Hotshoe cords... can they work on any flashes?

[ChrisAdval]

I'm interested in getting one, maybe something like this



or this?



but would it work for my flash like YN560? I check with YN products they don't seem to sell any hotshoe cords... I think. Help!

[sk66]

If your flash is canon compatible and the cord is canon compatible it will work...All it does is "relocate" the camera's hotshoe. You will want a TTL cord if you want TTL communication.

[Rentham]

I'd imagine they'd work, but it is probably worth dropping Lon at FlashZebra.com a line to make sure. He's great, I think you'll love the service. I have a 26' TTL cord from there.

[ChrisAdval]

Originally Posted by sk66

If your flash is canon compatible and the cord is canon compatible it will work...All it does is "relocate" the camera's hotshoe. You will want a TTL cord if you want TTL communication.

sadly the YN560 doesnt have TTL ... but I may get a TTL 3rd party flash in March

Originally Posted by Rentham

I'd imagine they'd work, but it is probably worth dropping Lon at FlashZebra.com a line to make sure. He's great, I think you'll love the service. I have a 26' TTL cord from there.

thanks, why do you recommend those over Vello's for $15 vs. $35 from Zebra?

ah... Right now I'm only interested in using the coiled cords, as they look much more efficient and less messy than the longer cords thats not coiled.

[oldwolf]

Originally Posted by Rentham

I'd imagine they'd work, but it is probably worth dropping Lon at FlashZebra.com a line to make sure. He's great, I think you'll love the service. I have a 26' TTL cord from there.

Highly recommend FlashZebra.com. Service is great and Lon was very helpful.

[SGToliver]

Even for the short cords flashzebra.com is a good place to go. I ordered a 24ft long TTL cord for my sb600. I now buy mainly from them if I need something. As sk66 said, if it is canon/nikon compatible and the flash is compatible then you are good to go.

[inkista]

Most flash hotshoes are ISO-compliant. That's why you can get a YN-560 and it will work on a Canon or a Nikon or Pentax, or Olympus hotshoe equally well (Sony/Minolta is the only camera manufacturer whose hotshoe is proprietary and non-ISO compliant).

What ISO-compliant means is that the same dimensions and basic electronics scheme is used: the center pin is the fire/sync signal, and ground is the rails on the side.

All the other contacts or pins on the hotshoe are proprietary. These are the ones that carry all the camera-to-flash signals for everything other than the sync/fire signals. TTL, 2nd curtain sync, high-speed sync, commanding from the LCD of the camera back, etc. etc. are all done through those additional pins.

If you look at your YN-560 hotshoe, you'll note it only has the single pin. So there's no way you're getting TTL communication out of it, and using a hotshoe-to-hotshoe flash cord isn't going to buy you anything. If you had an OEM flash, then using a hotshoe-to-hotshoe flash cord is going to get you all the on-camera/TTL goodies.

But honestly, for a manual-only flash, you might be better served looking for a manual sync cord, rather than a TTL one. Given a camera hotshoe adapter, and flash hotshoe adapter (or modding your YN-560), you could just go down to Radio Shack and get an audio mono 3.5mm minijack cable, or make your own to any length.

Those cords you're looking at are short. They're made for putting a TTL-compliant flash on a flash bracket, more than anything else. They're not meant for off-camera work with flashes. That's why Lon at flashzebra has so much business. Also, third all the recommendations of flashzebra. Lon is terrific.

[Rentham]

Originally Posted by ChrisAdval

thanks, why do you recommend those over Vello's for $15 vs. $35 from Zebra?

Because I have direct experience with Flash Zebra's stuff, and none with Vello. Flash Zebra's shorter cords are coiled. You wouldn't want a long, coiled cord. It would act like a spring and pull down your gear.

[ChrisAdval]

thanks for the tips guys! I'll get this from Zebra's!