hot shoe flash cover weather sealing

Hello , my hot shoe flash cover on my k20d is missing. i have some concerns(whether valid or not)about weather sealing.do is it essential to cover the hot shoe and does the original part have to be Pentax or will A 3RD party do.

regards

Nadeem

I lost the hot shoe cover for my K-30 a while ago and bought a cheapo on eBay. It was bound to fit, surely? No, it didn't -- at least not as tightly as the original and certainly not well enough to ensure any sort of weather sealing. Had to pay the ridiculous Pentax price for a proper replacement. The cover for the GX-20 (K20D) is the same as the K-30's, so I suspect you'd run into the same problem. As to whether a cover is essential, it's bound to help with sealing and I wouldn't risk going out in the rain without one.

Al

I see that srs sell an original, but i did not note the model number cheers Nadeem.

The eBay ones with a bubble spirit level built in are made of a rubbery material and are a pretty snug and probably weathertight fit. And they make that pretty useless part actually useful

I'm certain plays no part in the weather sealing

surprised as the contacts are exposed......

still a saving is a saving

may phone SRS,

Nadeem

I would post a 'wanted' ad in the classifieds before forking out for a new one. Someone may have accumulated a spare.

according to the guy at srs , a hot shoe cover has no bearing on weather sealing,in fact he stated he does not use one.so is there any need for me to give fleabay another pound for this product, even if it does have a spirit level.

Nadeem