Hot Shoe Protector Gizmo??

Does anyone know it there is some sort of thingy available that mounts in the camera's hot shoe when no flash unit is attached that protects the flash-sync contacts and hot shoe rails?

I got this item years back from my film days (standard with Nikon Cam). It fits perfectly. On board flash will not pop-up if this is installed. It was only like .99c at that time though.

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …SA&addedTroughT​ype=search

Try Porter's website, they probably have them

the.good.life wrote in post #2603451
I got this item years back from my film days (standard with Nikon Cam). It fits perfectly. On board flash will not pop-up if this is installed. It was only like .99c at that time though.

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …SA&addedTroughT​ype=search

Thanks! That exactly what I'm looking for.

Save money buying the same thing at Porter's

http://porters.com …uct_Count=&Cate​gory_Code=

Bear in mind that using that will mess up your pop-up flash functionality, and may have a carry-over effect if it jams the microswitch under the side springs you'll have the same problems even with it removed.

This is just another small accessory that will just get lost when you aren't using it. In 40+ years of photography, I have never damaged a hot shoe (with the exception of a camera that fell off my desk with a flash attached.) Cameras are a lot more durable than most people in these forums give them credit for...

I really do appreciate all the help and advice but my reason for needing the gizmo might be different from most folks here so I'll explain a bit. I'll be using it on an mkII and there's no on board pop up flash that it might interfere with or cause damage to. As for using a flash unit on the camera, I probably do that less than 1% of the of time thus I won't be removing the gizmo very often. I shoot baseball where options for stowing gear during a shoot are anything but optimal. Some folks here might take issue with me but I've found the safest way to stow the camera when I'm shooting with a second body is to place the mkII with a heavy telephoto lens attached upside down on the ground with the monopod leg pointing upward leaning against a fence, wall, bench or anything substantial. I need something that will protect the contacts and hot shoe rails because when the camera is in landscape mode the shoe is in direct contact with gravel, dirt, grass, mud or whatever. I'll probably even tape the gizmo to the hot shoe so that it doesn't fall off.

Jon wrote in post #2605107
Bear in mind that using that will mess up your pop-up flash functionality, and may have a carry-over effect if it jams the microswitch under the side springs you'll have the same problems even with it removed.

I would assume that the same risk holds true when using a hot shoe mount bubble level?

If you're using the bubble level and the pop-up flash at the same time. Difference here is that the hot shoe protector will essentially live in the hot shoe. A bubble level's only put in/out when needed.

Jon wrote in post #2631671
If you're using the bubble level and the pop-up flash at the same time. Difference here is that the hot shoe protector will essentially live in the hot shoe. A bubble level's only put in/out when needed.

So the "risk of jamming the micro switch under the side springs" you refer to, only comes into play if something is used in conjunction with the pop-up? Thanks.

Anything, including a shoe-mounted flash, or nothing, including ordinary grit, could potentially jam the microswitch; but leaving the switch permanently pressed down is more likely to damage the spring-return than occasional use.

Gotcha, thanks.
I would also assume any long-term mounted item could simply create spring fatigue which would produce about the same results.

Maybe a bit of black tape would be an answer. Not pretty but effective.