External flash sync - Unreliable

[Jack A. Zucker]

I'm really beginning to be bummed.

Just when I thought this camera was amazing.

The external PC-Sync flash connector doesn't always fire. When it mis-fires, I have to re-seat the pc-connector 2-3 times before it'll fire again. This is very disconcerting when you are shooting portraits and the subject is wondering if you know what you're doing. I have to say that in all the 1000s of pictures I've taken with my F3 using it's PC-Sync connector, I don't think it's ever mis-fired. Same thing with my Mamiya RB-67.

I guess this just comfirms in my mind how cheaply and flimsy the current crop of digital cameras are made. We're paying the R&D costs and our $750 C2020 cameras are mechanically equivalent to a $175 point and shoot.

Jaz

 

[RichW14417]

I'm really beginning to be bummed.

Just when I thought this camera was amazing.

The external PC-Sync flash connector doesn't always fire. When it
mis-fires, I have to re-seat the pc-connector 2-3 times before it'll fire
again. This is very disconcerting when you are shooting portraits and the
subject is wondering if you know what you're doing. I have to say that in
all the 1000s of pictures I've taken with my F3 using it's PC-Sync
connector, I don't think it's ever mis-fired. Same thing with my Mamiya
RB-67.

I guess this just comfirms in my mind how cheaply and flimsy the current
crop of digital cameras are made. We're paying the R&D costs and our $750
C2020 cameras are mechanically equivalent to a $175 point and shoot.

Jaz

Sorry to hear that. Mine only lasted two weeks before it wouldn't read a SM card. The quality is not what you should expect from an expensive camera. But I don't think that you have looked at $175 cameras lately. Now that's cheap! They are almost disposable.... They are definately not making them like they used to.

Rich

 

[Peter14699]

I'm really beginning to be bummed.

Just when I thought this camera was amazing.

The external PC-Sync flash connector doesn't always fire. When it
mis-fires, I have to re-seat the pc-connector 2-3 times before it'll fire
again. This is very disconcerting when you are shooting portraits and the
subject is wondering if you know what you're doing. I have to say that in
all the 1000s of pictures I've taken with my F3 using it's PC-Sync
connector, I don't think it's ever mis-fired. Same thing with my Mamiya
RB-67.

I guess this just comfirms in my mind how cheaply and flimsy the current
crop of digital cameras are made. We're paying the R&D costs and our $750
C2020 cameras are mechanically equivalent to a $175 point and shoot.

Jaz

Sorry to hear that. Mine only lasted two weeks before it wouldn't read a
SM card. The quality is not what you should expect from an expensive
camera. But I don't think that you have looked at $175 cameras lately.
Now that's cheap! They are almost disposable.... They are definately not
making them like they used to.

Rich

Noticed on the camera bottom photos in the Steve's Digicam review of the C2020 that it showed a " Made in Korea " sticker. Mine says " Made in Japan " Could the place of manufacturing have any bearing on the quality of the camera? Are they being made anywhere else? Peter

 

[R Burkert]

I'm really beginning to be bummed.

Just when I thought this camera was amazing.

The external PC-Sync flash connector doesn't always fire. When it
mis-fires, I have to re-seat the pc-connector 2-3 times before it'll fire
again. This is very disconcerting when you are shooting portraits and the
subject is wondering if you know what you're doing. I have to say that in
all the 1000s of pictures I've taken with my F3 using it's PC-Sync
connector, I don't think it's ever mis-fired. Same thing with my Mamiya
RB-67.

I guess this just comfirms in my mind how cheaply and flimsy the current
crop of digital cameras are made. We're paying the R&D costs and our $750
C2020 cameras are mechanically equivalent to a $175 point and shoot.

Jaz

Sorry to hear that. Mine only lasted two weeks before it wouldn't read a
SM card. The quality is not what you should expect from an expensive
camera. But I don't think that you have looked at $175 cameras lately.
Now that's cheap! They are almost disposable.... They are definately not
making them like they used to.

Rich

Noticed on the camera bottom photos in the Steve's Digicam review of the
C2020 that it showed a " Made in Korea " sticker. Mine says " Made in
Japan " Could the place of manufacturing have any bearing on the quality
of the camera? Are they being made anywhere else? Peter

The fact that the flash does fire after reseating makes me wonder whether the receptacle may have dirt in it. Have you tried blowing it out with canned air? This worked for me on a Sony Walkman that had intermittent audio out. I know the sync connector receptacle on the Oly is much smaller than the earphone jack on a walkman but it might be worth a try.