does that little screw in the hotshoe do anything?

T

tmfabian

I met a man once...
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Because on 2 of my M's i've just noticed it's fallen out....i taped up the hole so water doesn't get in there.

I guess I beat on my equipment a little too hard these days.
 
Glenn2 said:
I think it's just a stop for things in the shoe, but could be wrong. Have unscrewed the things and nothing bad has happened. Nothing fell off inside that I'm aware of.

On my M4's the screw is used to anchor a "finder keeper".

See message #67 http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49273&page=7


Glenn
Click to expand...

Yeah, I just noticed the things today, and God knows how long they've been missing...so I'm guessing they were just there to hold older viewfinders/flashes in place (i remember one that had a little clip on the front that I never knew what it did) I'm assuming nothing underneath it fell off and is rattling around since both cameras seem to be working fine.

I guess time will tell.
I think i'm gonna seal up the hole with some epoxy or something.
 
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There is a pressure plate on the hot shoe; it helps hold flash units and accessory finders in place. This screw holds this plate down -without the screw, the pressure plate will eventually fall off.

BTW, this applies only to M cameras with a hot shoe (M5, M4-2, M4-P, M6, etc.).

M3, 2, and 4 cameras have an accessory shoe, not a hot shoe (in these cases the screw is essentially a "stop" for finders, flashes, etc. - nothing else).
 
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My M3 has four small screws. When one fell off, I got a replacement from Don Goldberg in the mail for $5.00

The shoe was a bit loose. Otherwise, I would have let it as it was... for a while.

Now, TFab, are your cameras meterless? M3? M2 or M4? Just wondering...
 
SolaresLarrave said:
My M3 has four small screws. When one fell off, I got a replacement from Don Goldberg in the mail for $5.00

The shoe was a bit loose. Otherwise, I would have let it as it was... for a while.

Now, TFab, are your cameras meterless? M3? M2 or M4? Just wondering...
Click to expand...

it popped off my m7 and m8.
The hotshoe is perfectly attached still....absolutely no wiggle...even when i apply probably a bit too much force.
I was just worried that there may have been a little nut on the other side of the top plate that was holding the screw there that may have come loose.

i found some innard anatomy picutres of m's and it looks like i'm in the clear.

worst case sceneario, I get the screw replaced during a cla or if i send my m8 in for the upgrade.

I'm feeling alot better since no one has said OH GOD go get it repaired.
 
On any M hotshoe (M6, M7, M8, whatever) the small screw that sticks up in the front-center holds down the center plate. It may feel secure without it, but it is not. Without the screw in place it will eventually slide out and fall off.
 
Bill, that makes sense. However, if it's only there to secure the center plate, why does it sit so proud of the surface? That's what i don't understand.
 
YES, IT DOES!! FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE DON'T TOUCH IT!! ;-P

On a serious note, is there a place to source those tiny/small screws that fit many cameras? It would be good to have a couple of spares lying around.



tmfabian said:
Because on 2 of my M's i've just noticed it's fallen out....i taped up the hole so water doesn't get in there.

I guess I beat on my equipment a little too hard these days.
Click to expand...
 
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visiondr said:
Bill, that makes sense. However, if it's only there to secure the center plate, why does it sit so proud of the surface? That's what i don't understand.
Click to expand...

Well, it serves a dual purpose...

1. To stop the dedicated flash so it slides perfectly into position; and
2. To secure the pressure plate in question.
 
caffeineshutter said:
... is there a place to source those tiny/small screws that fit many cameras? It would be good to have a couple of spares lying around.
Click to expand...

You can get them from Leica's parts department in your country (in my case Leica USA in New Jersey). Don Goldberg ("DAG") usually stocks such items as well.
 
So I just determined how I managed to break the little screw buggers off.
When I'm walking around with my neckstrap wrapped around my wrist, I palm the back side of the camera and rest my thumb in the hotshoe area....guess I put too much stress on that little screw, looks like one of them fell out and the other was snapped.

I'd always held my camera this way on bright days as it allowed me to keep the lens pointed towards my body and kept the risk of burring holes in the curtain down.
Solve one problem and create another....ahhh the joys of it all.
 
I have a problem, this little screw seems to stop my Yongnuo RF603 from sliding all the way in. The rear two contacts on the trigger don't match with the hot shoe. Is there some technique that I'm missing?
 
Hi,

It will be easy and cheap to get a part now, so don't wait.

Look at the problems people have with parts for 1930's cameras. Often you have to buy another and get one good one made out of them both. And that costs serious money.

And who'd buy it in a few years time with a part or two missing? On ebay that would shriek "don't bid"...

Regards, David
 
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