Canon 580EX with Contax RTS III

I know if I use these two directly with each other, I will NOT get TTL, but if I use a TTL cord to connect them, will I cause irreparable harm to either or both? Or even reparable (but expensive) harm? I have a PC-to-PC sync cord I can use if required. The reason for this inquiry in the first place is that I have an external battery pack that will give me 500 full-power flash pops on a single charge, but it only has power cords to connect to the Canon flash. I have a Contax TLA 280 flash but it's pretty wimpy in comparison to the 580EX, or a Metz 45 CL-4, which I don't have SCA cords to use it TTL. I can always use the Metz with the Contax in automatic mode for now...

I can't answer your question without potentially wrecking both of mine, so I'll just offer the obvious advice: get the proper SCA cord and use the Metz. You want the SCA 3802 + Kabel SCA 3000 C.

Does the 580EX even have a PC socket?

Yes, the 580 EX (or more specifically the 580 EX II, which is what I have) has a pc socket on the side, just below the external power supply plug. It's hidden under a rubber cover, like the external power supply.

Tape over the "extra" pins for the TTL communication, and you should not have a problem. I'd tape at the flash, and the camera, just to make sure that nothing gets shorted.


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