Sync cord options for the 580EX II/ 40D

[Worm324]

I was looking at getting a sync cord for the 580ex and I'm noticing there is a lot of options that I am totally ignorant about

Do I need a hot shoe mount? Or can I just get a cord like I use for my studio lights?

My thought is the TTL won't work with the studio light plug, but I could be wrong there.

Also, footage? Is the the Canon 2' footer long enough to hold out an up effectively? I'm 6'1" tall. I saw the: Dot line is 3' long and thought that might be better plus it's cheaper? Dot Line | Off-Camera E-TTL II Shoe Cord for Can | RS-0445 | B&H

I was thinking th canon version might stretch more than 2 feet possible?

Another thought I had was possible getting 1 of those chassis assemble things to hold the camera and the flash in easy mount?? Any thoughts on those units?



Any thoughts or feedback/ advice would be appreciated on this

Best,
Jay

[jfrancho]

The only way I know to keep ETTL is to use an off camera shoe cord. Sync cords usually = manual output. I can stretch my Canon shoe cord about three feet:

[Worm324]

Thats a sweat set-up john! I think 3 feet will be more than enough for hand holding, but if I wanted to do what your doing, 4-5 feet would be better I think.

Which mounts are you using to hold the umbrella and hot shoe like that? Looks like a nice set-up that might be worth investing in

Thanks,
Jay

[aam1234]

Originally Posted by Worm324

but if I wanted to do what your doing, 4-5 feet would be better I think.

Agree. I find the 2-3 feet too short.

[jfrancho]

The stand is a Manfrotto, the umbrella holder with stud is a Dotline, and the umbrellas are Westcott. All very cheap from Midwest Photo Exchange New and Used Photographic Cameras, Lighting, Printers, Medium and Large Format. I ditched the aluminum 'dead shoe" and screw the stud right into the little base that came with the flash:



I use the 580 as a master for two 430 slaves. I have shoot thru and silver bounce umbrellas.

[aam1234]

Nice sandals, John

[jfrancho]

Those are slippers, and I actually lost them until I took this picture

[aam1234]

Opps, I meant slippers.

See, photography can be useful sometimes

[bvaughn4]

Check out this article on the Strobist about wireless ETTL using a new product called Radio Poppers. Strobist: RadioPoppers: Not Just For Wireless TTL As I understood it, not available till a little later in April and you should have been on a list to get one early, but looks like the answer to your prayers.

[aam1234]

Looks very interesting. Hope it doesn't cost too much.

[dougsmit]

I have the off camera cord and find it is hardly ever used. One big feature is that it lacks a pass through connection so you can't have a flash on the hotshoe and one on the cord (my Contax had this feature and it spoiled me). Since I'm mostly going for macro and bought a ringflash, my off camera became wireless only and I'm less than comfortable with wireless ETTL yet. I have had some luck with cheap Chinese radio triggers on a non TTL but auto (thyristor) flash with the sender set on the p/c connection and the hotshoe taken by the ETTL ringflash. Since the radio signal does not happen until after the preflash of ETTL, the auto feature of either is not hurt by the other (unlike the case were w to use an optical trigger). This has shown me that there is a way to mix ETTL and manual flash but how this would apply to non macro use, I can not say.

The other option to consider is the keeps-being-delayed RadioPopper which claim to transmit the ETTL info by radio (unlike Pocket Wizards or the Chinese cheapies). At $360 a pair, I'll probably not find out but it is an option to consider. Just what you wanted----another option

[jfrancho]

One big feature is that it lacks a pass through connection so you can't have a flash on the hotshoe and one on the cord

Why not just use the built in IR?

[evoryware]

I need to stretch my canon cord out a bit I think. I think 4 or 5 feet would be nice too. The camera wants to pull my umbrella stand down sometimes. Not good.

[jfrancho]

Extending the Canon Off Camera Shoe Cord with a keyboard cable » Hack Photo

[dougsmit]

Originally Posted by jfrancho

Why not just use the built in IR?

IR requires line of sight and I lose a few to flash placement. I can't explain why I shoot 3 and get fill on only 2 of them. The worst part is having to keep checking to see if the slave is firing. Sometimes it flashes (preflash??) but the output is way under or absent. I suspect there may be a conflict if the preflash from the main is picked up directly by the slave which takes it as returned light from the slave preflash. Another possibility I've considered is that the slave will preflash before it is up to charge. This might be a good day to try it outdoors and see if that is a feature but I'm getting more comfortable with the radio method and will need to decide if it is worth learning both ways to accomplish the same thing.

[jfrancho]

IR requires line of sight and I lose a few to flash placement.

You can't get line of site at 2-3'? That's all you get with the ETTL cord. I can see if you are 10' away outdoors, but indoors I don't have too much trouble with IR at all.

[trentchau]

the new sync cord from canon connects like the 580 ex II right? That would be sooooo nice.

[Worm324]

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions

Trent, I read that it does connect that way.

I'm thinking that the Canon sync cord (or equivalent) will probably work best for what I need. If I plan to use advanced set-ups, wireless will be the way to go no matter what. I have the studio lights to use if I need them so I think that is what I'll do at this point.

Thanks everybody!!

Best,
Jay

[aam1234]

Originally Posted by Worm324

Trent

Aha, I always suspected the gentleman's name was Trent.

Cool to know, Trent. And much easier to write than trentchau

[Max@Home]

Originally Posted by trentchau

the new sync cord from canon connects like the 580 ex II right? That would be sooooo nice.

The OC-SC3 indeed does that, and makes the set weatherproof from the 580exII flash to the 40D/450D/1D Mk 3/1Ds Mk3 hotshoe

...Canon wireless (red light, Master/Slave/ST-E2) works great indoors, where the signal is bounced around by walls, but is less effective outdoors, as then you need line-of-sight...

...FWIW, the ST-E2 can also be used as a very effective AF assistant: it makes your camera AF in almost complete darkness! Must be tried to believe it

...€0.02...

Kindest regards!

Max@Home