Help obtaining PC synch cable for Minolta flash

[MrMayface]

Hello. I’m looking for someone who can tell me the name of this sync cable. The end circled is what I need the name of. That end fits perfectly into my Minolta flash. I just need another cable that has the opposite in with a 2.5mm jack instead of the pc sync.

Thanks for any help.

 

[MattKing]

Welcome to Photrio.
That cable may be proprietary to your Minolta flash. You may get more response if you say what model of Minolta flash the cable is for. I'll do my moderator thing to add Minolta flash to your thread title.

 

[AgX]

The connector itself is not proprietary in the meaning of unique.
But the world of synch-connectors is a world apart...

A manufacturer of synch-cords labelled this model of connector as "Vivitar".


I got quite a collection of synch cords but have not yet come across the combo being looked for.
But at that manufacturer it is available for only 85$.

 

[MrMayface]

Welcome to Photrio.
That cable may be proprietary to your Minolta flash. You may get more response if you say what model of Minolta flash the cable is for. I'll do my moderator thing to add Minolta flash to your thread title.

Thanks. I’m using a Minolta Auto 132X flash.

The connector itself is not proprietary in the meaning of unique.
But the world of synch-connectors is a world apart...

A manufacturer of synch-cords labelled this model as "Vivitar".


I got quite a collection of synch cords but have not yet come across the combo being looked for.
But at that manufacturer it is available for only 85$.

Thanks for the info. I’ll try searching Vivitar & see if I come up with anything. I’ve been shooting a lot lately with the Mint Instantkon RF70 and it only has a headphone jack to sync a external flash. I’m starting to think that I may have to get someone to splice the 2.5mm headphone jack onto my existing cable.

 

[AgX]

Exactly!

You got options:

-) replace te the current PC connector by a 2.5mm one
-) use a male-PC/2.5mm cord as intermediate
-) open your flash, take out the connector amd install instead a piece of cable hanging out with at its end a female PC connector, making your flash universal again

 

[wiltw]

might this work?

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/61579-REG/Vivitar_236300_PC_1_Sync_Cord.html/?ap=y&ap=y&smp=y&smp=y&lsft=BI%3A6879&gclid=CjwKCAjwjZmTBhB4EiwAynRmDzQ6PKg-2fHLVDPXL6YNsUUzZoZSovOUd_JRabC0vVT3ZP7BVgByxhoCvA8QAvD_BwE

 

[AgX]

That combo is what the OP already got and which seems common.

 

[Chan Tran]

That combo is what the OP already got and which seems common.

And thus buy a cable like that, cut it out and solder the 2.5mm plug on.

 

[bdial]

Paramount Cord is a good source, but not cheap.

Tip # 9 Vivitar – Paramount Cords

 

[MrMayface]

Paramount Cord is a good source, but not cheap.

Tip # 9 Vivitar – Paramount Cords

Thanks! I can’t believe those prices.

 

[BrianShaw]

Thanks! I can’t believe those prices.

Me either... unbelievable. In March 2021 Paramount announced that they were going out of business. I'm surprised that they still seem to be selling, but cannot believe that they are selling much at those prices. They make really good cords but I'd have to give up the use of flash if I had to buy a new cord at those prices.

 

[bdial]

Thanks! I can’t believe those prices.

I was surprised too. Their prices have always been at the premium end, but they had stuff that was unavailable anywhere else, and if it wasn't a stock item, they could likely build it for you. But now, those prices are beyond just "premium", unfortunately.

If you aren't in a hurry, and if there are any camera shows scheduled close by, they are a good way to find unique/oddball stuff if you're willing to dig through boxes of photographic odds and ends.

 

[AgX]

All my synch cables I got ouf rummage boxes or alike. But some things just not exist.

 

[ant!]

I use for my Minolta flash a PC cord - hotshoe adapter (on a Minolta Autocord), since I also didn't have this cable: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1130423-REG/impact_scs_mpc_male_pc_to.html . I use it together with a L-bracket... This of course might or not might work with your setup, just want to show another option.
But yeah, I would have liked to have as well a standard PC connector then this thing (which seems to be Vivitar style, as pointed out above). I have a few Minolta off-camera cables ("cable OC"), which are 4-pin cables for TTL flashes like the 360PX, but this doesn't help when you need PC...

 

[AgX]

Yes, both the classic hot-shoe/PC adapter and a PC/2.5 adapter combined is a good no-tinkering approach as both items may be more common than anything with a Vivitar-connector,

 

[M Carter]

Solder and heat shrink tubing = "about any cable you could want". Watch a couple youtube soldering videos, got a couple extra connectors to practice on. It's really pretty simple stuff.

 

[Pieter12]

Have you tried flashzebra.com

 

[Wallendo]

I have a cable like that (and it is not for sale) that I found on eBay. It took a while for an affordable on to show up.

This may be what you need:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/274920756138?hash=item40028dd3aa:g:tongue:-sAAOSw2KNhJs96

edit: I re-read the original post and this may be the cable you already own. Sorry

 

[John Koehrer]

The red circle is a Vivitar connection as AGX says.

this is a 2.5mm to pc: https://www.ebay.com/itm/190966003120?hash=item2c7675f5b0:g:iYUAAMXQUmFSkWWz

 

[reddesert]

Thanks. I’m using a Minolta Auto 132X flash.


Thanks for the info. I’ll try searching Vivitar & see if I come up with anything. I’ve been shooting a lot lately with the Mint Instantkon RF70 and it only has a headphone jack to sync a external flash. I’m starting to think that I may have to get someone to splice the 2.5mm headphone jack onto my existing cable.

Edit: I see the Mint camera does have a 2.5mm headphone jack from its specs.

For a Vivitar to 3.5mm cord, that's a stock item, for example this at B&H: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1402034-REG/nisha_fsc1635v_16_flash_sync_cord.html/?ap=y&ap=y&smp=y&smp=y&lsft=BI:514&gclid=Cj0KCQjw1N2TBhCOARIsAGVHQc7QJYfsZYPtb2Qb2EJykxzKY3OFtmjHc0Nt9-de6k1z3H5Xzrf3vPkaAmuREALw_wcB
or just search "Vivitar 1/8 flash cord."

If you need a 2.5mm plug, you may be able to use that cord and a 3.5mm to 2.5mm adapter. However, most of those adapters are for stereo headphones so they have extra contacts and you'll have to be sure that your tip and sleeve are making the right contacts.