Will PC-cord Between 1Ds and 550 Flash Provide E-TTL?

[BWiley]

Can anyone tell me if connecting a Canon 1Ds to a 550 flash with a standard pc cord will still provide E-TTL exposure control, or does it just fire the flash? In the past I mounted my D60 in a Stroboframe Camera Flip bracket for my Canon 550 flash and connected them either with the dedicated cord or used the ST-E2. There was just enough space above the camera for either to work fine. However, my new 1Ds is too big for the Stroboframe bracket and will not allow use of either the dedicated cord or the ST-E2.

To avoid purchasing a new bracket (plus, I like the design of the Camera Flip model), I figure I could use a simple pc-cord between the camera and the flash. But I also want the quality exposure control of E-TTL.

Is this possible, or is a dedicated cord always required? The manual doesn’t discuss this point. Thanks for any information.

Bill

[robertwgross]

If you only connect the PC cable, you get the flash to fire only. No E-TTL.

The dedicated cable is necessary to connect the data signals for E-TTL (or else direct mounting on the camera, of course).

I use a flash bracket that allows me to move the flash unit back and forth on the flippable arm, so nothing collides with the camera.

What manual are you reading?

---Bob Gross---

[DaveG]

Can anyone tell me if connecting a Canon 1Ds to a 550 flash with a standard pc cord will still provide E-TTL exposure control, or does it just fire the flash? In the past I mounted my D60 in a Stroboframe Camera Flip bracket for my Canon 550 flash and connected them either with the dedicated cord or used the ST-E2. There was just enough space above the camera for either to work fine. However, my new 1Ds is too big for the Stroboframe bracket and will not allow use of either the dedicated cord or the ST-E2.

To avoid purchasing a new bracket (plus, I like the design of the Camera Flip model), I figure I could use a simple pc-cord between the camera and the flash. But I also want the quality exposure control of E-TTL.

Is this possible, or is a dedicated cord always required? The manual doesn’t discuss this point. Thanks for any information.

Bill


The question I have is how you plug a standard PC cord INTO the 550EX? There isn't a regular connection. Even if you got a synch cord that would plug into a (dumb) hot-shoe you'd lose all of the TTL features since there isn't any regular automatic settings on the 550EX either.

With the 550 you are stuck using it either in the hotshoe or on the remote cord 2 if you want the E-TTL features. On first glance you could use the PC terminal with a flash like a Vivitar 283 that uses a conventional PC cord and still offers some flash automation. Having said THAT I wouldn't run any non Canon flash through my PC terminal without a safe synch and that brings us back to the hot shoe where the safe synch will live.

So you're screwed.

[scottbergerphoto]

The Manual Mode of the 550EX is fairly consistent and works well as long as you stay within the distance range for the f stop you are using. You can get a PC to hot shoe connector at http://www.paramountcords.com/. If you plan on using a non Canon flash, be sure to get the voltage protector or you could fry your shutter. The hot shoe of the 550EX will not fit a Wein Safe Sync hot shoe to pc connector, so forget about using that.
Scott