TTL cord stuck in D300 hotshoe - DPChallenge Forums

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX100

01/14/2011 12:31:51 AM · #1

I'm assuming the lock is stuck.

Any suggestions how to remove it greatly appreciated.

spiritualspatula

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

01/14/2011 01:19:29 AM · #2

Does the lever rotate or seem to do anything?

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

01/14/2011 04:53:48 AM · #3

just goes round in circles

aliqui

Nikon D300s

01/14/2011 05:21:45 AM · #4

That doesn't sound good. I'm afraid I won't be much help either. I can tell you what I see from my camera, but I don't have a TTL cord...

What locks it to the camera is a pin that drops into the hole (see link below). The pin on my flash still moves even in the lock position, but there'd be no way that I can see to actually get a hold of it once its dropped in. There's no little notch or anything. The connection pins all move freely too.

What would you do with this information? I don't know... My instinct would be to try to slide something in there to pop the pin out of the hole, but I don't think that will work. I imagine most people would cringe in horror for me even thinking it.

D300 Hotshoe

spiritualspatula

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX100

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

01/14/2011 07:05:23 AM · #5

Sounds to me like the lock in your cord is done, in any case. I'd guess that the lever is no longer connected to the lock pin. If you can't gently slide it off, I don't know if you have a choice other than popping the housing open and seeing if you can make the lock pin release by doing so. Sacrifice the TTL cord to keep your hotshoe intact. They aren't cheap to replace (another user on here had to get his D700 hotshoe replaced and I seem to remember it was $200). I tried looking for shots of the inside of the cord, but to no avail. Take out all batteries before attempting. Based on how my SC28 looks, I think it's feasible to get it opened with just some prying. If you get it open, some pictures would be very useful.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24, S24+, S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

01/14/2011 12:33:20 PM · #6

Any precision machinist should be able to get between the male and female parts and break the pin to remove the cord. Shouldn't be that big a deal. Assuming the male (non-camera) portion is plastic, not metal, which I am betting it is. And possibly even if it IS metal.

R.

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

01/14/2011 12:46:10 PM · #7

Find something like a straightened hair pin, a flat slender metal strip. It must fit in the little gap between the camera's hot shoe from the front toward the back, on the right side of the hot shoe. The little lock sticks out in that gap, and the strip might push it back and disengage it so you can slip the item off the hot shoe.
I hope you can find something that will release it without damaging the camera. It sounds like the accessory is history anyway, so if it gets trashed it may not be an issue.
Good luck with the problem.

edit; I looked at the link posted, and at my Nikon flash, and see that their lock is the hole mentioned in the link. If that is the case with the lock on the cord, it may require cutting the accessory off above the hot shoe, and digging into it far enough to get the pin up out of the hole. You might also try using a tooth pick to put one drop of WD40 in the gap between the base of the hot shoe and the accessory. There is a little spring that works the pin in the Nikon flash, and if the accessory is made in similar fashion, the pin may move if it gets some lubrication. In any case, if you manage to get it off, I wouldn't be putting it back on the camera.

Another trick may be to push both ends of a piece of fishing line or strong thread through the gap on each side and see if you can work it by holding tension on the ends while dragging the loop under the accessory, where the contacts are. That might be just enough to release the pin.

One more suggestion, it's the sort of puzzle that might interest a locksmith if you can't get it off. Be sure to print out the photo in the link to show him, and maybe bring your flash so he can look at how the lock works.

Message edited by author 2011-01-14 13:04:04.

Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

01/16/2011 01:01:29 AM · #8

For those that are curious:-

Went to the local hardware store to see if they could drill out a stuck screw holding on the casing. As they couldn't we pried it off cracking the top plastic bit of casing.

Once I had access to inside it was fairly easy to remove a small plastic plate on top of the locking pin & spring. With that off the pin & spring just fell out and the cord was easily removed.

Yes the casing is wrecked, but hey the cord still works.

Nikon wanted $50 & 5 days just to quote on it. In the end it just cost $17 for a good set of jewelers screwdrivers.

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

01/16/2011 01:13:34 AM · #9

I like a story with a happy ending.

DCNUTTER

Canon EOS-7D

01/16/2011 02:01:57 AM · #10

Originally posted by MichaelC:

I'm assuming the lock is stuck.

Any suggestions how to remove it greatly appreciated.

Better be careful. I'm pretty sure that in 38 out of 50 states you can go to prison for getting your TTL cord stuck in a hotshoe. I could be wrong though. :P