Alpha Flash Problem

[MontoyaSG]

I think, the best is, dont touch the contact, dont get the contact near with water, dun shoot under the rain. Or best is, clean it with lime water. That's what i got some advice from pros.

Doesn't really matter. Having a piece of tissue paper solves the contact issue.

 

[raincool2005]

I'm using HVL-F42AM & HVL-F58AM flash on my A350 and A900. Both flash are giving me the same problem on both bodies.

Sometimes when i take pictures with my external flash, it doesn't flash. i realized that there is a contact problem, most probably either due to insufficient length of the contact pin at the flash or the contact point at the main body became worn off after multiple use and thus causing the intermittent problem.

Just wondering if anyone encounters the same problem as me.

time to pay a visit to Sony Service Centre @ Wisma Orchard

 

[Shoooters]

time to pay a visit to Sony Service Centre @ Wisma Orchard

Sent before.. No point sending again.. They just l say nothing wrong with the flash... Haiz..

 

[Shoooters]

Yesterday i tried cleaning the contact point with IPA.. works fine now.

 

[mannfai]

Yesterday i tried cleaning the contact point with IPA.. works fine now.

What's IPA? Sorry for my ignorance.

 

[TME]

What's IPA? Sorry for my ignorance.

IPA = iso-propyl alcohol. A type of acohol cleaner mainly used as an ingredient in alcohol swabs (first aid type) or for electronic goods.

 

[zammiez]

Thanx alot for the advice guys / gals. Using erasers really work!! Just test it out, no more loose contact from all angle ( horizontal, vertical, face up or down and all the weird angle ) of my shots.

Was really getting annoyed with the intermittent flash contact to the camera.
Was using electrical tape to the flash body before this but still, it doesn't work so well.

 

[biggorilla]

Hi,

I just purchased the 58am. Great flash. I use the A700. Experienced the same problem of the flash not firing, especially when i turned the camera sideways.

My theory is that its not becoz the pins are short but more that the connection between the camera and the flash is a bit loose. So i just stuck something on the bottom of the flash, the part that connects to the hotshoe and it tightend to connection,. I will try to upload a pic to illustrate this. If not i will include a link.

 

[weishengg]

i've had the same issue here.
i used scotch tape to carefully tape up the foot of the external flash (the part which directly sits on the camera flash mount).

no more loose connection problem ever! now i just need to replace the scotch tape once a while.

Hi,

I just purchased the 58am. Great flash. I use the A700. Experienced the same problem of the flash not firing, especially when i turned the camera sideways.

My theory is that its not becoz the pins are short but more that the connection between the camera and the flash is a bit loose. So i just stuck something on the bottom of the flash, the part that connects to the hotshoe and it tightend to connection,. I will try to upload a pic to illustrate this. If not i will include a link.

 

[biggorilla]

Well here sorry for posting this late.... Here are the pics of the modification I did to the HVL-F58AM.

The thing that i stuck to the base of the flash unit is a 3M "synthetic Carbon Fiber" Adhesive.... its not really carbon fiber.. just looks and feel like it... I had some excess pieces left so I thot to use it. THe adhesive is really thin... paper thin.. maybe thinner. I got these adhesive from a Clubsnapper. Anyway... here are the pics of it... Hope this helps

http://www.flickr.com/photos/47591877@N07/4362347878/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/47591877@N07/4362346990/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/47591877@N07/4361604597/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/47591877@N07/4361603693/

 

[robinlimkp]

Thanks biggorilla. Your idea is good. that should solve my flash problem.

 

[weishengg]

is the CF sticker smooth and easy to slide in/out?

Well here sorry for posting this late.... Here are the pics of the modification I did to the HVL-F58AM.

The thing that i stuck to the base of the flash unit is a 3M "synthetic Carbon Fiber" Adhesive.... its not really carbon fiber.. just looks and feel like it... I had some excess pieces left so I thot to use it. THe adhesive is really thin... paper thin.. maybe thinner. I got these adhesive from a Clubsnapper. Anyway... here are the pics of it... Hope this helps

http://www.flickr.com/photos/47591877@N07/4362347878/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/47591877@N07/4362346990/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/47591877@N07/4361604597/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/47591877@N07/4361603693/

 

[biggorilla]

It slides in really easy... but it is a bit stiff to remove... need two hands to remove properly... but i can live with it as long as i have a secure conncetion

is the CF sticker smooth and easy to slide in/out?

 

[boombox]

I got that with my Old A700 - SSC swapped out the entire hotshoe unit from the body, and the F56 worked again - I think it's on the body side usually, but I think some home made remedies to keep the hotshoe tight and oxide free should do the trick.

 

[biggorilla]

hmm... I'll go and check it out with SSC... give them a buzz and check if its the same issue with the 58 as well... i mean if they can resolve this might as well...

 

[biggorilla]

Well I called up SSC... They said they have not heard any reports on this issue of the 58AM having a loose connection with the body. They asked me to bring in my body, the camera that is.... and my flash and they will take a look at it. They say if they can they may be able to make modifications to it...

Will keep you guys posted about it... Thanks for the idea BoomBox!

 

[biggorilla]

Hey guys.. Here's an update abt the HVL-F58am.

I just got my cam and flash back from SSC. They changed the hot shoe on my A700. Now the connection is a bit more secure. The flash still wobbles back an forth a teeny bit BUT no loss of connection with the flash and body.

So to make sure the flash doesnt wobble, and still is easy to remove and attach to the cam, I changed that modification i mentioned in an earlier thread (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47591877@N07/4362346990/).

What i did was reversed the carbon fiber sticker that i stuck to the parts of the bottom of the flash. If you noticed in the picture, the parallel parts of the "U" shape of the underside of the flash is covered. BUT this time i only stuck the carbon fiber to the centre that joins to two parallel parts.

If it sounds confusing just let me know and i will take a picture and poast the link. So in the mean time just take you body and 58am to SSC and let them know.. Oh yeah.. this is for A700 body, not sure for other bodies..

Cheers all