Inside Straight: Shoe Fetish

Would you be surprised to learn that the first camera accessory shoe was designed by the inventor of the Leica, prior to 1913? It wasn't used for attaching a flash. When Oskar Barnack put an accessory shoe atop the 1913 prototype Leica, it was apparently for a Leitz Fodis removable, vertically mounted rangefinder.

With the advent of the 1930 interchangeable-lens Leica C, the shoe was needed for accessory viewfinders. The earliest record I have of a hot-shoe for flash was the American-made Univex Mercury CC of 1938. Its accessory flash unit accepted screw-based flashbulbs.

After World War II, the hot-shoe was almost universally employed for attaching and firing flash units on virtually all 35mm and many medium-format cameras. Unfortunately, there were no standard dimensions for flash unit feet. To help prevent flash units or auxiliary finders from sliding out of shoes, camera makers put tiny springs along shoe edges (right) to let friction hold the flash or finder as tight as possible. The 1938 Leica 111b was probably the first camera to adopt this system.

Modern camera manufacturers pack the soles of these shoes with various contacts that exchange information between flash and camera, such as flash ready, flash OK, autoexposure and lens focal length.

Despite the added sophistication, however, the basic configuration of the camera hot-shoe has remained the same. You could probably take the latest modern hot-shoe flash, slide it right into Barnack's earliest prototype shoe, and it would just about fit.

You might conclude the design was excellent, to have been used essentially unchanged for this many years. Wrong. What was passable in 1921 is insufferably primitive today. Ever had trouble wiggling a stubborn flash foot into or out of an overtight camera shoe? Or had a loose flash unit slide out of the shoe and crash to the floor?

You can never trust friction to secure anything, as flash makers now realize. And so it has come to pass that most large hot-shoe flash units have lockdown mechanisms either in the form of a knurled horizontal tightening ring (above left) or a locking lever (right) which causes a mechanism in the flash foot (sometimes a pin) to clamp down on the shoe. Knurled tightening rings can be near-impossible to loosen. (Some photographers carry a small pair of pliers in their bags to unlock stubborn ones.) Locking levers are best when matched to specific flash feet and camera shoes.

Why shouldn't a flash unit lock on quickly and securely, yet be removed as swiftly as an interchangeable lens on an SLR? Why not, indeed, reasoned Minolta engineers, as they planned a new Maxxum 7000i 35mm SLR in 1988. The upshot? An entirely new camera hot-shoe and flash unit foot (left). When the flash was slid into the new Maxxum shoe, it securely locked in place. To remove the flash, you pressed a button on the flash unit, and it would instantly slip off. From then on, Minolta SLRs and flash units had such a mechanism. And so does the Sony Alpha 100 DSLR today.

For owners of older Minolta standard-foot flash units, the company devised the $30 FS-1100 adapter for newer Maxxum SLRs (right). Most flash manufacturers were quick to make most of their units available with the Maxxum connection, too. These, of course, now fit the Sony Alpha 100, as well. The FS-1100 was discontinued a few years ago, when Konica Minolta reasoned that there was no longer any need for it.

A bad decision. The ever-growing number of companies making wireless remote flash triggers for studio lights use standard hot-shoe-mount transmitters to fire the camera in sync with the lighting. Not one transmitter has a Minolta flash foot. The only (and admittedly inelegant) option is to fire studio lights by using an optical slave along with the Maxxum or Sony pop-up or auxiliary flash units. But if you want wireless lighting to be fired over a specific radio or infrared channel because you don't want other photographers (or a garage door opener!) firing your strobes, you must use a radio or infrared transmitter.

What are the options for a KM or Sony Alpha shooter? The discontinued FS-1100 adapter. And these are nearly as scarce as hen's teeth. One was auctioned off on eBay some months ago for a high bid of $60.

To the rescue comes Hong Kong toy and game manufacturer Gadget Infinity. Hearing of Maxxum and Sony photographers' desperate need for the FS-1100, the firm started producing an alternate version, the Hot Shoe Adapter III ($16, direct, www.gadgetinfinity.com). It's slightly bulkier than the Minolta FS-1100, since it's hand-wired.

Why am I spending so much time and space on one DSLR company's flash connection? Because back in 1987, I lent a hand and some thoughts on developing the Minolta one. Use it and I'm sure you'll find it beats any other system. It's easier, quicker and more secure.

Yet whenever the Maxxums or Sony DSLRs are written up, the flash connection gets a prominent thumbs-down label for the "nonstandard" flash coupling. I guess they would have labeled Barnack's first production Leica in 1925 the same way.

Captions (click image for larger version):

Spring forward: After many a flash and viewfinder accidentally slid out of hot-shoes, designers added spring-activated tension locks, but the danger remained.

Ring remedy: Turn the knurled ring to tighten the flash atop a hot-shoe. Can't loosen it? Where are the pliers?

Lever come back to me: An on/off lever is okay for a custom-fit camera hot-shoe and flash, but you still gotta wiggle the foot into the shoe.

Presto-off: Minolta's reworking of the flash connection takes just a touch of a button. Now the Sony Alpha 100 has it, too.

Disappearing act: A Konica Minolta flash adapter allowed you to attach a standard flash unit to all of Minolta's SLR hot-shoes since 1989. Discontinued, it's needed for studio-type wireless flash release. Sony, please reinstate it!

Hong Kong to the rescue: Gadget Infinity sells an inexpensive substitute (right) for the FS-1100 adapter (left).

Comments

[Phil Buzard]

Over the years you've saved my photographic butt in many of your articles in Pop Photo.

This is the first time I've read your blog.

This article is right on time.
Fortunately, you are photographically psychic.

I just purchased a Sony Alpha 100.
The only question I had about the camera was what to do about using my external flash.

Thanks for your prompt reply to my question.

Have a Happy Day
Phil

[Michael Houghton]

This has reminded me of the deep pain I felt when I realised that the only way to separate my Nikon SB-28 from my Fuji S2 was with minor surgery courtesy of a repair shop. The two had become morbidly inseparable, thanks to a damaged locking pin.

From then on:

a) all my flash units have had their locking pins removed, because an obsolete Nikon flashgun hitting the floor costs less than having one surgically extracted from the shoe (and the fit is tight enough without them), and

b) I have wished that hotshoe design was better.

[tim]

You want Sony to do something their customers need and want? Uh. PS3. Rootkit. Overall decreasing quality of product...

I hope it happens, but...

[Wesley]

What does Sony's PS3 (that I've not heard anything negative about - other than a stupid product launch) and now-history rootkit have to do with technology developed by Minolta almost 20 years ago? Perhaps they realized their customers wanted an evolution of the Minolta DSLR line, which they have provided. If I didn't already have a Maxxum 5D, I'd be in the market for an A100. It's a top-notch camera!

I get more than a little tired of folks beating up on Sony for what game and music divisions do (or have done). Their Audio/Video products have done quite well for me over the years. And now they're carring on in the photo division where (Konica) Minolta left off. C'mon folks...get over it...

[Wesley]

Also, don't forget about the PCT-100 flash adapter that Minolta made. It's more expensive because it provides built-in voltage protection against high-voltage flashes and studio strobes. I don't know if it is still available or not. I'd guess not unless Sony is now producing them...looks like Konica-Minolta has gotten out of that market completely...

[Jim]

I have a Maxxum 5D and an older Promaster 7000M hot shoe flash. I was told by Promaster that it was not compatible with the 5D because of voltage. Would Gadget's Hot Shoe Adapter III protect the camera like the Wein Hot Sync module?

[Mark]

Herb -- Your Pop Photo columns have been one of the reasons I still get the magazine. In this all-digital mania, you reduce some of the topics to common-sense articles that are actually useful, and not full of hyperbole.

Another accessory that photographers should not be without is the simple hot show adapter that allows the use of PC-connection to studio strobes and other flashes. Seems that Nikon and others leave the PC terminal off most of the cameras, but it's still a useful thing to have on any camera!

["D"]

I was happy to go the the web site that you mentioned in this artical. I did go through and find many things that would be usful to me photographicaly, but I was concerned about the extra fees and import costs that might be incured from ordering from this company. I would not want to find out the hard way that a $20 part is going to cost way more thatn I thought because of the import fees and port authority taxes that would be imposed when ordering from the suppliers of overseas. I did e-mail them directly, and to date have not gotten any reply. This does not make me feel good about using an overseas vendor.

[Andrew Tift]

Hi Herbert,

Greetings from England.
I am considering purchasing the Sony A100 DSLR and I have an already existing non sony or minolta studio flash. Is there any connector that I can use to connect my alien flash to it?
Thanks for your time.
Best wishes,
Andrew Tift
www.andrewtift.co.uk

[barry]

I just want an adapter to fire studio strobes from my A100.What adapter can I use? HELP

[Ric Kirchner]

It doesnt appear that the Hot Shoe Adapter III will work with the film Minolta Maxxum 5. I too am trying to fire off camera strobes and cant do it without using the on camera flash (GN12). Works ok, but would still like to use the mini strobe but cannot attach it. No PC connection, Hot Shoe is just too unique.... Any ideas folks?

[Bob Sweeney]

Herb:

I've been reading your column for more years than I care to count. I find your articles filled with a common sense approach that is not only refreshing but its my main reason for buying Popular Photography. I do have a question regarding this article that you may be able to shed some light on. I have 8 Minolta bodies, (1)-101;(1)-102;(1)-XD5;(2)x700'S;(1)MAX.50;(1)MAX70 AND A RANGEFINDER. I have two Sunpak 422D's with MD-2 shoe module. My question is will this device allow me to use the Sunpak's on the Max. 50 & 70 as well as Sony's Alpha? Do you know if the device reduces the voltage to these newer camera's? Thanks in advance for any feedback. Bob

[Patrick Corrigan]

"D" wrote:

"Iwas happy to go the the web site that you mentioned in this artical. I did go through and find many things that would be usful to me photographicaly, but I was concerned about the extra fees and import costs that might be incured from ordering from this company."

The shipping is about $5.00 as I recall and takes 7-8 days.

Andrew Tift wrote:

"am considering purchasing the Sony A100 DSLR and I have an already existing non sony or minolta studio flash. Is there any connector that I can use to connect my alien flash to it?"

The Gadget Infinity device should work for you. Make sure your flash trigger voltage is 12v or less.

[JM]

I have the sony alpha camera, speedotron 802b strobe system, and, Minolta PCT-100 hotshoe adapter with built in voltage protection. I am new to this setup, and, can't get the strobe to fire. Battery on adapter reads ok. Sony 5600 flash fires on shoe with no problem. Strobes test fire fine. What am I doing wrong???? Please help!!

[Stuart]

As an owner of two Sony Alpha cameras, I could not agree with you more.

In fact I find it a great shame (and a tad ironic) that the PopPhoto review of the Sony Alpha 700 criticises it for having a "nonstandard flah shoe".

[Kevin Lenard]

Herb/Others,

I have a new DSLR with a standard shoe and an old Minolta 3500 xi flash unit I want to use with it. The Gadget Infinity adapter works the opposite way, allowing standard flashes to fit on Minolta's Maxxum shoe on Minolta cameras. Any chance there's an adapter that goes the other way and will enable me to avoid purchasing a new flash unit?

[Niresh]

I have a Minolta Maxxum 5 camera & Sunpak 4000AF flash. I recently bought a Sony A700 DSLR which is a bit expensive. Is there any way I can use my old Sunpak flash with Sony. Does any adapter will allow my old flsh to use with Sony DSLR without any problem or do I have to buy a new flash unit.

[fouzi]

mr Herb Keppler.
i like to read your article....

[maker]

I have a sony dslr a100 and am trying to connect a different brand flash (quantaray) to the camera. i bought the fs-1100 from gadget infinity, but it isn't working. any tips? i can't figure out any other way to connect the two devices.

[N. Lynne]

Well, now Sony makes a hot shoe adapter for the Alpha series, only catch is...it costs $129.00!!! Insane. I just ordered one of the adapters from Gadget Infinity, hope this will work with my radio slave flash trigger!

[R. Weber]

If you need a Sony adapter PC connection for studio flash, with a hot shoe for a standard 3rd party hot shoe flash, AND a safe sync circuit for high sync voltage protection - check out www.safe-sync.com . Works great with all Sony DSLR's.