i40 Flash for Sony - PC Sync Options?

[Baipin]

Forgive me if this is the wrong forum, but as the title suggests, I've got a question about the Nissin i40 for the Sony multi-interface shoe.

Is there any sort of cable out there that allows me to use the i40 (Sony MIS version) with a PC sync?

I recently bought an i40 for my A7R, and it's fantastic. I bought it because of the test/manual fire button, good output, small size, and manual controls; all of which lend themselves well to how I shoot. However, I'd like to use it on more than just the A7R. I have a few cameras (namely the one in my profile picture) that I wish to use it with. Essentially, cameras with leaf shutters.

I don't care about any sort of automation apart from the flash firing when the shutter is open. What, if any, options do I have? All I've been able to find is a female to male Sony MIS extender for off-camera flash - I've had no luck finding any product that lets me connect the male MIS shoe with a female PC sync, as found on your typical Copal/Seiko/Compur.

I'm looking for something like this, that will trigger a Sony MIS-shoed flash, like my Nissin i40:

 

[sevo]

Mechanically, there is no reason why that would not trigger a Sony MIS flash, unless the socket should be too short (which could be fixed with a Dremel tool). YMMV if the flash somehow has no true ISO-standard manual mode triggering off the central pin (like some Canon consumer DSLR kit flashes) - but I'd be surprised to encounter that kind of restriction on a third party flash.

 

[Baipin]

Mechanically, there is no reason why that would not trigger a Sony MIS flash, unless the socket should be too short (which could be fixed with a Dremel tool). YMMV if the flash somehow has no true ISO-standard manual mode triggering off the central pin (like some Canon consumer DSLR kit flashes) - but I'd be surprised to encounter that kind of restriction on a third party flash.

Yeah, I understand what you mean. Unfortunately I haven't had much luck finding a shoe that triggers this flash, that isn't specifically meant for MIS flashes. If I recall correctly, the central pin and the gold contact must touch to complete the circuit. Thank you for your response though!

 

[sevo]

Yep, the Sony pin is slightly misplaced to the rear, with an extra cavity for the contacts up front that makes up for that. It does generally work out where Sony body+generic ISO (no-TTL) flash compatibility is concerned. But the inverse is more difficult, my Meike flash works on some of my oldest (1960s vintage) hot-shod cameras, where the contact was generously sized. But on all modern (1980s up) cameras it won't fit - I suppose that by that time the camera makers reduced the size of the contact to avoid shorting out the extra pins most makers of TTL flash systems placed around the central pin.

In your case, you should be able to work around it by extending the adapter slot so that the flash goes in by another 2-3mm - after all it is just a cheap adapter.

 

[Baipin]

Yep, the Sony pin is slightly misplaced to the rear, with an extra cavity for the contacts up front that makes up for that. It does generally work out where Sony body+generic ISO (no-TTL) flash compatibility is concerned. But the inverse is more difficult, my Meike flash works on some of my oldest (1960s vintage) hot-shod cameras, where the contact was generously sized. But on all modern (1980s up) cameras it won't fit - I suppose that by that time the camera makers reduced the size of the contact to avoid shorting out the extra pins most makers of TTL flash systems placed around the central pin.

In your case, you should be able to work around it by extending the adapter slot so that the flash goes in by another 2-3mm - after all it is just a cheap adapter.

Yeah, I think that's what I'll do then. My only concern is those gold-plated pins contacting the hotshoe. They seemed slightly raised above the plane of the pin. Have you had issues with this? I suppose I could just add an additional metal plate to raise the hotshoe base up slightly, for those contacts, or bend the contact downwards ever so slightly (though I'm hesitant to do that).

 

[Argenticien]

D. B., did you ever find a good solution to this (or has anyone else)? I have now got the same problem: I got a Nissin i40 flash, and would like to use it with ancient film cameras having only PC connectors (and in some cases, cold shoes). Obviously I would use the flash on full manual settings with no automation. I Googled extensively, but all adapters I found for sale are for adapting Canikon flashes to Sony cameras, or slightly older Sony flashes to newer Sony cameras, or Sony flashes on Sony cameras to off camera, so all no use.

I have a little PC cord - to - shoe adapter like you pictured above, and duly shaved off the front edge of it to allow the i40 to slide further forward, but still no luck. My adapter is especially off-brand and super-crappy, and I think the i40 is riding too high in the rails, not making electrical contact with anything in the shoe. The flash also has to be forced hard and awkwardly into this shoe rather than sliding nicely, which makes me fear I'm going to break the foot off the brand new flash. I'm done with this thing! Any suggestions or findings for good adapters welcome!

Thanks in advance...
--Dave

 

[LKSC]

I'm not sure but perhaps what you want is this

http://www.flashzebra.com/sonyflash/index.shtml

 

[Argenticien]

I'm not sure but perhaps what you want is this

http://www.flashzebra.com/sonyflash/index.shtml

Thanks for the suggestion L K S C. Actually I had looked at things like that ... these fall under the category I was calling before "slightly older Sony flashes." Apparently they're known as iISO(?). Anyway they aren't for the current shoe. I'll keep looking; I had no idea it should be this difficult.
--Dave