This brand new flash cable sync cord doesn't seem to work

fabulousrice · Sep 15, 2023

I wanted to take flash pictures with my Bronica so I bought this hotshoe adapter.

Unless I'm missing something, it doesn't seem to be working...

I tried putting the flash in both ways and neither way fires it.

(http://imgur.com/a/W1ZmXHe)
Am I doing something wrong?

koraks · Sep 16, 2023

Follow a process of elimination:
1. Verify that the camera's sync contact actually shirts during exposure
2. Verify the flash unit triggers OK when used on a hot shoe
3. Verify that the hot shoe adapter triggers, e.g. by shorting the contacts
4. Verify the cable is OK using a continuity tester.

bdial · Sep 16, 2023

Try shorting the cord contacts at the camera end. Ballpoint pens work well.
Sometimes connectors are ok one orientation but not in others, which makes for very frustrating troubleshooting.

eli griggs · Sep 16, 2023

Try the cord on a different camera or two and also with a known good second flash.

Go from there

fabulousrice · Sep 16, 2023

koraks said:
Follow a process of elimination:
1. Verify that the camera's sync contact actually shirts during exposure
2. Verify the flash unit triggers OK when used on a hot shoe
3. Verify that the hot shoe adapter triggers, e.g. by shorting the contacts
4. Verify the cable is OK using a continuity tester.

Ok I figured it out, it's just a bad design between the flash and the adapter that makes the connection weak.

If I hold both of them more tightly the flash fires each time... it's just cumbersome. I might just solder an extra piece of metal onto the flash's connector to make it touch the adapter more tightly.

(http://imgur.com/a/NZ0JTcA)

koraks · Sep 17, 2023

Ah, I see what you mean. Well spotted. I'm afraid the soldering trick won't work, but give it a try. You may be lucky. In many cases, some bending and mildly forcing small parts can make a contact stick out just a little more, improving the situation. It's an annoying defect!

Sirius Glass · Sep 17, 2023

fabulousrice said:
Ok I figured it out, it's just a bad design between the flash and the adapter that makes the connection weak.

If I hold both of them more tightly the flash fires each time... it's just cumbersome. I might just solder an extra piece of metal onto the flash's connector to make it touch the adapter more tightly.

(http://imgur.com/a/NZ0JTcA)

Another Photrio success story.

BrianShaw · Sep 17, 2023

fabulousrice said:
Ok I figured it out, it's just a bad design between the flash and the adapter that makes the connection weak.

If I hold both of them more tightly the flash fires each time... it's just cumbersome. I might just solder an extra piece of metal onto the flash's connector to make it touch the adapter more tightly.

(http://imgur.com/a/NZ0JTcA)

Alternatively, get a better designed flash unit. With MF you could probably use more light than that will provide in most situations anyway. There are many affordable used options that might be better solutions. Especially look at flashes that include a pc plug so as to avoid using a flash shoe adapter.

Don_ih · Sep 17, 2023

I have a flash similar to this one

It works well on the shoe incorporated into my Bronica ETR grip. The little cable disconnects to plug into the camera's socket. This one is about $10 on ebay right now....

This brand new flash cable sync cord doesn't seem to work

fabulousrice

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This brand new flash cable sync cord doesn't seem to work

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