Can you clean a hotshoe ?

[gothgirl]

Can you clean a hotshoe ?

Now I never really use flash , like ever.

I tend to shoot without flash , or in a studio setting with stationary lights.

I've dusted off my flashgun and found that when I attach it to my camera , it comes up with an error ("incompatible flash or flash's power is off")

This happens with both my flashguns (One is a cheap old canon... the other a yongnuo)

Now my preowned camera is still under warranty , so I could always send it back for repair , but is it possible the contacts need cleaning on the hot shoe ?

Or could it be something else ? (I get the same error when I try to change the external flash settings on the camera)

Probably doesn't help that I bought these flashes and never used them , so I'm not 100% they work anyway , although they power on and all buttons work etc.

 

[kendo1]

Just use contact cleaner with a cotton bud.
If it is really bad you can use cheap clear vinegar and then clean with contact cleaner or vodka

 

[gothgirl]

Just use contact cleaner with a cotton bud.
If it is really bad you can use cheap clear vinegar and then clean with contact cleaner or vodka

You'll have to forgive my naiivety but "Contact Cleaner" ? All I have is lens cleaner

 

[kendo1]

Just use vinegar then.

Contact cleaner can be bought from electrical outlets like Maplins, or Amazon actually.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/maplin-contact-cleaner-200ml-n61an

If you are not going to be using it often it is hardly worth it, but you do have a camera
I use it quite often as I have a few old cameras...

Edit: BTW, Asda sell clear vinegar (normally on the bottom shelf) at 38p for a 500ml bottle, which is ideal.

Of course, there may actually be something wrong with the camera!

 

[Deleted member 66768]

Just use vinegar then.

Contact cleaner can be bought from electrical outlets like Maplins, or Amazon actually.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/maplin-contact-cleaner-200ml-n61an

If you are not going to be using it often it is hardly worth it, but you do have a camera
I use it quite often as I have a few old cameras...

Edit: BTW, Asda sell clear vinegar (normally on the bottom shelf) at 38p for a 500ml bottle, which is ideal.

Of course, there may actually be something wrong with the camera!

this !!!

 

[gothgirl]

Great , thanks guys I will grab some white vinegar and cotton buds.