Flash Shoe/Foot Breakage

[Steelsun]

I had one of "those" moments today.

Camera (20D) on a tripod with a large lens (75-300IS), put on it's side in portrait mode. Attached the flash (Sigma EF-500 DG Super), and then when I turned to the side to set down the flash case, the tripod tipped over (the flash had over ballanced it). Luckily the tripod was only extended about 1/2 extended (was shooting low looking up to get childrens faces from below), so it only fell a couple of feet. Unluckily it happened because the footprint of the tripod was smaller since the legs were shorter.

Well the camera and lens are okay (thank goodness, because the lens is a loaner).

But the flash had the foot break off on each side. (Those little wings that fit in the show). So now the flash will not stay on the camera. I can hold it down and it will work, but that is impracticle.

Anyone know of anyplace that can replace a foot?

It appears that a section of the whole flash casing (the bottom rear, including the foot) is all one molded piece and will have have to be replaced in order to fix the foot.

[gpgyo]

The Vivitar 283/285 models were notorious for the foot breaking. On those models, though, changing the foot was not a big deal. Sounds like the design of your flash's case does not make it as easy. My guess is a call to Sigma is in order or perhaps post a WTB for the same model that is not working.

Good luck,
Greg

[Hogleg 44]

I'm very Sorry to hear of your misfortune.

FWIW...This thought won't help now, but when there is an off axis load on a tripod would be a good idea to locate that load so that it is directly over the top of one of the tripods legs, not between two of the legs. This takes more time, but may avert a problem like this. If in doubt of the stability, you might also just try to tip it, just to test how close it is to it's center of gravity.