em5.3 baseplate cracked/broken around tripod mount

You are not the first to report problems with the E-M5III base plate. I hope you are covered by warranty.

This is not bad luck or a one off case, but rather seems to be a consistent issue when using the E-M5 III with the PD clip plate. You are the 5th case I'm aware of that broke with using this exact plate with the E-M5 III in a relatively short while (such that it can't all be coincidence). There was only one other reported case that involved a different plate.

I don't think anyone using the E-M5 III should use it with the PD capture clip given this. You would need to figure out other carrying options that do not involve the tripod mount.

Best of luck on your warranty claim, there seemed to be mixed responses where some were covered and some not.

Based on comments I've seen on this forum I think there is simply a structural problem with the 5.3.  I don't think you over torqued it or anything like that.  The lenses you mention are very light and should cause NO problem.  It should be repaired under warranty.  If possible I'd inquire to see if when repaired they reinforce the mount or replace it with a stronger one.  If not I'd get rid of the camera and get an EM1 MK2.  Can be had for a reasonable price and in my experience is very durable.  It is heavier however and that may be critical to you. If I had a 5.3 and I really liked it, I don't think I'd ever mount it on a tripod.  IMO this is unacceptable.

pukha23 wrote:

i keep my arca tripod mounting plate (from the PD capture clip) always connected to my camera, as i use the tripod alot and the PD capture clip sometimes. last night as i was attaching to my tripod, i noticed that the connection felt a little wiggly. i removed the mounting plate and found that the (plastic) baseplate of my em5.3 was cracked quite extensively!

cracked baseplate of my em5.3

i don't know when this happened, but assume it progressed over time as there have been no impact or obviously stressful events that i am aware of. i did find a couple other dpreview threads where similar damage was discussed. yes i have used the pd capture clip to mount the camera on a shoulder strap while hiking/ backpacking, though not likely more than 20 or so miles in total thus far. the heaviest lens in this use case would be the mz 12-40 pro. it has spent substantially more time mounted on a tripod, with the 75-300 ii likely giving the most torque.

neither of these are large / heavy lenses, nor is the em5.3 a massive body. the reason i bought into this system was very much centered around the light weight and specifically the use case of carrying the camera on long hikes / backpacking, in easy reach with the pd capture clip. so... yes i am feeling very frustrated at the moment.

i have just submitted a warranty claim and plan to send this in on monday. i really hope that a) it is covered by warranty and b) they can repair quickly. i spent quite a sum on this camera in november and have a lot of plans for it in the coming weeks and months.

anyhow, if the baseplate / mount design is inadequate for this use case (hiking with the pd capture clip) i will... i don't know what. there isnt another m43 camera (that i'm aware of) with this guys capabilites, weather sealing, and light weight. i guess i could sell it and go for a em5.2 (with metal baseplate), but i don't want to give up the improved autofocus.

i am wondering if it is possible the cracking has resulted from overtorquing the mounting plate screw. it doesn't seem likely but it is plausible. i suppose it is even possible that this is the result of bad luck and a rare defective unit. (maybe)

Sorry you were unaware of the E-M5 III's fragile tripod mount - especially when combined with Peak Design clips. I use my E-M5 III on tripods frequently and treat it gingerly when mounted on one. I recently bought a half case with a metal bottom that may more evenly distribute torque on the socket.

I believe at least one other person was told that this combo (E-M5 III + PD) was not covered by warranty.

IQ & AF-wise, I could not go back to my E-M5 II which I have loaned indefinitely to my nephew. PDAF ROCKS!!!

I do not know what a PD clip looks like, do you have a photo of it?

Peter Del

Sorry you have this problem.  Hopefully, Olympus will replace your camera body.  However, your replacement will be the same design and will be subject to the same type failure.

It is not the size of the PD clip or tripod adapter plate that is the problem, it is repetitive  cyclic loading on the camera's plastic surrounding the tripod mount flange that causes it to fail.  Using any tripod socket attachment with the jostling while hiking and using the camera on a tripod with a zoom or manual focus lens that is adjusted during use can eventually result in enough load cycles to cause the plastic body to fail.

I use my second 5.3 daily, but I never use the tripod mount.  And no, the size of the tripod adapter doesn't make any difference if it spans the camera body in the lens axis direction.  It is the accumulation of load cycles over time that results in the failures.

Just work with Olympus.  Hopefully, there are very few additional failures and hopefully Olympus will work with your like they worked with me.  I'm still a happy Olympus customer.

Joe

Design flaw, not your fault.  Common problem with 5.3.

pukha23 wrote:

Sorry for your misfortune.

Thank you for the picture. You are now the 6th member of this group reporting this exact failure. If you search the forum, you will find how much previous victims were charged for the repair. Some got part of the cost waived, but most had to pay up in full.

Joe Lynch wrote:

Sorry you have this problem. Hopefully, Olympus will replace your camera body. However, your replacement will be the same design and will be subject to the same type failure.

It is not the size of the PD clip or tripod adapter plate that is the problem, it is repetitive cyclic loading on the camera's plastic surrounding the tripod mount flange that causes it to fail. Using any tripod socket attachment with the jostling while hiking and using the camera on a tripod with a zoom or manual focus lens that is adjusted during use can eventually result in enough load cycles to cause the plastic body to fail.

I use my second 5.3 daily, but I never use the tripod mount. And no, the size of the tripod adapter doesn't make any difference if it spans the camera body in the lens axis direction. It is the accumulation of load cycles over time that results in the failures.

Just work with Olympus. Hopefully, there are very few additional failures and hopefully Olympus will work with your like they worked with me. I'm still a happy Olympus customer.

Joe

That seems like a lot of speculation. 5 out of 6 reported cases involved the PD clip plate. In the other case it's unknown what the tripod plate was (perhaps it would be helpful to find out). Not sure how you can say with such confidence that the plate size (or plate design) doesn't have anything to do with it.

Chuck221 wrote:

Looking at this I believe the design intention was that the plastic baseplate would be sandwiched between the metal tripod mount and whatever the camera was attatched to, creating only a compression load. This has not happened. It is possible that the adapter cushioning rubber is so soft that tightening of the adapter screw is able to cause flexing of the baseplate, which over time could cause cracking. It is also possible that a front to back rocking load of the adapter could create a prying type action that would cause flexing of the baseplate and cracking over time. Cylical loading would hasten the cracking, as would leaching of plasticizer from the adapter cushioning material, which could cause stress cracking.

If you are able to get the baseplate replaced, the trick will be to avoid loads that can cause flexing of that area. Are there other Arca plates that might have a firmer cushioning material? Beyond that, it would probably be wise to take the adapter off when not in use in case it is stress cracking that is causing the failure.

Interesting theory on the plasticizer. From the thread where the PD clip plate broke a Nikon D5600 baseplate also, there was mention oil leaking (also by someone using X-T3 that reported weird oil, although no baseplate breakage). Someone also reported the rubber part falling off in the PD Clip and it leaving a lot of markings on the camera body (so it could do with adhesive also).

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4382677

JakeJY wrote:

Chuck221 wrote:

Looking at this I believe the design intention was that the plastic baseplate would be sandwiched between the metal tripod mount and whatever the camera was attatched to, creating only a compression load. This has not happened. It is possible that the adapter cushioning rubber is so soft that tightening of the adapter screw is able to cause flexing of the baseplate, which over time could cause cracking. It is also possible that a front to back rocking load of the adapter could create a prying type action that would cause flexing of the baseplate and cracking over time. Cylical loading would hasten the cracking, as would leaching of plasticizer from the adapter cushioning material, which could cause stress cracking.

If you are able to get the baseplate replaced, the trick will be to avoid loads that can cause flexing of that area. Are there other Arca plates that might have a firmer cushioning material? Beyond that, it would probably be wise to take the adapter off when not in use in case it is stress cracking that is causing the failure.

Interesting theory on the plasticizer. From the thread where the PD clip plate broke a Nikon D5600 baseplate also, there was mention oil leaking (also by someone using X-T3 that reported weird oil, although no baseplate breakage). Someone also reported the rubber part falling off in the PD Clip and it leaving a lot of markings on the camera body (so it could do with adhesive also).

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4382677

Not trying to let Olympus off the hook, but that PD clip plate seems to be at least a big part of the problem.

Thanks for the image.

The QR plate on my tripod also has rubber inserts, which protrude very slightly from the metal mount. They are very hard and can't be compressed, they just add grip without marking the base of my camera.

I wonder if this rubber is a little soft, and, as the screw is tightened, it pulls up the tripod bush to compress the rubber. Just a thought.

Peter Del

JakeJY wrote:

Chuck221 wrote:

Looking at this I believe the design intention was that the plastic baseplate would be sandwiched between the metal tripod mount and whatever the camera was attatched to, creating only a compression load. This has not happened. It is possible that the adapter cushioning rubber is so soft that tightening of the adapter screw is able to cause flexing of the baseplate, which over time could cause cracking. It is also possible that a front to back rocking load of the adapter could create a prying type action that would cause flexing of the baseplate and cracking over time. Cylical loading would hasten the cracking, as would leaching of plasticizer from the adapter cushioning material, which could cause stress cracking.

If you are able to get the baseplate replaced, the trick will be to avoid loads that can cause flexing of that area. Are there other Arca plates that might have a firmer cushioning material? Beyond that, it would probably be wise to take the adapter off when not in use in case it is stress cracking that is causing the failure.

Interesting theory on the plasticizer. From the thread where the PD clip plate broke a Nikon D5600 baseplate also, there was mention oil leaking (also by someone using X-T3 that reported weird oil, although no baseplate breakage). Someone also reported the rubber part falling off in the PD Clip and it leaving a lot of markings on the camera body (so it could do with adhesive also).

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4382677

Whilst Polycarbonate used for molding indeed readily absorbs plasticires leaking from soft PVC etc, this is of absolutely no consequence here.

The cracking of the baseplate is NOT the problem, it's just the first and readily visible consequence of the problem.

The problem is the threaded tripod insert being ripped out of its anchor.

And this is also why the repair is so expensive. If it was only the baseplate, it would be very cheap to repair, 10 minutes labor and $30 parts. But this is a catastrophic failure. The camera has to be fully disassembled to replace the parts into which the tripod nut anchors, costing about $250-300, or about 1/4 to 1/3 of what this camera is worth to begin with.