Flash help for Nikon D70s

OK,

I'm trying to sort out my kit after almost a year of no maintenance. This has so far included re-soldering two sync cords, taking apart the housing bulkheads and sending one flash out for repairs. Sigh.

The last thing remaining was to remove the duct tape holding the popup flash in. See, sometime this spring my D70s decided that I need the popup in every picture. It simply refuses to stay down.

The button works and the catch in the body clicks when I press the button. However, it looks like the flash itself is missing a part. So we come to my request:

If some kind soul having a D70s at hand could pick it up, look at it from the front, pop up the flash and look at the right side of the flash assembly, in the narrow vertical part. What I have there is a recession and an empty screwhole towards the bottomof it. Looks just like there's supposed to be a thin strip of plastic held by a screw. Does yours look the same? If not, I may just have located the problem.

I could of course take the camera to my local Nikon, but they have a 3 month lead time for repairs just now and, well, you see.

Thanks in advance,

timo

I have a D70 not a D70s but was looking at my camera - which just happened to be sitting next to my computer today - but I am not quite sure what you are asking. You should be able to download a diagram from Nikon tech support or maybe you could take a photo of your camera with another camera and upload it with a marker pointing to the area in question.

However - my question is if you are shooting underwater in manual - which most people seem to do - unless you are using a TTL setup such as an Ikelite housing or Heinrich's converter - is the flash should not even come into play at all.

Alex or Mike or Luis or Eric - am I correct or off base here?

Thanks.

Andy

Just had a good look at my D70s popup strobe and it looks exactly as you have described.

A small rectangular opening with slightly recessed sides and a small hole underneath it.

The release "hook" on the camera body fits into this to lock it down.

Sorry to relay this news as it would seem a trip to Nikon is probably in the pipeline or you can carry on with the duct tape.

Just had a good look at my D70s popup strobe and it looks exactly as you have described.

A small rectangular opening with slightly recessed sides and a small hole underneath it.

The release "hook" on the camera body fits into this to lock it down.

Sorry to relay this news as it would seem a trip to Nikon is probably in the pipeline or you can carry on with the duct tape.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

OK, excatly as mine.

Looks as if there is nothing mechanically missing, so I need to talk to Nikon after all. On the other hand, there's nothing wrong with duct tape either.

Andy: This is not a problem under water at all, even if I'm shooting through a Heinrichs converter. Topside is a bit different...

Thanks to both of you.

timo

Just to check the obvious. You are only using the PSAM settings and not any of the auto settings. In full auto the camera decides when flash is required and pops up the flash. The strobes attached through the housing are not recognised by the camera so the camera defaults to the pop up.