Is my a6000 hot shoe dead (not just paint issue)

[Nathan Dana]

So I think I might have killed the hot shoe on my a6000. I've tried every trick to get it to fire a hot shoe flash, and nothing. I used an adaptor ( http://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Conver...960&sr=8-1&keywords=neewer+sony+flash+adapter ), I tried removing the paint from the hot shoe, nothing. No flash will fire (although I don't have a Sony brand flash to try). Did I kill my hot shoe by trying an older (maybe high voltage) head on it?

Two oddities I've noticed:

1) When a flash is turned on, when I mount it on the hot shoe, it will fire as its sliding on the hot shoe.

2) When a flash is mounted on the hot shoe, it looks to be pushed back a few millimeters (although the above adapter doesn't).

If I did kill it, whats a repair like that cost? Is it worth it?

 

[rlyons]

So I think I might have killed the hot shoe on my a6000. I've tried every trick to get it to fire a hot shoe flash, and nothing. I used an adaptor ( http://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Conver...960&sr=8-1&keywords=neewer+sony+flash+adapter ), I tried removing the paint from the hot shoe, nothing. No flash will fire (although I don't have a Sony brand flash to try). Did I kill my hot shoe by trying an older (maybe high voltage) head on it?

Two oddities I've noticed:

1) When a flash is turned on, when I mount it on the hot shoe, it will fire as its sliding on the hot shoe.

2) When a flash is mounted on the hot shoe, it looks to be pushed back a few millimeters (although the above adapter doesn't).

If I did kill it, whats a repair like that cost? Is it worth it?

What flash did you use and what's its trigger voltage? I'd start there. Some older Nikon flashes used a much higher trigger voltage than what modern cameras can accept, but without knowing which flash you used it's kinda hard to say if you potentially hurt your camera.

 

[Reiper]

I will join you in sadness. I have exactly the same situation. Some day I tried to connect some old flash from SLR (don't remember the brand, m42 screwmount), didn't work out.

Then again, later on I bought a manual neewer 560 which didn't work and was fireing when sliding in.

When I'll have a chance I will get some other hot shoe flash and test it.

 

[Ioan T]

Same issue here. I tried using an ancient m42 flash, and now nothing works, the hotshoe is dead. No warranty either, so that sucks.
My local Sony center said they can replace the hotshoe but it requires a full disassembly of the camera, and the cost will be about 100$, in Eastern Europe, so I don't know if the price is the same everywhere else.

 

[ttran88]

It's probably Sony activating it's doomsday bugs found in all APSC cameras.

Just joking but it could also be the flash not working. I ordered a yonguno III once and when I mount it on, it would flash once and the recharge light would stay on and not flash when I hit the shutter button. I thought too that I fried my A7 hotshoe with an old Nikon flash sb-24. But after returning the flash and getting the IV version everything works well. Did or does the old flash work on your A6000? If it's still working than its most likely the new flash that's broken.

 

[Nathan Dana]

Did or does the old flash work on your A6000? If it's still working than its most likely the new flash that's broken.

I've never had a flash fire with my a6000, that being said, the first flash I tried was an older Vivitar (SMS 30).

Anyone know of a fix? Or do I need to send to Sony to fix?

 

[ttran88]

Dude that vivitar looks old, but did it work successful meaning you were able to use it in manual mode? What other flash have you tried on it recently to know your hotshoe might've fried? If it's fried you will have to contact Sony and send it in for repair, someone a few post up said it will cost $100.

Another option is to use the onboard pop up flash to trigger an off shoe flash in SL or slave mode.

 

[Nathan Dana]

Dude that vivitar looks old, but did it work successful meaning you were able to use it in manual mode? What other flash have you tried on it recently to know your hotshoe might've fried? If it's fried you will have to contact Sony and send it in for repair, someone a few post up said it will cost $100.

Another option is to use the onboard pop up flash to trigger an off shoe flash in SL or slave mode.

 

[Fish000]

Ohh guys, same story here, I think I've fried my A6000 hot shoe with old 194V flash. So damage is done, I took it to repair, and they asked like 150 euros to change whole pcb, but I didn't agree. I know for sure that it's something stupid, like some zener diode got fried or maybe there's some fail safe circuit that turned on to protect other circuits. That would explain why flash is now in 'always on' state, I even figured this using my trigger which is always on when I put it into hot shoe. But I really need that hot shoe to work, I'm desperate.

 

[ttran88]

Ohh guys, same story here, I think I've fried my A6000 hot shoe with old 194V flash. So damage is done, I took it to repair, and they asked like 150 euros to change whole pcb, but I didn't agree. I know for sure that it's something stupid, like some zener diode got fried or maybe there's some fail safe circuit that turned on to protect other circuits. That would explain why flash is now in 'always on' state, I even figured this using my trigger which is always on when I put it into hot shoe. But I really need that hot shoe to work, I'm desperate.

How old is your camera? Did you purchase with credit card? Check to see if your credit card provides product protection. My American express card would provide complete protection for the first 90days. They will even protect against theft for the 90days.

 

[Docrum]

Ohh guys, same story here, I think I've fried my A6000 hot shoe with old 194V flash. So damage is done, I took it to repair, and they asked like 150 euros to change whole pcb, but I didn't agree. I know for sure that it's something stupid, like some zener diode got fried or maybe there's some fail safe circuit that turned on to protect other circuits. That would explain why flash is now in 'always on' state, I even figured this using my trigger which is always on when I put it into hot shoe. But I really need that hot shoe to work, I'm desperate.

I think I'm another member of this elite group :-( . I haven't tried another compatible flash, but the one I did try only worked twice - I then discovered the high trigger voltage issue. I don't understand why manufacturers don't build in some sort of auto reset protection circuitry? Or why they still use the same size flash mount when you can fry the camera by plugging in the wrong flashes. :-x I thought the flash I tried would be safe as it was used on a fully electronic Minolta 35mm film SLR.

If I ever really need to use a better flash I'm just going to go with one of the optically triggered variety that will fire off the in built flash.

(I decided not to pursue getting it repaired as I know it would not be worth the outlay vs living with it and picking up a A6000 body - or the new model- in a year or two.)

BTW after I fried mine I discovered that it's very easy to check the flash trigger voltage using a multimeter on the DC range. You just need to use a high voltage range setting (like 200V) and measure the voltage between the trigger pin and earth pin on the flash (with it on!) Older flashes are very high - like 180V odd- newer cameras like a lot lower voltages (I think around 5V for the Sonys.)

 

[dooglestar]

I'm in the exact same boat. Have any of you guys found a fix for this or is replacing the hot shoe the only option?

 

[CameraCarl]

Sorry to hear about your problems. As far as I know, replacing the circuit board is the only option. Just as a reminder to any other readers, old flashes (unlike old lenses) can be death to modern cameras. Unless your flash is newer than about five years ago, avoid using it on a modern hot shoe. The cameras just can't handle the voltage.

 

[dooglestar]

As far as I know, replacing the circuit board is the only option.

Hi, thanks for replying.

When you say, replacing the circuit board, do you mean the whole hot shoe or the circuitry within the hot shoe? The camera itself works as it should so I take it you don't mean the main internal circuitry?

Thanks

 

[CameraCarl]

Sorry but you will have to ask Sony that question.

 

[Docrum]

I researched it a bit and there appears (from what other people have posted about other NEX cameras) to be a separate circuit board dedicated to the hot shoe. I did search for a parts breakdown of the A6000 back then, but didn't find anything. That was nearly 12mths ago so there might be something now?

I was really mad with myself back when I did it, but the reality is I rarely use the (still working) on board flash - so buying an external flash isn't a concern.

PS: You can buy flashes (or flash trigger modules) that will optically trigger off the on board flash- so there are ways around it.

 

[terrylau]

So I think I might have killed the hot shoe on my a6000. I've tried every trick to get it to fire a hot shoe flash, and nothing. I used an adaptor ( http://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Conver...960&sr=8-1&keywords=neewer+sony+flash+adapter ), I tried removing the paint from the hot shoe, nothing. No flash will fire (although I don't have a Sony brand flash to try). Did I kill my hot shoe by trying an older (maybe high voltage) head on it?

Two oddities I've noticed:

1) When a flash is turned on, when I mount it on the hot shoe, it will fire as its sliding on the hot shoe.

2) When a flash is mounted on the hot shoe, it looks to be pushed back a few millimeters (although the above adapter doesn't).

If I did kill it, whats a repair like that cost? Is it worth it?

it is misleading for SONY to advertise their new MI hot shoe as ' standard ISO ' type hotshoe

as if any other flash with same physical shape from NIKON CANON n third party manufacturerers

will work. The main advantage is that it will work with other Sony accessories such as EVF

microphones etc that also connect to the small proprietary pins in front of this hot shoe .

Otherwise i find the old Minolta type hot shoe easier to slide the flash on and off and dont need a

protective cover for the small pins .

it is not a good idea to try old or flashes from others with the

new hotshoe as they are most likely not electrically compatible

terrylau

 

[dooglestar]

I rarely use the (still working) on board flash - so buying an external flash isn't a concern.

PS: You can buy flashes (or flash trigger modules) that will optically trigger off the on board flash- so there are ways around it.

I think what most are experiencing here is that the hot shoe is the problem not the on board flash, that still works fine. It's triggers and external flashes that now won't communicate with the MI hot shoe.

 

[Docrum]

I rarely use the (still working) on board flash - so buying an external flash isn't a concern.

PS: You can buy flashes (or flash trigger modules) that will optically trigger off the on board flash- so there are ways around it.

I think what most are experiencing here is that the hot shoe is the problem not the on board flash, that still works fine. It's triggers and external flashes that now won't communicate with the MI hot shoe.

Yes, I'm aware of that. I was pointing out that you can buy external flashes that can be optically triggered from the still working built in flash. So there are ways to use an external flash without paying Sony a huge amount of money to fix the built in hot shoe. ;-)

 

[FrankA6000]

Hello together,

I do have the same issue. My hot shoe is also dead.

But I read somewhere that it may be possible to use external flashes with the original Sony multi interfacehot shoe. So I bought the Nissin i40 for Sony.

It does not work out off the box.

But I found out, during my testing, that you have to isolate the center contact to get it to work. After covering the the center contact with a plastic tape, THE NISSIN WORKS AS EXPECTED.

Now I am happy with the camera and the Flash. This really helped me out.

Frank