HELP WITH EMERGENCY!!! Broken 550ex hotshoe

[markubig]

OH NO!!! One of the kids at a party I was at today totally broke my 550ex. He basically tore it off the camera and snapped half of the plastic part that connects to the camera's hotshoe.

I have an event this Saturday that I needed the 550 for a wireless flash setup. Can this part be fixed easily?

Is there anybody in NJ that knows a place that will fix this pretty quick (if it can be fixed)?

I am so bummed right now . . . my eyes are welling up in tears as I am typing this.

[tim]

Can you rent one for the weekend? That might do you until the parent of the child replaces it, or your insurance pays up.

[markubig]

Can you rent one for the weekend? That might do you until the parent of the child replaces it, or your insurance pays up.

the parents offered to pay me for it, however i got it used from this forum for a very good price ($220). The parents are good friends of mine, so I can't make them pay more than that for a new one.

don't have insurance. i only got the flash 2 weeks ago.

i don't even know where to go to rent one . . . Does any camera store rent equipment?

[tim]

I can't help with your specific area, but i'd suggest picking the biggest camera store in your area and calling them up to ask. Of course they're probably not open on a Sunday night... you have 5 days, worst case you order one from B&H, use it (carefully), then return it - not that I think it's a good idea, just an option.

[markubig]

I can't help with your specific area, but i'd suggest picking the biggest camera store in your area and calling them up to ask. Of course they're probably not open on a Sunday night... you have 5 days, worst case you order one from B&H, use it (carefully), then return it - not that I think it's a good idea, just an option.

thanx for the suggestions, Tim . . . i know there's nothing i can do right now, since it's Sunday . . . there was just nowhere else i could turn to except POTN if not to fix it, but to at least find info about fixing it or even just therapy . . .

[tim]

You could try some crazy glue perhaps, or hopefully someone else can make a more useful suggestion. Good luck!

[chucksberg]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=30084&item=7501392190&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

This guy sells a lot of them.

Would they let you borrow one at your camera store? Mine would.

[Moments]

I would call Canon repair and see if you could purchase the bottom of the shoe to replace it your self. The part should not be very expensive or hard to replace. When I had Nikons I used to do that at least a couple of times. The part cost under $5.00 + shipping and only took 15 - 20 min to replace. I have not had that happen to my 550 yet but I know it will. (You just reminded me to buy an spare part) If you look at the bottom of the 550 you will see 4 screws. Once they are removed,the bottom of the flash should come off, but it will be attached to the flash body with either wires or flat circutry so don't pull it apart too quick. The piece that is broken usually is the attached to the part you just removed with 2 or 3 more screws. Turn off the wheel that tightens the flash down to the cameras hotshoe. Then with the new part, just replace in reverse. It is not that difficult to do and I admit the first time it was a little nerve racking. I have never paid for one to be repaired as the first time one broke, I was in the same boat as you and no one could do the repair in time. I had the part sent two day UPS and had it fixed within the hour.

Pete
www.memorablemoments.net

[markubig]

I would call Canon repair and see if you could purchase the bottom of the shoe to replace it your self. The part should not be very expensive or hard to replace. When I had Nikons I used to do that at least a couple of times. The part cost under $5.00 + shipping and only took 15 - 20 min to replace. I have not had that happen to my 550 yet but I know it will. (You just reminded me to buy an spare part) If you look at the bottom of the 550 you will see 4 screws. Once they are removed,the bottom of the flash should come off, but it will be attached to the flash body with either wires or flat circutry so don't pull it apart too quick. The piece that is broken usually is the attached to the part you just removed with 2 or 3 more screws. Turn off the wheel that tightens the flash down to the cameras hotshoe. Then with the new part, just replace in reverse. It is not that difficult to do and I admit the first time it was a little nerve racking. I have never paid for one to be repaired as the first time one broke, I was in the same boat as you and no one could do the repair in time. I had the part sent two day UPS and had it fixed within the hour.

i didnt' know those existed . . . thanks for the suggestion . .. i'll contact them tomorrow and try to get one. I wonder if regular camera stores carry those shoe replacement . . . ???

[markubig]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=30084&item=7501392190&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

This guy sells a lot of them.

Would they let you borrow one at your camera store? Mine would.

thanks for the link, Chuck. auction doesn't end for another 2+ days. I need one right away, so i'm going to try canon service dept. first. but thank you anyway . . . at least i know another place to get this item.

[DocFrankenstein]

This is why I hate modern manufacturing process. (not to say canon specifically)

500$ flash... and they can't make a metal mount. Good thing the cameras still have metal hotshoes. :rolleyes:

[chucksberg]

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1019&message=2866047

This link should give you all you need to fix your flash, canon parts number, price, and instructions.

[chucksberg]

I think the plastic mount is deliberate....to save the camera mount.

[drisley]

That blows major!
Gotta love friends' children.
Somebody I know recently had some friends over, and their 2 year old threw a 10lb weight through his coffee table which has a glass top. In that case the parents of the child refused to pay, well, basically because they said they couldn't afford it. :)

[slin100]

Yes, the plastic mount on the flash is definitely designed to be the weakest link because it's a replaceable part. Better that than the camera's hotshoe.

[Andy_T]

That's why I immediately got a good damages insurance when my son was old enough to grab things.

Have to lock my weights away at home :lol:

Best regards,
Andy

[markubig]

thanks for your help all . . . today, i visited a local camera shop that was listed on the Canon website as an authorized service center. i showed the guy my problem and he wanted to charge me $50+ dollars to get it fixed and couldn't guarantee that it would get done by the end of the week. he claimed that it takes 2-5 weeks for this problem to get fixed. i asked him to sell me the part so I could just do it myself, and he claimed that he just cannot sell me the parts, for what reasons I don't know. (i'm thinking it's because they wanted me to pay the $50+ instead of the $4 for the part.

Anyway, i just left it at that and called the Canon Service Warehouse in Jamesburg, NJ. The girl in the parts department was so helpful. She found the part I needed and upgraded the shipping for me to FedEx 2-day (no additional charge), so in case there is a problem, they can still get another part out to me Wed, to be received on Fri.

Oh, for you guys in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, there is no customer pick-up for parts at this Jamesburg service warehouse. So save yourself the drive and call them to send you the parts. Good thing I called first 'cause I was ready to drive the 1 hour+ to get there today.

Wish me luck on performing surgery on my speedlite 550!:) :) :)

[markubig]

I would call Canon repair and see if you could purchase the bottom of the shoe to replace it your self. The part should not be very expensive or hard to replace. When I had Nikons I used to do that at least a couple of times. The part cost under $5.00 + shipping and only took 15 - 20 min to replace. I have not had that happen to my 550 yet but I know it will. (You just reminded me to buy an spare part) If you look at the bottom of the 550 you will see 4 screws. Once they are removed,the bottom of the flash should come off, but it will be attached to the flash body with either wires or flat circutry so don't pull it apart too quick. The piece that is broken usually is the attached to the part you just removed with 2 or 3 more screws. Turn off the wheel that tightens the flash down to the cameras hotshoe. Then with the new part, just replace in reverse. It is not that difficult to do and I admit the first time it was a little nerve racking. I have never paid for one to be repaired as the first time one broke, I was in the same boat as you and no one could do the repair in time. I had the part sent two day UPS and had it fixed within the hour.

Pete
www.memorablemoments.net (http://www.memorablemoments.net)

HOLY BEJEEEZUZ!!!! I got the part today and finally got it in . . . wasn't a cakewalk like I thought it would be (2 hours and lots of cussinghttp://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_mad.gifhttp://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_mad.gifhttp://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_mad.gif), but it's in and everything works. There were a lot more very little screws that I had to remove . . . the switch for the master slave ended up being the biggest pain in my butt!!! I'm now blind from squinting and my neck is killing me but WHO CARES?!?!?!? MY 550EX IS BACK BABY!!!!!! WOOHOO!!!!

Thanks again for your help!!!

http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gifhttp://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_cool.gifhttp://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gifhttp://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_cool.gif

[KenW]

SUPER!! we knew you would geter done, and with time to spare.

NOW ENJOY!

Ken W.

[pushtoexit]

I'm just glad we now have our own qualified expert on this forum who will provide this service for $20 + Parts and shipping.
;)

[Kinger]

Ok,now take it aprt again, and this time take a shot during each step, and then post a how-to with pictures, so we can all know how to do this.