Hotshoe cable for FZ20?

Hello al,

Today, I went to a National Geography Traverlers Magazine "Secrets of Successful Travel Photography" seminar. It was very helpful. Among many techniques, a hotshoe extention cable was recommended. This is a cable that fits on hotshoe mount and has a hotshoe socket ont he other end so that you can hold your flash 2 to 6 feet away from the camera.

I see there is an Olympus FL-CB05 Hot Shoe Cable at B&H for $52.95:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=238212&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

Is this good or do you recommend something else? I have a Sunpak 383 flash unit.

Thanks,
Steven
--
Just having fun with my cams:
http://www.pbase.com/swhatleys/

That should work just fine...

--

God Bless America!

Bob the Printer

Hi Steven,

This might be an alternative for an all-in-one unit (@3 feet):

http://www.promaster.com/products/products.asp?CatID=150&CatSM=&SubCatID=1&CatName=Electronic%20Flash&SubCatName=Accessories%20/%20Cords&sm=sm2_1501&dir=&page=PROD&product=TTLCORD

You can probably use any of the variations. I have the Pentax one (since I also have a DS) and I also use it with my FZ30. Works fine and I think it costs less than the Olympus one. The brand dedication doesn't matter -- you'll only be using the center contact

Another alternative is to look for component pieces -- you might be able to find them cheap (used) in a camera shop or swap meet -- you'd need a hotshoe to pc adapter, a pc male to pc male cord and a pc to hotshoe adapter. I've seen these for a couple of bucks apiece at a number of places. Just ask -- a lot of places have drawers full of stuff like this.

Scott

I am curious about this also....and maybe someone can help us.

I think the 383 came with the PC cable but no way to attach to the camera....I think we need a hotshoe end to fit the camera.
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Gene
From Western PA.

Panasonic FZ-10 and FZ 20 and FZ30
B300
T Con 17 --two Tcon 14Bs -- Raynox 2020 pro -- DCR 6600

http://imageevent.com/grc6



Just trying to learn and it's slow going!

What exactly is the purpose of this item? If it is to get the flash farther away from the camera, why can't you just use a flash diffuser? Is'nt the purpose to reduce the glare of the flash, or am I missing something?

Hi Berzin,

The purpose would be to get a different angle on the light. Straight on flash tends to flatten features (such as the nose and lips on the face, for example, giving a very flat look). Using a flash from the side would create a shadow on one side of the feature, thus creating a more 3-dimensional perspective.

Another thing is that you can eliminate the flash "hotspots" (direct reflection from the flash) especially from highly reflective surfaces, that you get from straight on flash.

Scott

Hi Gene,

What you would need (if you still have the pc male to pc male cord) is either a hotshoe to pc adapter:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=109453&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

This will allow the hotshoe signal from the FZ30 to control the flash through the cord.

I don't have a 383, so I don't know if it has a pc input socket (but I'd have to assume it does if it came with the cord.

Scott

I think that is exactly whats needed. next time I order something from B&H I am going to get one.
--
------------------------------------------------------------
Gene
From Western PA.

Panasonic FZ-10 and FZ 20 and FZ30
B300
T Con 17 --two Tcon 14Bs -- Raynox 2020 pro -- DCR 6600

http://imageevent.com/grc6



Just trying to learn and it's slow going!

snostorm said:

Hi Gene,

What you would need (if you still have the pc male to pc male cord)
is either a hotshoe to pc adapter:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=109453&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

This will allow the hotshoe signal from the FZ30 to control the
flash through the cord.

I don't have a 383, so I don't know if it has a pc input socket
(but I'd have to assume it does if it came with the cord.

Scott

Click to expand...

I use the same type adapter but made by Nikon, I'm not sure but I think that is nikon s-15, I bouth that seccond hand and I use a Metz flash because the PC cord that comes with the flash is too short (15 cm) I bouth too a pc cable of 3 meters (aprox. 1 USD)

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Hida.
Panasonic ₣Ž-20
http://hidayatgallery.fotopic.net/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hida/

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=37086&is=REG&addedTroughType=search
--



Hida.
Panasonic ₣Ž-20
http://hidayatgallery.fotopic.net/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hida/

snostorm said:

Hi Gene,

What you would need (if you still have the pc male to pc male cord)
is either a hotshoe to pc adapter:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=109453&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

Click to expand...

OK, that looks good. So will this sunpak PC sync cable work then? I think the Sunpak PC sync port is a male connector.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=cart&A=details&Q=&sku=52939&is=REG

The adapter and above cable cost a total of $20. That's much better than $52 for the TTL hotshoe cable that Olympus sells. I know that I don't need TTL.

Thanks,
Steven