Hot shoe cover for 400D/350D series

Hank3152 · Feb 4, 2008

I just received a hot shoe cover from Richard Franiec who has created some ingenious accessories for the G7/G9 compacts and when I inquired about a hot shoe cover for the XTi he designed one from a composite called Delrin and sent me one. Most important, besides protecting the contacts and preventing snags, your internal flash works normally when the cover is on the camera.
Here's a sample of his handiwork.
http://kleptography.com/rf/

Richard doesn't have a website but will soon be associated with Lensmate to distribute his products. If you're interested you must specify the XT series and contact him by email at........
[email protected]
Here is the naked hot shoe mount.....

and with the cover..........

other views........you can see it fits flush with the top rails and it's radiused to eliminate snags.

--
Regards,
Hank

Doug Pardee · Feb 4, 2008

I'll bet that your popup flash doesn't work while the cover is in there. The camera thinks that an external flash is mounted.

Abana · Feb 4, 2008

Doug Pardee said:
I'll bet that your popup flash doesn't work while the cover is in
there. The camera thinks that an external flash is mounted.

Hank's last sentence in the first paragraph states that the built-in flash does work with the cover in place. Looking at the 400D hotshoe, it doesn't seem like it would be too difficult to accomplish. Of course, having no experience with hotshoe covers, it could be rocket science for all I know

.

abana

Lionel Johnson · Feb 4, 2008

Doug Pardee said:
I'll bet that your popup flash doesn't work while the cover is in
there. The camera thinks that an external flash is mounted.

Unless it has been designed so that it does not push down that little switch. Otherwise, you will be correct. If that little switch on the right hand side of the hot shoe is depressed, the popup flash will not work
--
Regards,
Lionel

eduperez · Feb 4, 2008

Abana said:
Doug Pardee said:

I'll bet that your popup flash doesn't work while the cover is in
there. The camera thinks that an external flash is mounted.

Click to expand...

Hank's last sentence in the first paragraph states that the built-in
flash does work with the cover in place. Looking at the 400D
hotshoe, it doesn't seem like it would be too difficult to
accomplish. Of course, having no experience with hotshoe covers, it
could be rocket science for all I know .

abana

I positively know it is not rocket science, as even I was able to adapt a shoe cover to my 400D, and still use the built-in flash. You just have to locate the switch, inside one of the rails, and trim the cover accordingly.

Hank3152 · Feb 5, 2008

Lionel Johnson said:
Doug Pardee said:

I'll bet that your popup flash doesn't work while the cover is in
there. The camera thinks that an external flash is mounted.

Click to expand...

I should have taken that bet.........;-),.... it work's fine. That's the first thing I checked after installing it.

Lionel Johnson said:
Unless it has been designed so that it does not push down that little
switch. Otherwise, you will be correct. If that little switch on
the right hand side of the hot shoe is depressed, the popup flash
will not work
--
Regards,
Lionel

Mr. Franiec designed this version, CHSC-XT, being fully aware of this issue, so that's why it's important to specify the XT series when ordering. The other versions will disable the flash.

This piece is made from a durable slick composite that reminds me of hard teflon which is not cast but machined to strict tolerances. The quality of this functional piece just adds the final touch that completes the look of the camera.

Here's a macro of the front edge where you can plainly see the difference in the thickness and location of the side rails which must circumvent the switch. It is a very firm fit which would never fall out unless struck with a lot of force at an exact angle.

I should also include a disclaimer that I have no ties whatsoever with this or any other of Mr. Franiec's products. I just recognize and appreciate a fine product when I see one and believe others would too.
--
Regards,
Hank

ngk20000 · Feb 5, 2008

How much does the Franiac hot shoe cover cost in US dollars? What is the conversion ratio to British or UK pounds?
--
ngk20000

Deezy · Feb 5, 2008

If it doesn't bother you to pop it in/out when you need your flash, just pick up a Nikon one from your local camera shop's used parts bin for a $1 or two. You can probably modify it also if you are so inclined.

firefox23508 · Feb 5, 2008

I presume you mean to use a regular hot shoe cover and just remove it when you need to use the pop up flash. This does not work with these cameras either because in addition to disabling the popup flash, it also restricts shutter speed and (perhaps) aperture for an exposure for flash. The only way around this is to purchase a cover indicated in the first post or modify a cover so as to bypass the switch.

Hank3152 · Feb 5, 2008

ngk20000 said:
How much does the Franiac hot shoe cover cost in US dollars? What is
the conversion ratio to British or UK pounds?
--
ngk20000

$10 US = 5.1 pounds UK = 38,005 Zambian Kwachas
--
Regards,
Hank

djmorgan · Feb 5, 2008

I bought one after seeing this thread for my 400D and it is on it's way to Oz very quick service and pleasant to do business with

Mark B. · Feb 5, 2008

It's a nice look, but for me personally it's just something I'll quickly lose. The only reason I don't lose the battery door on my 30D is there's a space to hold it on the battery grip

Mark

Ed Yamanaka · Feb 5, 2008

Hank3152 said:
$10 US = 5.1 pounds UK = 38,005 Zambian Kwachas

Thanks for posting the initial product and the price. I'm glad it's affordable. I was saying to my wife, "If it's over 40,000 Kwachas, I'm not buying it!" I guess I'll be placing an order now...

Your timing is excellent as I was about to start hacking up an old flash shoe cover. Now I don't have to do all that work.

Again, thanks. Happy shooting.

Hank3152 · Feb 5, 2008

Ed Yamanaka said:
Hank3152 said:

$10 US = 5.1 pounds UK = 38,005 Zambian Kwachas

Click to expand...

Thanks for posting the initial product and the price. I'm glad it's
affordable. I was saying to my wife, "If it's over 40,000 Kwachas,
I'm not buying it!" I guess I'll be placing an order now...

Ed,
I read this about 15 minutes ago and still can't stop laughing..........LMFAO

Ed Yamanaka said:
Your timing is excellent as I was about to start hacking up an old
flash shoe cover. Now I don't have to do all that work.

Ya know, for a few bucks more you get a custom made quality piece that's perfectly machined, not cast.........the best 38,000 kwachas I've ever spent.
http://finance.yahoo.com/currency/convert?amt=10&from=USD&to=ZMK&submit=Convert
--
Regards,
Hank

Hank3152 · Feb 5, 2008

Mark B. said:
It's a nice look, but for me personally it's just something I'll
quickly lose. The only reason I don't lose the battery door on my
30D is there's a space to hold it on the battery grip

Mark

Don't worry, once in place it will not come off, not even accidentally.......it's a perfect tight fit. You just have to remember where you put it when you remove it.

--
Regards,
Hank

Hank3152 · Feb 5, 2008

Deezy said:
just pick up a Nikon one from your local camera shop's used parts bin
for a $1 or two. You can probably modify it also if you are so
inclined.

I suppose you might get it right after several tries but for no more than what this costs it wouldn't be worth the effort and you get a custom fit that looks good too, not a hacked up misfit.
--
Regards,
Hank

skanter · Feb 5, 2008

I never used one, nor have had any problems with my uncovered hotshoe.
--
Sam Kanter, NYC

Hank3152 · Feb 5, 2008

skanter said:
I never used one, nor have had any problems with my uncovered hotshoe.

My previous Nikon SLRs never had covers either but I was OC about keeping the recess and contacts clean. The cover's primary function is to protect the exposed contacts from dust, dirt, corrosion and inclement weather.

Another benefit is that the cover fits inside the exposed rails which may prevent snagging them on loose clothing or straps.

Finally it's design is appealing and it completes the camera's look. Not necessarily a must have item but certainly a nice to have option that's very inexpensive for it's usefulness.
--
Regards,
Hank

skanter · Feb 6, 2008

Hank3152 said:
skanter said:

I never used one, nor have had any problems with my uncovered hotshoe.

Click to expand...

My previous Nikon SLRs never had covers either but I was OC about
keeping the recess and contacts clean. The cover's primary function
is to protect the exposed contacts from dust, dirt, corrosion and
inclement weather.
Another benefit is that the cover fits inside the exposed rails which
may prevent snagging them on loose clothing or straps.
Finally it's design is appealing and it completes the camera's look.
Not necessarily a must have item but certainly a nice to have option
that's very inexpensive for it's usefulness.
--

I'm sold, except it seems far too easy to lose. I have enough trouble holding on to my lens cover. ;-)

--
Sam Kanter, NYC

balloonchasers · Feb 6, 2008

had one on my Olympus OM-1n years ago.. dropped it into my camera bag and never saw it again..(and really never looked for it either). I am sure if it had been a $10 bill I would have dug around for it. ;-)

John
--

Feel free to use any of these additional letters to correct the spelling of words found in the above post: a-e-t-n-d-i-o-s-m-l-u-y-h-c

Hot shoe cover for 400D/350D series

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