Mod the 580EX II for only $1

[espngo]

Sick of your PC port failing you? Sick of it misfiring? Sick of it not firing at all? Do you own one of those stupid PC port conditioning tools? The PC port is one of the most unreliable ports in all of photography. The fact that the 580ex flash "upgraded" to the 580exII with one of these ports is apaulling, and for $375 it's ridiculous. For $1, you can replace your crummy PC port with an ultra reliable, long lasting, never failing miniphone jack. No more buying expensive PC to miniphone cables. A male-male mono cable costs $3. Below is a DIY tutorial that steps you through replacing that port.

Step 1: Goto your local electronics store and purchase a mono jack for $1.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3365/3201938765_e195264eff.jpg

Step 2: To remove the base, unscrew these 4 screws.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3306/3202786538_af2d47b0b1.jpg

Step 3: Step 2: Lift up this ring to remove the PC port.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3111/3201938485_fe2d460296.jpg

Step 4: Unhook the wire harness, cut the blue and grey cable and seperate them fron the PC port terminals. Strip the wires.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3518/3201938589_74bf577a0c.jpg

Step 5: Using a dremel, carve out some space for the 3.5mm mono jack. You don't have to go too deep. Just enough to give the jack some room.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3118/3202786344_c285572e45.jpg

Step 6: Using playdoh as a secure base, solder the blue and grey wires to the points on the mono jack shown above.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3126/3201938633_18572547d2.jpg

Step 7: Place the jack into position and tighten the screw to secure it in place. Hook back up the wire harness then test it. Once the test is successful, put the shoe back onto the flash and screw back in the 4 same screws in step #1. Done.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3534/3202786490_71da4d3549.jpg

[epatt250]

I gotta give props for an excellent DIY. LOVE the playdoh idea. I need to take some to work, looks so much more stable than the rickety alligator clips we use at work to hold stuff while soldering.

[jdaly]

Great idea! Thanks for sharing.

[Nick Pro]

Any shots of the finished product?

[sneakerhead1]

Can this be done with a 430ex I?

[J Kacey]

Does your mod make the new jack active when the flash is in MANUAL-MASTER mode?

Michael Bass will change the port for you and correct the wiring so it works in MANUAL-MASTER mode too. Also with his mod when the flash is on your hot shoe the port will be active so you can plug in a PW to trigger the rest of your flashes. Check it out HERE (http://michaelbass.blogspot.com/2007/11/faq-answers-to-often-asked-questions.html#Modes580EXII) then follow the link for Re-Wire

I did something similar to my two standard 580 EX's a couple years ago following Lotto's write up..... HERE (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=256447).... They still work great!

Just thought I would let you know your only half way there with your MOD.... Might want to figure out the re-wire too. I'm sure it's not to hard probably two wires to solder.

Good luck and good work

[Lotto]

Hey, great job! The Playdoh is a cool idea. Thanks for sharing.

I was thinking the same as Kacey. The only thing that will be lost by connecting to the hot shoe is using any optical slave, but Flashzebra has one that works with EX flashes.

[espngo]

Kacey, that is cool. Thanks for the links. I didn't know you could do that. Just to let everyone here know, even on an un-modded 580ex ii, manual-master mode doesn't work either. There is no functionality that is lost by performing this mod. If manual-master mode is important to you, you should perform this mod. I myself don't have a need for it but it's good to know that option is available if I ever do need it.

Nick, here is a photo of the finished product. As you can see, the mono jack fits PERFECTLY into the slot where the PC port went. The PC port cover still works too.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3337/3202985655_b987037e7b.jpg

Sneakerhead, I will attempt this on a 430ex I and report my findings in the next day or two.

[5Dmaniac]

There is no PC port (AFAIK) on the 430 EX 1

[epatt250]

I need to do one on a 540EZ.

[espngo]

There is no PC port on a 430ex. Yes, I know this. But in an attempt to convert all my flashes to miniphone jack, I am going to install one on a 430. We'll see how it goes.

[J Kacey]

There is a lot less room in the housing for adding a jack for the 430 EX.... It can be done but will take a little more ingenuity. Michael Bass will do this mod too... He just sends you the modified foot and you can get a credit if you existing foot is in perfect condition. If you are not handy or confident this is the way to go.

I did my 580 EX easy... Just letting others know there are other options instead of risking hacking your flash. Also remember there is a high voltage condenser in flashes.

[Rellik]

I've done the same. I only wish that weather cover will stay on with the new port.

[espngo]

I know I'm highjacking my own thread, but I've completed my 430ex mod and I'm happy to report everything works great. There is not much room inside but a little dremel'ing did the trick. Only 2 points to solder. Pictures to come soon.

Upgrade cost... $1.

[Rellik]

Did the same to the 430ex too...and the 580ex...I'm thinking of doing the sb-24s as well..

$1 is a steal... my radio shack (the source) is looking for $3 each.... sigh.

[Nick_b]

I did my 430... here is what mine looks like...

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k162/nickandaline/IMG_0944.jpg

[sneakerhead1]

Thanks for the update.

Looking forward for the pics so I can mod my 430ex.

[strobe monkey]

Great mod, I'm going to do it on mine. But I want to enable Manual_Master so I need links on how to do it properly before I proceed. Anyone knows where it is???

[Jannie]

The PC port on the 580EXII is threaded, you can hardly see it but it's there and it works great. You can buy any threaded PC plug combination from Flashzebra and they will get it to you FAST and their stuff works wonderfully. I have a couple of the short cords with a threaded PC plug on one end and a mini plug on the other end that fits into my Skyport receivers and they've never failed which is great because my non threaded ones from PW were awful, every time I'd touch the light stand or umbrella or adjust the head, they might stop working.

Flashzebra's products are really well made and extremely reasonable in cost. flashzebra.com

[jdaly]

Knew I'd find a thread on this topic...

Got tired of my PC port failing so I decided to update my 580EX II , yesterday. Yes, I did use a dremel tool, but no where near the extent in the initial post. I just made the opening from where the PC port was, a little wider - took about 10 seconds for that part. You can't even tell work was done to it. Overall, I think it's going to work out great. So if you're having issues with the PC connector, check this one out, easier than you may think.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2748/4379280920_6bae323c41.jpg

[strobe monkey]

And here is the 430EX II mod:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Zq99Z9TD1Ew/SvQkxihXPlI/AAAAAAAAAE4/vj57tAuZ4nE/s640/430exIIfinal.jpg

Step by step guide is in my signature

[strobe monkey]

Does anyone know how Mr. Bass rewires the 580EX II's foot to enable Wireless Master?
I really want to do that mod.

[supersoyary]

I did my 430... here is what mine looks like...

(Image omitted to save space)

Man I didn't think of that one. I wired, to it, a short miniphone cable right at the base, through one of the screw holes. Good job.

[jdaly]

@strobe_monkey - Nice write-up on that Mod for the 430exII

[strobe monkey]

@strobe_monkey - Nice write-up on that Mod for the 430exII

Big thanks

[javylsu]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing.

Javier