hotshoe-to-mini vs pc-to-mini

[csi8923]

Is one connection better (i.e. more reliable) than the other?

From this FlashZebra's webpage (http://flashzebra.com/wizardcables/hotshoe.shtml), it seems that the hotshoe-to-mini connection is more reliable. It says, "This provides reliable function and avoids the use of the unreliable PC connection". Can anyone care to explain how it is more reliable than the other? I've read that the pc cord has a tendency to fall out because of its short tip. Is this why?

I understand that the benefit of the hotshoe-to-mini is its ability to be used with various flashes with different (or no) connection ports.

But from the reliability point of view, is there any difference?

How about mini-to-mini (http://www.flashzebra.com/wizardcables/0016.shtml)?

[Lotto]

What are you trying to connect?

PC connection is less reliable because the PC plugs always expend get loose. Plus many incidents that the PC jacks are different in sizes, like with the same PC plug, it feels very loose when connect to camera, yet it almost impossibles to plug it into the light meter.

[bieber]

Of course, if the PC socket in question uses the Nikon screwlock standard, as most do, you don't have to worry about it falling out. Personally, I've been using PC cords as long as I've had my Pocket Wizards (little over a year) with no problems at all

[csi8923]

I'm thinking of purchasing an additional flash or two, and with it some pocket wizards or skyports.

If I end up with a sunpak or vivitar, I'm getting the hotshoe-to-mini.
But If I manage to find a used Nikon flash, is it worth getting the hotshoe-to-mini, or the included pc-to-mini cable with PW or skyports will do just fine?

[bieber]

I'm thinking of purchasing an additional flash or two, and with it some pocket wizards or skyports.

If I end up with a sunpak or vivitar, I'm getting the hotshoe-to-mini.
But If I manage to find a used Nikon flash, is it worth getting the hotshoe-to-mini, or the included pc-to-mini cable with PW or skyports will do just fine?

It'll definitely do just fine, and I strongly recommend the SB-26. I just troll the B&H used section when I'm looking for one, they pop up occasionally.

[Lotto]

Since the PW and Skyport both use mini plugs, I think the simple way to connect is to use a hotshoe adapter with min jack at the end and a 1/4-20 thread at the bottom. That way you can use any speedlights and don't have to deal with PC connection at all.

[csi8923]

i appreciate the input.

[FlashZebra]

Anyone using a standard PC connector (not screwlock) without problems, has just not used the connector long enough.

It is not a question of "if" you will have problems with a standard PC connector, it is a just "when" you will have problems.

The intrinsic design of the male PC connector involves a outer contact ring. This ring must be split to allow for minor dimensional changes from sync port to sync port. With use, this outer ring expands causing the ring to become larger and eventually results in a poor fit and problematic electrical contact.

In addition, the gross size of the standard PC connector is such that it is inadequate for the routine tugging and pulling that occurs on many flash cords, a standard PC connector at the camera end is especially problematic. These loads to the male PC connector also make the outer contact ring larger.

Note that this is not a question of the quality of the sync cord, these issue occurs on the best quality cords, as it is an intrinsic design issue of the standard PC connector.

The standard PC connector is so ubiquitous it is very hard for flash users to avoid it totally. But, reducing or eliminating your dependence on the connector is always a good idea. You may be able to wrangle the issues on one or two standard PC connectors, but if you have 6 or 9, you will be very challenged.

The screwlock PC connector does not have these issues. Or the issues are so mitigated they are not a problem.

If you must use the standard PC connector always have spare cords, and a PC tip conditioner. The tip conditioner reforms the outer ring on the standard male PC connector to make it smaller and rejuvenate the fit.

If you can easily substitute a mono miniphone sync plug connector for a standard PC sync connector, do it. The mono miniphone plug connector is highly reliable and easy to use.

Likewise, if you can use a screwlock PC connector in place of a standard PC connector, do it. But realize that there are many PC ports that just will not accept a screwlock PC connector. The female connector must be engineered to fit a screwlock PC connector. Some have screwlock PC accommodation, but many do not.

The Vivitar and Sunpak sync connectors are also reliable, just not common (but watch out for poor quality Vivitar cords). The issue is not standard PC verses a hotshoe. It is just moving in a direction that reduces or eliminates the standard PC connector. Using a screwlock PC connector does this, using a Vivitar connector does this, using the Sunpack connector does this, or using a mono miniphone connector does this. It is not necessary to just go to a hotshoe.

In most cases using a reliable sync connector (screwlock PC, mono miniphone, Vivitar, Sunpak) is preferable to a hotshoe adapter, as this eliminates additional dimensional / mechanical stackup at the flash shoe connector.

But, with many flash units like the Canon 430EX or Nikon SB-600 that do not have a built in sync port (other than the hotshoe), a hotshoe adapter is about the only feasible choice.

Enjoy! Lon

[csi8923]

Thanks for the info. It's been very useful in my research.

Since the screwlock pc mitigates the design shortcoming of the standard pc, isn't it sensible to make the screwlock the new "standard?" But then again, the world isn't such a simple place.

With that said, is there a shorter version of this (http://www.flashzebra.com/screwlock_pc_fivemeter/0035.shtml)? 16 feet is way too long for my needs. I'm looking around 1-2 feet range.

[edit]
I found this (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/105396-REG/Pocket_Wizard_804_304_PC_5N_Nikon_PC_Screw_Lock.ht ml) while browsing. The pc connector looks slightly different from that flashzebra's cable. But certainly it'll fit with eos 30D's pc port?

[FlashZebra]

Thanks for the info. It's been very useful in my research.

Since the screwlock pc mitigates the design shortcoming of the standard pc, isn't it sensible to make the screwlock the new "standard?" But then again, the world isn't such a simple place.

With that said, is there a short version of this (http://www.flashzebra.com/screwlock_pc_fivemeter/0035.shtml)? 16 feet is way too long for my needs. I'm looking around 1-2 feet range.
For newer cameras with a chassis mount PC connector, the screwlock PC connector is "almost" the standard now. All the Canon, Nikon, Olympus, and Sony DSLR cameras with a chassis sync port have the screwlock PC connector (Pentax is a holdout and still has the standard PC connector).

But, for the flash end and everything else I would personally prefer the minphone connector as it is reliable, inexpensive, and available. It is also large enough for studio flash gear (Alien Bee, D-Lites and others), but still small enough for hotshoe based flash units (but no common commercially available hotshoe based flash units currently have a miniphone port).

Enjoy! Lon