I use fill and bounced diffuse flash 95% of the time and had noticed over the 2 years I have had the camera that I would get the occasional very over exposed flash pic – as if it had just flashed at full power. No I get random misfires where it doesn’t flash at all and I also get the rapid flash effect when I mover the camera, not all the time but enough for it to be a problem. This happens with both my SB800′s although the older one is MUCH worse than the new one – to the extent that it is actually unusable. It’s hard enough shooting a wedding without having to fight the technology as well. The flash does appear a bit loose on the hot shoe, so I agree that this is probably a design fault brought about my the shoe bracket loosening up over a period of time. Yesterday sorted to the pop up flash at times.
If it costs you guys in the US $250, then it will cost me in the UK with our overinflated ripoff prices about $375. The thing is I’m bang in the middle of the wedding season and can’t afford to send it in for repair – which may not work anyway.
By the way, does anyone know what Nikon did to your camera to repair it??
This is a professional camera with what appears to be an inherent fault. Has anyone convinced Nikon to repair free of charge?
I used a very thin strip of foam and tucked it in under eash metal spring strip under the hot shoe tabs. That tightened it up.
That is a great idea. The camera is one of my favorites that I have ever owned and it’s a bummer that this can just happen without any rhyme or reason… My first one cost me around $250 to fix while my other one was covered under warranty since it was under a year old.
I’ll email you my info!
I;ve had both of 700′s incur this problem. There is obviously an issue with the design. This last one is costing me $360!
Please send me an email so I can collect data to send to them. Give me name and body serial number and we’ll get Nikon to fix the problem
Yeah I didn’t think it would work if you were already experiencing issues with the hot shoe. If you use it when you get it back from the shop then it should prevent it happening again. Not too sure about those SB-600 issues you are having… Best of luck. Nikon is real good about fixing this stuff so have faith and they will take care of you. Hopefully everything is still within warranty though!!! Otherwise it may be $250 to fix the hot shoe on the D700 and $50-100 for each flash depending on the issue.
Nope — the flash water guard did not solve the problem. I am also having the same problem with my 2 SB-600′s. I found several other posts regarding this issue. Looks like I’ll be sending my camera in for repairs.
http://photo.net/nikon-camera-forum/00Tqe0
http://www.flickr.com/groups/strobist/discuss/72157623195382738/?search=d700+sb900+problem
Thanks so much!
I am not sure that the part will completely fix your issue since it is already happening… It will probably just lessen it from happening but will not correct the issue entirely. This is more for preventative maintenance so to speak. Let us know how it works for you though.
Thanks for writing.
Using a D700 and SB900 —
I just started having the same problem with crazy multiple rapid flashes when I move the camera or rotate the flash head.
I thought it might be the fit — so I’ll order the part you suggested from B&H (not comfortable with tweaking the hot shoe).
Thanks for the tip!
Just checking to see if blog comments are up and working again…