Canon EOS 10D sync polarity

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Sean Ras - 30 Mar 2004 03:45 GMT

I have trouble getting my Canon EOS 10D to properly fire my White Lightning
X1600 via the PC sync cable. White Lightning tech support believes it may be
because the sync polarity of the cord is center positive while the EOS 10D
PC connection might be negative. Does anyone know the sync polarity of the
EOS 10D? I can't find that info anywhere. This is a description of my
problem:
I just purchased an X1600 and I'm having trouble with the unit firing
sometimes. I use a Canon EOS 10D or a Mamiya C330f to shoot. Sometimes, the
X1600 will not flash when I have the sync cord attached to my camera or
flash meter (Minolta Autometer IVf). Suddenly, the flash will begin to fire
and everything starts working fine. I'm not using any different settings on
the camera from the time the flash doesn't respond to the time it does
respond. My best guess is that there is a problem with the sync cord so I'm
going to purchase a new one as soon as I get the chance. Are there any other
things I could check that could possibly cause this type of problem? Thanks
for your help.

Sean

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Mike King - 30 Mar 2004 18:01 GMT

Simple solution--use some type of wireless trigger on camera. Your choices
include a lower powered Canon strobe fired at the ceiling, a simple IR
strobe, a fancy optical trigger with some sort of pulse modulation or a RF
unit. Gets rid of the short-leash problem I have when tethered to one of
the flash units.

Being the nervous sort I'd also recommend some sort of flash unit isolator
when using modern electronic cameras even flashes with so called "safe"
flash trigger voltages. The Wein safe synch unit is one such.

--
darkroommike

----------

> I have trouble getting my Canon EOS 10D to properly fire my White Lightning
> X1600 via the PC sync cable. White Lightning tech support believes it may be
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> Sean

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Neil Gould - 30 Mar 2004 19:50 GMT

Recently, Sean Ras <hollinges002@hawaii.rr.com> posted:

> I have trouble getting my Canon EOS 10D to properly fire my White
> Lightning X1600 via the PC sync cable. White Lightning tech support
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> things I could check that could possibly cause this type of problem?
> Thanks for your help.

From your description, it doesn't sound like a sync polarity issue to me.
If it were, most likely it would never fire.

I'm not clear as to whether the X1600 works reliably with the C300f but
not the 10D, or whether the problem is independent of what camera or
attachment you use. If the problem persists regardless of the camera or
attachment, then it's most likely a problem with the flash trigger
circuitry.

Since you've said that it starts working properly after the flash has
fired, perhaps the X1600's trigger circuit needs to be "initialized" by
firing it a couple of times. If this works, then the problem may be
"cured" by using a properly grounded outlet. If you're already using a
grounded outlet, then it's probably a design issue that you won't be able
to fix yourself.

Regards,

Neil

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Gary Beasley - 31 Mar 2004 02:55 GMT

>I have trouble getting my Canon EOS 10D to properly fire my White Lightning
>X1600 via the PC sync cable. White Lightning tech support believes it may be
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
>Sean

As well as checking the safety of your polarity, you might want to
invest in a small tool used to groom the pc tip. What happenes is the
pin in the center gets too well centered and looses good contact, as
well as the outside contact being loosened. I forget what you call it,
most good camera stores can direct you to it. What it does is decenter
the pin and crimp the outer collar in a bit for a tighter contact.
It'll save buying a new cord until something really does go wrong with
it. Go ahead and buy a spare cord while you are at it though, its
cheap insurance for a failed cord during a busy shoot.

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