Canon 5D lockup with Metz 58 flash and off camera cords

[canoflan]

Ok, here is my setup:

Canon 5D, Metz 58 flash, off camera cords from Canon (cord 2) and Promaster for Canon.

Firstly, the promaster cord doesn't work with the Metz 58. Flash simply won't trigger. Promaster works fine with my 580EX. That being said, I had to use the Canon cord 2 with the Metz flash.

Canon 5D on manual mode, shooting RAW, CF 14 on average mode
Metz 58 on TTL with Canon cord 2.

The Metz, by the way, works fine on the camera's hotshoe. I have taken over 200 shots with the Metz on the 5D's hotshoe and no problem at all.

After about 4-5 shots with 5D and Metz flash with the Canon cord 2, the 5D looks like it is still on, but it don't record any more pictures. It will take pictures, but not record them. I have to remove the battery and reinsert it to get the 5D to "soft reset" from this locked up status.

My 580EX works fine with no locking up of the 5D what so ever. I tried it with the canon cord 2 (to ensure it isn't the cord) and the promaster cord.

I think that the Metz is perhaps in need of a firmware update or something. I know it has to be the off camera cord because it locks up only when using the cord.

Thoughts? Anyone have the same experience with the same equipment setup?

Thanks for your time and responses,
Pat

[PacAce]

I see that you also have the 30D. Does this happen with the 30D, too, or only with the 5D? It doesn't really make sense that the cord would be causing problems with the Metz. AAIK, the Cord 2 is nothing more than an extension of each pin on the hotshoe. But I've heard of strangers things happening.

[canoflan]

Tried with 30D? Good point. I haven't yet, but need to check.

[canoflan]

After reading some of the posts on camera cords, along with this being my first experience with them, I am seeing that I should ensure the screws are tight, etc.... I also think that I didn't really try the Canon cord with the 580 to ensure it wouldn't lock up the 5D.

[Mark_48]

I see that you also have the 30D. Does this happen with the 30D, too, or only with the 5D? It doesn't really make sense that the cord would be causing problems with the Metz. AAIK, the Cord 2 is nothing more than an extension of each pin on the hotshoe. But I've heard of strangers things happening.

The Canon Off Shoe Camera Cord appears to have something other than a straight thru connection, at least on the larger main pin. It's polarity sensitive when reading it with a digital ohmeter. One direction is infinity and the other is somewhere around 7-8 megohms. Maybe an SCR or similiar device in there. All the other pins appear straight thru at around 0.3 ohms which likely is my meter leads and the cords resistance.
Think I found this out when I was trying to fire a Sunpak 383 via the cord and things weren't working as expected.

Anybody know if Sigma 500 series flash works with the cord?

[Curtis N]

Think I found this out when I was trying to fire a Sunpak 383 via the cord and things weren't working as expected.Interesting. I can't make my Sunpak 383 fire with my Promaster cord, but I tried it at the camera shop with a Canon cord and it seemed to work fine.Anybody know if Sigma 500 series flash works with the cord?My Sigma flash units work fine with the Promaster cord. I haven't tried it on a Canon cord but I would think that if there were issues we would have heard about it by now. I know there are plenty of forum members here using Sigma flash units with both Canon and aftermarket TTL cords.

[Mark_48]

It appears you're correct Curtis. Just tried the 383 with the Canon cord and it does work with my 30D. Now you've got me puzzled what I couldn't get the Canon cord to work with. If it worked with the 30D I don't think I had a problem with my 20D or 300D. I know for darn sure I didn't attempt to fire my old 300vdc Vivitar 283's through it. Anyhow something had prompted me to check the resistance.

[PacAce]

The Canon Off Shoe Camera Cord appears to have something other than a straight thru connection, at least on the larger main pin. It's polarity sensitive when reading it with a digital ohmeter. One direction is infinity and the other is somewhere around 7-8 megohms. Maybe an SCR or similiar device in there. All the other pins appear straight thru at around 0.3 ohms which likely is my meter leads and the cords resistance.
Think I found this out when I was trying to fire a Sunpak 383 via the cord and things weren't working as expected.

Anybody know if Sigma 500 series flash works with the cord?

Thanks for the correction. You are absolutely right. I just tried it with my digital VOM and read infinity one way and around 166 Ohms the other way. That's very interesting. Wonder what the purpose of doing that is. :confused:

[Curtis N]

Since the OP also has a Promaster TTL cord, I thought I would throw in my curious test results with this cord.
1) Resistance at the center contact through the cord is about 8 ohms. Polarity makes no difference. The resistance is the same either direction.
2) Shorting the contacts at the lower end of the cord will fire my Sigma Super flash (in optical slave mode).
3) Shorting the contacts at the lower end of the cord will not fire my Sunpak 383, even though it will fire if I short the contacts on the flash itself.
4) The 20D and 30D will not fire the Sunpak 383 when connected through this cord. However, my old 300D will fire it this way. Go figure. I had to repeat this test to make sure I wasn't nuts.
5) The upper end of the Promaster TTL cord has some sort of electronic thingy in it (you can tell how much I know about electronics). Resistance accross this thingy is roughly the same as resistance through the cord's center contacts. See photo below. The white wire is connected to the center contact.

[AginKajun]

I've shoot 400+ shots with my metz on my 30D with canon cord on flash bracket with no problems. I have not tried it with my XT though. Maybe I better?

[canoflan]

I've shoot 400+ shots with my metz on my 30D with canon cord on flash bracket with no problems. I have not tried it with my XT though. Maybe I better?

I shot my 5D with the Metz with the Canon cord last night for over 68 pics practicing my manual flash techniques and didn't have one lick of trouble. However, I was in TTL mode when the problem arose before. I will try both putting on the bracket tonight without tightening the screw so much, and on TTL. I will report back.

[Curtis N]

I will try both putting on the bracket tonight without tightening the screw so much.Put a washer or two under the screw head. It needs to be tight or it won't be much good to you. The washer will prevent bottoming out in the hole and damaging the cord end.

[canoflan]

Okay, last night I practiced for about 30 shots with my Metz flash, Canon 5D and off camera Canon cord 2 without the bracket. I was doing some really cool lighting on a red bowl with some wicker balls on a black matting board in a very dark area of my house. I had the Metz on TTL (that was the mode it was on before that it would lock up when I had it on the flash bracket). I had no issues whatsoever and the flash was perfect in TTL mode; it lit the bowl and balls without any issue and I got some really great looking picture that needed basically no white balance, nor other post processing adjustments. I learned these techniques off the Strobist blog and am going totally off camera shortly with a PC cord and adapter so that I can do some great portrait lighting

I have seen others get "that light" I have been trying to get. You know the one with the 45 degree angle and just above the eye level of the subject. I finally did it and it sure is exciting to nail it. I see now I can achieve this with a single flash and, if necessary, with ambient for rear lighting as necessary. Totally off camera with a cord will give me that much more flexibility and force me to learn manual flash along the way.

I am concluding that the issue was with the way I had screwed the cord to the bracket. I will try it with the bracket again and some washer per Curtis's suggestion.

Thanks for all y'all's help.

Pat