Q2 Hotshoe falling apart

[Diverbrian]

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I normally have a Leica Thumb Grip in my hotshoe.  I took it off today because I bought a tiny GoDox IM22 flash to use for catchlight.  I put it on and it worked perfectly.  When I took it off and put the thumb grip back on, I noticed the hotshoe started to come apart.  The right rail separated from the hot shoe and slid over a bit with some of the contacts.  I was able to push it all back together with my finger,s and I put the thumb grip on to hold it in place.  

I am petrified to send it to Leica for repair, as I am afraid it will be expensive.  Has anyone had this happen and knows what it is going to cost?  I bought it used last year and I have really enjoyed using it. 

Thanks,

Brian

Edited yesterday at 01:15 AM by Diverbrian
autocorrect spelling error

[Serg557]

ДGood afternoon. I have such a Hotshoe, but I doubt I can send it to you from Russia.

Edited yesterday at 08:30 AM by Serg557

[jgeenen]

Looking at my own Q2 it seems the construction is fairly standard. The upper rails (with the engravings) is one piece that is screwed to the camera body. If that is loose, the whole installment would wobble (including the thumb grip). The mounting screws are hidden under the metal plate with springy parts on both sides. This is just clipped into place and can become loose over time if the springs are losing tension. From your description it seems that just this clipped on plate has moved. If it happens again it should be sufficient to bend the springy parts slightly upwards and clip it back into place).

if the upper part is moving and you are not familiar with repairs you should seek for support at a local camera repair shop. Since it is just a mechanical problem they might be able to fix it without opening the body. Leica repair isn’t cheap but I assume it is just a minor fix and repair cost would be moderate (in Leica terms).

[Diverbrian]

Thank you.  I am not good at repairs, so I will take your advice and try bringing it to a local shop first.

[JNK100]

I would never attach anything except a flash as damage is possible.

I hope you get it sorted.

[DenverSteve]

26 minutes ago, JNK100 said:

I would never attach anything except a flash as damage is possible.

I hope you get it sorted.

We, including me, have begun using the "flash hot-shoe" for myriad accessories.  The hot-shoe was never designed for, or meant for, supporting the weight of the camera or camera+lens+strap..... or for using it as a fulcrum point.  The fact that Leica itself produces a thumb-support doesn't the fact that a relatively tiny metal and plastic "topper" on the camera isn't designed to support the weight or torque that we're putting on it.  I'm surprised I haven't heard of far more issues.  

[Robert Ardinger]

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5 hours ago, DenverSteve said:

The fact that Leica itself produces a thumb-support doesn't the fact that a relatively tiny metal and plastic "topper" on the camera isn't designed to support the weight or torque that we're putting on it

I would partially disagree with this statement.  Flash shoes in many cameras are robust enough to take fairly bulky, tall flashes (which could put a fair deal of torque on the shoe) without breaking or even being thought of as a significant weak point.  

Yes, parts can fail or work loose and I am sure there are likely many cases of flash mount shoes (hot or cold) breaking or coming loose or fully detaching.

I do not have a Q2 and don't know exactly what broke from the original posters description, but on the M11 and Q3 the weak point in the design of the hot shoe is the spring metal piece that holds items such as a thumb support (items that do not have a screw lock) in place and likely not the actual shoe itself.

That spring metal piece is apparently only attached by a single point and it has been reported that some flashes can break the spring metal piece from the connection point. (see this video)

I very much doubt that a well fitting thumb support, designed and built like the one Leica sells, causes any significant stress to the hot shoe as it is supported along its length by contact with the camera body.  I have used these supports for many years without any issues (one Leica and Fuji cameras).

[DenverSteve]

10 minutes ago, Robert Ardinger said:

I would partially disagree with this statement.  Flash shoes in many cameras are robust enough to take fairly bulky, tall flashes (which could put a fair deal of torque on the shoe) without breaking or even being thought of as a significant weak point.  

Unless you lifted the kit by the flash.  You could easily snap a flash base by quickly lifting a camera, lens and flash by the flash alone.  Supporting a flash, mounted on the hot-shoe and static is very different than the torque applied to lifting a camera, lens (and possibly flash) by the hot shoe (thumb grip).  People grab the body and lift via the hand grip on the body and hot-shoe.

However, as I stated earlier, I believe Leica has assumed some responsibility by manufacturing thumb rests/ grips for their hot-shoes.  I believe an owner who's camera is under warranty would have a possible claim.  

Edited yesterday at 11:01 PM by DenverSteve