Sync-hole Opens at Photokina
See that little hole? That's a ⅛" (3.5mm) sync on the just-announced Mitros flash from Phottix. It's starting to happen, people…
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The new (upcoming, actually) flash is a full TTL/manual/HSS model, which is designed to emulate the feature set of the OEM flagship speedlights (fast recycle, IR triggering, master/slave mode, etc.) Canon version is expected to launch soon, followed by Nikon and then… Sony. See the Mitros page for full details, more pics.
But even more interesting in my book is the fact that the Mitros now joins the Nissin Di622 and the LumoPro models LP120 and LP160 as having a ⅛" sync port. (Why is that trend cool? Because this.)
Phottix's Steve Peer explains the company's thinking behind the ⅛" jack:
The decision regarding this was simple, PC sync is dated and unreliable. You know as well as I do how persnickety a PC cable connection is between a flash and trigger. The wind blows the wrong way and your flash is suddenly not firing as the cable has moved slightly.
While we offer PC sync cables and ship the with all our triggers finding and purchasing these cables in some parts of the world is not an easy feat for some photographers. We would rather "keep it simple," as well as offer the additional durability and ease-of-use offered by 3.5 mm cables.
Yep. Welcome aboard the ⅛" sync bandwagon, Phottix. Unified, inexpensive sync systems help us to think of speedlights as little tiny monoblocs. Which they kinda are.
Price for the upcoming Mitros has not been finalized, but is expected to be in the $300 range.
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Posted at 11:23 AM.
15 Comments:
I'm very curious if Phottix will release a wireless flash that works with their Odins.
I wish this emerging 1/8" (3.5mm) jack trend would instead make use of the stereo connector and add the quench signal on the extra pin. This would enable cross-standard wireless power control on the cheap!
@Hugo-
Not gonna happen, IMO. The quench pin is, for the most part, deprecated tech. Latest OEMs don't use it.
Although I hate the PC sync ports on my SB800's to the same degree I rely upon them, I hate them a lot less since I found these on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007MAYD7M/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00
The PC sync side of the cable has a thumb screw that holds your connection secure into an SB800 and also allows the cable to pivot. I just leave them semi-permanently connected.
Still, I'll always like the 3.5mm sync hole on my LP160's better.
Cw.
Nice. Good to see the jack is becoming more common.
Is that a USB port next door? If so, what's its function?
Craig, I agree on the PC sync with the little locking screw. For my Yongnuo 603's and Yongnuo 560's speedlites, they needed the PC sync on both ends rather than one. Took me forever, but I found that Yongnuo's main ebay site has short cables with that screw connection on each end.
However, I have to agree, if everyone would start going to these 1/8th jacks that would be GREAT.
I have some Lumopro stands, but haven't tried the strobes yet. I live an hour west of MPEX so I have no excuse other than laziness. :)
@Cafe-
If you click through to the info page on the flash (ahem) you'd see it was a firmware upgrade port. :)
I am trying to decide if a sync hole at Photokina is an earth-shattering story or simply a new(s) flash...
Plastic hot shoe. Why do manufacturers compromise one thing for another? It seems to be that they will not have a metal hot shoe or are thes just prototypes?
David, have you seen this thing? :
http://www.lencarta.com/lighting-store/radio-triggers/radio-triggers/transceiver-set-for-nikon-dslr
It is not about the cords, but, if it happens to be true it would be kind of a revolution in small flash lightning.
@Антон-
Yeah, saw it. Lotta snake oil claims being thrown around. Best I can tell it is just wireless FP sync, with all of the limitations thereof...
I was not able to wait that long and I did it myself. http://www.flickr.com/photos/63058793@N03/5849139379/
Dang! 1/8 mini-plug is cool for sync, but I immediately thought I was looking at the first flash with a remote power adjustment to sync to the Strattos II as recently discussed on the flickr forum.
Many existing flashes can have a 3.5mm socket added with some minor effort. See Nikon, Sigma and Canon flashes with a 3.5mm connector placement: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pixonian/2147760507/
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