In a post regarding NAB, Dan mentioned that:

"We will be bringing over 90 of a special accessory for the nanoFlash.

These will be our CompactFlash card eject button protectors. This is a nice, custom machined, powder coated piece of aluminum that protects the eject buttons while allowing free access to the CompactFlash cards.

One side benefit of these is that it generally prevents the cards from flying out of the slot, if one presses too hard."

When is an accessory a necessity? I think there are 3,000 nanoFlash users out there who would agree with me we should have had this built into each and every one of our $3,000 nanoFlash units. I was amazed at how forcefully the nano ejects CF cards. Professional video gear builders would have protected an important button (like eject!) with a "rub rail" to prevent this.

So, do we now have to spend additional $$$ to buy an accessory that should have been part of each unit?

Dear Jeff,

I feel that our track record of doing our best to satisify our friends is fairly well established.

I have built 100 of these so far. I will build more if our friends like them.

We will have feedback from approximately 90 users fairly quickly.

Jeff I don't know what professional gear you are used to buy that is so PERFECT and which manufacturers that are so generous.
What I see around (SONY, PANASONIC, etc) is lot of wrong design, short of features and pay-pay-pay for any extra.

I agree that the NANO eject the CFs with too much power, but, as a professional, knowing the shortcomings of your equipment is your task. If you let a CF fly again, is your fault man.
Cheers,
rafael

Jeff - I own a nanoflash and this imho is a none issue. Once one knows how the spring ejects the cards one can just push the button more gently. Over time the springs have relaxed and don't throw it across the room any more. Place your hand before the card as you eject and job done. My two cents. I will not be paying for this addition although I am sure it will work for many....

by the way - this is a fabulous product.....

HDMI capture,HFS10, SGBlade, Nanoflash, Nikkor 85 mm AI on Vimeo

The danger is not the distance that a CF card flies when you are sitting in your office at the end of the day. I work in non-fiction, news and documentaries, in a wide variety of difficult to hostile environments, doing things like hiking, climbing over fences, bumping along in the bed of trucks. The problem is that, without an interlock, safety feature, or door, there is a very real chance that a CF card can be ejected ACCIDENTALLY, in the field, maybe even while you are recording. Blowing an important shot, or losing a card altogether, because of the lack of a $.50 piece of aluminum, is something that you now need to consider. Why are CD making these protectors? Because they realize that this is a very real issue.

My point is that this or some other protector could have, should have, been built into the nano. Take a look around: other companies have done this for quite some time. My old Nikon D100 SLR uses CF cards, and Nikon put their CF card slot behind a door. That's how they addressed the issues of accidental ejection and dust.

You lucky 90 guys— let us know how you like those protectors!

Jeff - I own a nanoflash and this imho is a none issue. Once one knows how the spring ejects the cards one can just push the button more gently. Over time the springs have relaxed and don't throw it across the room any more. Place your hand before the card as you eject and job done. My two cents. I will not be paying for this addition although I am sure it will work for many....

by the way - this is a fabulous product.....

HDMI capture,HFS10, SGBlade, Nanoflash, Nikkor 85 mm AI on Vimeo (http://www.vimeo.com/10672620)

Non-issue except ... I've had CF cards fly out and when outdoors this could be an embarrassment but that said, I just keep my hand on the side of the slot ... works fine.

Word.I see your point in that situation.

Actually, it is a issue. We lost a card on location yesterday. No one knows how that has happened.... Today we got a call that the card has been found (just before start digitizing the tape...).
I'll get the protection CD offers

Dear Jeff,

I feel that our track record of doing our best to satisify our friends is fairly well established.

I have built 100 of these so far. I will build more if our friends like them.

We will have feedback from approximately 90 users fairly quickly.

Hi Dan

Can you post a picture of your cover..

Thanks

Dear Robin,

I will attempt to take to picture as soon as I return from NAB.

Those that came by our booth at NAB seemed pleased with the design of the protector.

I looked at and got a protector. It works by forcing your finger which is on the eject button to block the card as it is ejected. It also protects the protruding button while in use. It screws in easily to the existing holes near the card slots. It basically looks like a 1/4" frame which surrounds 3 sides of the card slots. It weighs almost nothing.

I have the protector with me but no Nano so I can't help with a pic of both. I do think it is an improvement.

Incidentally the background is the video area of SS17 setting up for a HBO bout tomorrow night.

Jeff

Actually, it is a issue. We lost a card on location yesterday. No one knows how that has happened.... Today we got a call that the card has been found (just before start digitizing the tape...).
I'll get the protection CD offers

Ouch - okay - it is an issue. My springs obviously have weakened with time.... hope the solution helps those guys with this problem.

Hi Henry,

To be perfectly clear, the issue is not just that a fumble fingered operator might cause their cards to "fly out." Even if there were no springs to aid in card ejection, fully depressing the eject button causes the card to disengage from its connector at the back of the card slot.

No contact = no recording.

I believe that CD's new protector is designed to prevent accidental pressing of the eject button. Accidental pressing of those buttons can happen to anyone.

Dan and the rest of the C-D crew, thanks for the two card protectors that I picked up from you at NAB. They are installed and pose no threat to life, limb, or inserted CF cards.

Nanoguys, when will the protectors be available and for how much? Will new Nanos off the assembly line feature these as standard?

Cheers,
Peter

Thanks for posting that up Jeff. Very interesting solution. Inexpensive to manufacture, no moving parts...

Ultimately CD should manufacture a unit that is a true cover so it genuinely shields the "digital assets" in the making and gives the unit the "fit & finish" it deserves as a professional video recording unit. Maybe CD will make money hand over fist this year and they will hire an industrial designer to come up with a boffo retrofit for this unit and create a spanky new case for their 3rd gen device whenever that may be.

Dear Friends,

Our protector will be available from nanoFlash.net - Free World Wide FedEx Express Shippingwith purchase of nanoFlashOrder online or email rick@nanoflash.net (http://www.nanoFlash.net) starting Monday.

This is a custom milled and powder coated piece of aluminum that attaches to the CompactFlash card side of the nanoFlash via two screws. The screws and an Allen wrench are supplied with the protector.

(nanoFlash.net - Free World Wide FedEx Express Shippingwith purchase of nanoFlashOrder online or email rick@nanoflash.net (http://www.nanoFlash.net) is an independent company, not a part of Convergent Design. They are one of our premiere dealers as they specialize in the nanoFlash, provide a wide range of accessories, provide great service and strive to keep nanoFlashes in stock at all times, subject to our ability to ship.)

To find the item, just go to nanoFlash.net - Free World Wide FedEx Express Shippingwith purchase of nanoFlashOrder online or email rick@nanoflash.net (http://www.nanoFlash.net), then go to the nanoFlash page, then click on "Order".
The price is $14.95 (US).

Most users have not had a problem accidentally ejecting cards, but there is always a possibility of the eject buttons being bumped, just as there is a possibility of other buttons on cameras being bumped.

We were asked to design a part to protect the eject buttons, especially for when the nanoFlash is subjected to the possibility of the buttons being pressed. For some, this added degree of protection is very desirable.

Incidentally the background is the video area of SS17 setting up for a HBO bout tomorrow night.

Jeff

Hey Jeff,

I like the photo with SS17. Do you know a guy named Mark DiCicco? I know he runs a truck in the SS lineup. Back when tape was king, we were partners in a company that specialized in VTR control. Long time since I've been in a truck like that!

Jeff

Thank you Dan! I ordered mine this morning. I'll have it probably by Wednesday/Thursday.
Best
Luben

This is a custom milled and powder coated piece of aluminum that attaches to the CompactFlash card side of the nanoFlash via two screws..

Hey Dan,

Can you post a pix of what it looks like mounted on a nano?

Thanks!

Dear Bob,

I got back from NAB late Friday night and I have been attempting to catch up ever since.

I will try to do this today.

My previous attempts to get photos of this have not been successful. One could not see adequate detail in my photos.

Mr. Rick Kelly will attempt to get better photos of it today. I will post these as soon as possible.

Thanks, Dan! I know you have been up to your eyeballs and i appreciate it!

Dear Friends,

These photos are courtesy of Mr. Rick Kelly.

The first photo shows the nanoFlash upside down. This allows one to see the new accessory in better detail.

The second photo shows the kit with two screws and an Allen wrench.

The third photo shows the new accessory from underneath, to show the detail, while the nanoFlash is in a normal right-side up position.

The open area allows easy access to the CompactFlash cards while protecting the Card Eject Buttons.

If the CompactFlash card Eject buttons are pressed via one's thumb, then the card will never fly out.

Thanks Dan! You da best! Just ordered mine.

Dear Friends,

These photos are courtesy of Mr. Rick Kelly.

The first photo shows the nanoFlash upside down. This allows one to see the new accessory in better detail.

The second photo shows the kit with two screws and an Allen wrench.

The third photo shows the new accessory from underneath, to show the detail, while the nanoFlash is in a normal right-side up position.

The open area allows easy access to the CompactFlash cards while protecting the Card Eject Buttons.

If the CompactFlash card Eject buttons are pressed via one's thumb, then the card will never fly out.

Thanks for the pic.. now I see how it works.. mines on the way from Rick

Same here. Nice job!

Dear Bob, Robin, and Peter,

Thank you for the kind comments and ordering one.

Hey Dan,
Pleasure meeting you at NAB, great design on the CF protector. I mounted mine yesterday, works great.
Thanks.

Thank you Dan/CD and Rick for the fast shipment.
Cheers
Luben