Uh oh. Have I permanently "modified" my K7?

After shooting a wedding two nights ago, I went home and tried to take my AF540 flash off of my K7 body, but it's stuck. It's very severely stuck. This flash has been difficult to take off before, but after some muscle, I have been able to free it. But not this time. I have been wiggling, retightening/untightening, yanking, pulling, grunting and cursing, and none of it is working.

Has anybody heard of this happening? I fear that if I continue to muscle it too hard, I'm going to actually break something.

Yes, but not first hand. Apparently there is a locking pin with a flimsy plastic attachment which can break jamming the flash on the camera.
Go here for some more info. This guy had a broken hotshoe but he mentions this pin. ( with photos)


I'm sure I saw another how to fix this thread somewhere else too so may be worth Googling this.

Sounds like the locking mechanism on the flash is to blame, I assume it has the locking lever like the 360FGZ. As you turn the lever it lowers a locking pin into the hotshoe, it sounds as if this pin is not coming back up as you release the lever, the only thing I can suggest is turning the camera upside down and try working the locking lever a few times, it might also help to wiggle the flash about a bit.

EDIT, Seems that Mark is quicker on the keyboard than me

Looks like the locking pin has dropped and will not retract. Try turning the camera and flash off then try to insert a fine feeler gauge to lift the pin. I am almost sure others on the forum have had this problem, try a search of the forum topics.

Looking from the front of the flash there should be a pin just above the locking lever, that should lift when you unlock the flash Iit's interconnected to the bottom locking pin). With the flash locked, try and push that pin up with a knife edge or similar. If it still won't come off then maybe the 2 pins have become diconnected.

Hope this helps

Please remove the batteries from camera and flash before you try this.

Just as a matter of interest (well it was to me), I was unaware of this pin when I first used my Metz 58. Fortunately, no harm was done but it did cause some anxiety till I figured out that I had to fully wind back the hotshoe claming winder.

This is disturbingly common for the 540.

I know there was a discussion here and a post that included images with what to do.
The only solution I've seen that works is to open the flash and scrape down the poorly manufactured pieces so that they do not get hung up on each other.

It isn't difficult... but will void any existing warranty. If the warranty is still good maybe just send for repair. Else, the following post has good info:

https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/problem-------gt--k10d-and-a-af-540fgz-flash--gt--pleas-help-----6121/p-0#comm_51269

MattMatic includes a link to images of the parts that need to be "fixed".

And not forgetting the 360FGZ battery door problem, it seems Pentax may be good at making cameras and lenses but the quality of its flash units can leave a lot to be desired, and its not as if theyre cheap either

I often wonder how many it takes to fail before a manufacturer will change the design of something:

It does make you wonder whether the flash manufacturing has been outsourced

Regarding the OP - the AF540 is easier than the AF360. It is possible to remove the hotshoe mount with a small screwdriver (ie a jeweller's screwdriver). The hotshoe mount has a small connector - so you can remove it from the main body.

Matt

"It does make you wonder whether the flash manufacturing has been outsourced"

According to Stefan in another thread, the flashes are made by Sunpak. No doubt he'll be along to confirm shortly.

They are Sunpak and they do make flashes for other companies I think.... My AF540 is uncannily similar to the Canon EX530 flash my GF has.....

Yes, there is a definite similarity! I was going to say Canon... but obviously they outsource too!
Matt

Yes I did say that but I can not make it hard at the moment though.
Will try to dig up some evidence to support my claim.

The Sunpak PZ5000AF is so far as I know partically the same as the Pentax AF-540FGZ

I have it on authority from a Pentax dealer that they are made by Sunpak, have no reason to doubt him!!

Think this kind of thing does happen a lot in the industry, the flashgun of choice for Leica's new S2 medium format system for example is a Metz 58, with a Leica badge on it!