My skyport trigger went for a swim...

[Cpt.Vanquisher]

Sunday I was doing a photoshoot in an abandoned shipyard. The model was standing on a block of concrete in the dock, while I was setting up my stobes on stands in the water (about 20-30cm deep). All of a sudden, the model says: "something dropped of your camera". I looked down, and there was my trigger laying in the water. I instantly picked it up, turned it off and took the battery out. Luckily it was sweet water. If it were salt water, is was a hopeless cause.

Yesterday I assembled it al together, and it works perfectly! Go Elinchrom! :D

Now I'm looking for a way to attach the trigger in a more decent way, so that it can't come off by accident. Anyone has a suggestion?

[Agamemnon]

I think this post by Rob might be right up your alley:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=687838&highlight=skyport+gorilla+glue

[MR do little]

Now I'm looking for a way to attach the trigger in a more decent way, so that it can't come off by accident. Anyone has a suggestion? Get a camera with less tolerance in the hot-shoe... say like a Nikon..:mrgreen:

[Cpt.Vanquisher]

Thanks! :D

[buurin]

Luckily it was sweet water.

Is that really what they call 'fresh' water in Belgium?

[MT Stringer]

After reading a few reports of the trigger coming loose, I used a slender piece of gaffer tape to secure the trigger in the hot shoe. Basically I wrapped it around the hot shoe from one side of the camera to the other so it couldn't slip out.

900 pops and most were in the portrait orientation and no problem encountered.
Mike

[Cpt.Vanquisher]

Is that really what they call 'fresh' water in Belgium?

'fresh water' was the name I was looking for, but because I didn't know how to call it, I translated it from Dutch. :)

We have 3 'sorts' of water (apart from dirty water or water in plastic bottles :lol:). There is salt water (in dutch: zout water), fresh water ("zoet water") and a mixture of both, found where rivers flow in the sea ("brak water").

Dutch is a funny language if you have to explain it to people who speak English :lol:.

Thanks for the suggestion, MT.

[SkipD]

'fresh water' was the name I was looking for, but because I didn't know how to call it, I translated it from Dutch. :)

We have 3 'sorts' of water (apart from dirty water or water in plastic bottles :lol:). There is salt water (in dutch: zout water), fresh water ("zoet water") and a mixture of both, found where rivers flow in the sea ("brak water").

Dutch is a funny language if you have to explain it to people who speak English :lol:.

Thanks for the suggestion, MT.Your "brak water" is known as "brackish water" in English (at least here in the U.S.). ;)

My understanding is that English is one of the hardest for someone to learn for whom it is not the native language. You've done well.

[Jannie]

Did that with a Pentax spotmeter up in Alaska once, soaked it pretty good in salt water. About an hour and a half later we were back to our living quarters and I took it apart, immersed it in fresh water and then shook it pretty good; took a hair dryer to it, set on cool and then let it air dry for a couple of days and it was back to work.

[TMR Design]

I think this post by Rob might be right up your alley:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=687838&highlight=skyport+gorilla+glue

Hey Ryan,

I took the Gorilla glue off my Skyport transmitter and now I use a double sided velcro band that is the right width and wraps about the Skyport transmitter and the cold shoe and it is extremely secure. The transmitter isn't going anywhere.

The Gorilla glue was a good idea but I found that the tolerance was different with different cameras and wasn't a universally great idea.

I like the velcro better because it doesn't allow for the transmitter to back itself off the shoe. Once the velcro is wrapped and secure you're good to go with no worries.

I don't have a second body to take a picture but I think you can get the idea.

[TMR Design]

Get a camera with less tolerance in the hot-shoe... say like a Nikon..:mrgreen:

Even with the Nikon the transmitter doesn't stay put. The velcro is a much better idea.

[tim]

Hey Ryan,

I took the Gorilla glue off my Skyport transmitter and now I use a double sided velcro band that is the right width and wraps about the Skyport transmitter and the cold shoe and it is extremely secure. The transmitter isn't going anywhere.

The Gorilla glue was a good idea but I found that the tolerance was different with different cameras and wasn't a universally great idea.

I like the velcro better because it doesn't allow for the transmitter to back itself off the shoe. Once the velcro is wrapped and secure you're good to go with no worries.

I don't have a second body to take a picture but I think you can get the idea.

I'd love a pic if you ever get a chance - use a cellphone or something :)

[TMR Design]

I'd love a pic if you ever get a chance - use a cellphone or something :)

I'll take a shot with my cell phone tomorrow.

[Cpt.Vanquisher]

Your "brak water" is known as "brackish water" in English (at least here in the U.S.). ;)

My understanding is that English is one of the hardest for someone to learn for whom it is not the native language. You've done well.

Thanks! :D

I'll take a shot with my cell phone tomorrow.

Looking forward to it.
It's sad that Elinchrom doesn't realise the size of the problem. Even cactus triggers have a decent system to attach them to the camera.

[MR do little]

Even with the Nikon the transmitter doesn't stay put. The velcro is a much better idea.

Actually it does, at least on my Nikon and Sony bodies(D3 & A900). Both the d700/d300 has noticble more play in the hotshoe when i connected a sb-900/800, wich might explain why you might have problems with a "looser" fit on your D700. Still no excuse for Elinchrom to design a transmitter without a locking mechanism, they are however not alone Profoto has done the same. Its a non issue for me at this point since my skyport is never mounted on camera.


Kindest

[Semmonka]

Cant wait to see Robs turn around for this falling off problem. Skyport is excellent trigger but I dont understand why there is no locking mechanism.
Have to be very carefull when using it outdoors

[MT Stringer]

Have to be very carefull when using it outdoors

I tape it with a piece of gaffers tape. It isn't going anywhere. The tape doesn't leave any sticky residue so the camera finish isn't affected.

TMR uses a piece of double sided velcro to secure his to the hot shoe.
MIke

[TMR Design]

This is my solution. Simple and secure. No mess, no glue, no residue. I can't even back the Skyport out of the hot shoe by pushing it. The velcro strap wraps about the whole shoe/foot assembly twice.

Disclaimer: These pictures SUCK! I buy a cell phone for the phone, not the camera :cool:

[MT Stringer]

Looks good.

[Semmonka]

I suddenly got itchy feeling on my skin. Must be that noink :rolleyes:
Velcro looks strong enough. Need to try it before I take my gear outdoors next time.
But still missing locking mechanism is a design flaw IMO

[TMR Design]

I suddenly got itchy feeling on my skin. Must be that noink :rolleyes:
Velcro looks strong enough. Need to try it before I take my gear outdoors next time.
But still missing locking mechanism is a design flaw IMO

Of course it's a design flaw but the velcro is fool proof and and works well.

What's the matter? Afraid to say the word Nikon? I'll never understand that.

[Cyrix_2k]

If the hot shoe is always a little loose, you can carefully bend the edges down... and yes, I have done it in the past and it worked beautifully.

[TMR Design]

If the hot shoe is always a little loose, you can carefully bend the edges down... and yes, I have done it in the past and it worked beautifully.

Why bend and alter the hardware when I piece of velcro does the trick? ending the hardware voids warranty, depreciates and devalues the item and may affect the fit or other shoe mounted devices.

I'll stick to using a strip of velcro.

[Semmonka]

What's the matter? Afraid to say the word Nikon? I'll never understand that.

Afraid? No man, not at all. I think its just some stupid way people trying to be funny.
Agree that velcro is better solution than replacing everything to PWs for example

[Cyrix_2k]

Why bend and alter the hardware when I piece of velcro does the trick? ending the hardware voids warranty, depreciates and devalues the item and may affect the fit or other shoe mounted devices.

I'll stick to using a strip of velcro.
I wouldn't do it just for the skyport, but if everything is a little loose, a slight bend works wonders. Technically it would void the warranty, but in reality the adjustment is so slight it would never be an issue (unless you mess up).

[azpix]

what about gluing the skyport to a hotjack with a tightening mechanism.
http://www.flashzebra.com/products/0154/index.shtml

i'm ordering a new trigger because mine went MIA and the last place i saw it was on my camera. it fell off somewhere?

[TMR Design]

what about gluing the skyport to a hotjack with a tightening mechanism.
http://www.flashzebra.com/products/0154/index.shtml

i'm ordering a new trigger because mine went MIA and the last place i saw it was on my camera. it fell off somewhere?

I suppose that anything that works for you is a good solution. I just wouldn't glue my transmitter to anything.