G9 question from a newbie >>

[Mike16610]

deleted

[tomd]

Welcome to POTN Mike.

[Mike16610]

Thanks! :)

Welcome to POTN Mike.

[BobsYourUncle]

When you press the flash button, you have to press it again while the menu is up to scroll through the 3 available options. Simply select the one you want, wait a couple seconds and the menu goes away, leaving the flash in whatever mode you selected.

[Mike16610]

Thanks Bob, The problem is that when I push the flash button no menu pops up. Nothing happens at all. The button does work fine in menu mode to move between functions etc but when I press it (by itself) the flash menu does not come up. Thanks again, I appreciate your reply. :)


When you press the flash button, you have to press it again while the menu is up to scroll through the 3 available options. Simply select the one you want, wait a couple seconds and the menu goes away, leaving the flash in whatever mode you selected.

[BobsYourUncle]

Do you have a hot shoe cover? Sometimes that can throw the flash off.

[Mike16610]

That's it! How a plastic cover could do that is beyond me but it's working now. THANKS! :D:D:D


Do you have a hot shoe cover? Sometimes that can throw the flash off.

[BobsYourUncle]

That's it! How a plastic cover could do that is beyond me but it's working now. THANKS! :D:D:D

Great! Glad it works now.

The only reason I suggested that is because I have read a number of threads here where the same situation has occurred. Makes no sense to me how plastic will do that but it seems to be an issue. If it was metal I would understand it, but plastic???

[denncald]

If you used just any old hot shoe cover, it will probably deactivate your built-in flash. You need a cover designed for the G9. Here's a thread for a G9 cover.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1010&message=25854577

Dennis

[John_T]

On the right side of the shoe, in the groove, there is a microswitch that gets depressed telling the camera that an external flash is mounted. If you turn the camera on and depress that ramped spring on the right with a pencil or something, you will see the flash indicator on the LCD disappear.

[Mike16610]

Great! Glad it works now.

The only reason I suggested that is because I have read a number of threads here where the same situation has occurred. Makes no sense to me how plastic will do that but it seems to be an issue. If it was metal I would understand it, but plastic???

Well I'm glad you did! I was pulling my hair out (and I can't afford to do that) trying to figure this thing out. :D

[Mike16610]

If you used just any old hot shoe cover, it will probably deactivate your built-in flash. You need a cover designed for the G9. Here's a thread for a G9 cover.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1010&message=25854577

Dennis



Thanks Dennis, Very interesting. It was a Canon hot shoe cover but not the right one. Thanks for the link. Looks like some neat aftermarket accessories there. I’ll have to email the guy about the cover and maybe a few other goodies. :D:D

[Mike16610]

On the right side of the shoe, in the groove, there is a microswitch that gets depressed telling the camera that an external flash is mounted. If you turn the camera on and depress that ramped spring on the right with a pencil or something, you will see the flash indicator on the LCD disappear.


So that's how it works. Good info John. Thank you very much for your reply. :D

[maxwolfie]

So the lesson here is that it's not necessarily a great thing to have a hot shoe cover?

[denncald]

If you want goodies, then try Lensmate. The hot shoe cover, and lots more here;

http://www.lensmateonline.com/newsite/order_G7_1.html

Dennis

[BobsYourUncle]

Mike,
Maybe you could carve it out a bit or file it down inside so the cover does not touch that little switch.
After it was mentioned here, I looked close at mine to see the switch.

Great forum - we learn all kinds of interesting stuff.

[Mike16610]

So the lesson here is that it's not necessarily a great thing to have a hot shoe cover?

Actually it could come in handy some day.



If you want goodies, then try Lensmate. The hot shoe cover, and lots more here;

http://www.lensmateonline.com/newsite/order_G7_1.html (http://www.lensmateonline.com/newsite/order_G7_1.html)

Dennis


Thanks Dennis. They’re address is not that far from where I live. Gonna place an order for the hot shoe cover and maybe a couple other cool accessories.

Mike,
Maybe you could carve it out a bit or file it down inside so the cover does not touch that little switch.
After it was mentioned here, I looked close at mine to see the switch.

Great forum - we learn all kinds of interesting stuff.

Yup. Time to break out the dremel tool. ;) ;)


Mike

[John_T]

I've never put a cover on a flash shoe on any of the umpteen cameras I've had/have, never even considered it. Why would you want to do that?

[denncald]

I've never put a cover on a flash shoe on any of the umpteen cameras I've had/have, never even considered it. Why would you want to do that?

I haven't either, but here's the sales pitch from the link on Lensmate;

Custom Hot Shoe Cover (CHSC)
Recently developed CHSC provide many benefits for the "G" and other cameras
including EOS series. Below is the list of most obvious ones:

Contacts protection. Due to exact tolerances the CHSC seals the contacts from dust and moisture, the main contributors to corrosive effect of elements.
Hot Shoe frame protection from bending in the event of abrupt contact with solid object.
Snagging prevention, when the camera is pulled out from pocket or pouch.
Enhancement of "finished", more streamlined look of the camera.
I believe most folks have purchased based on #4, the vanity issue. I would be more attracted to the first three reasons, but apparently not drawn enough yet to follow through with a purchase.

Dennis

[John_T]

1. Never had a problem. Contacts on flash and off camera shoe are all spring loaded, so what is this "exact tolerances" nonsense?
2. Would like to see crash test results. :D
3. Can I haz break?
4. Would like to see wind tunnel videos.
5. Can I haz break pleez?

...of course I wouldn't want to deny anbody a living...

[Mike16610]

I've never put a cover on a flash shoe on any of the umpteen cameras I've had/have, never even considered it. Why would you want to do that?


Well for me it’s purely esthetic. Having an uncovered hot shoe just looks unappealing to my eye. Is it worth $18 to have the camera look better? Probably not to most. ;)