SC-17 Cable and the Garden Hose

[akptc]

Sorry if this has been already discussed, I just did a forum search that turned up zero threads with "SC-17". My plan was to keep a small flash bracket and the SC-17 Nikon cable for the occasional off-camera flash picture. The bracket, which I got from a member here is great - small, light, all metal, fits the M6 like a glove. The flash is great too - I got the Leica flash 24D and like it a lot. But now comes the ugly part - the SC-17 cable is a monster! It's not big, it's HUGE! I think I got the short one and it literally overwhelms the camera. The cable itself is as thick as a garden hose, the Bakelite connectors are monstrously big, and the one that goes on the hot shoe results in the cable falling in front of the view finder. It's not a very elegant or comfortable solution and I am looking for a better way to use the off-camera flash with TTL metering. Would appreciate ANY ideas - thanks!

 

[tripod]

If you use the flash on manual or auto, instead of TTL flash control, a regular thin PC (not computer) cord works. I don't know about that particular flash though. You can buy small cheapie auto-thyrister flash units.

 

[drewbarb]

AFAIK, the only other option besides the Nikon cable is if you can find an old Contax off-camera flash cable. Nikon, Leica and Contax are the only makers that use this pin configuration, and if you want TTL control, you need all the pins in the flash to connect with the ones in your hot-shoe- so you need to use one of these cables. If you can live without TTL flash control, you can do as tripod suggests and switch to Auto or Manual mode and use a regular thin PC cord. If not, I think you're out of luck- sorry.

 

[hexar_hp5]

From my old Nikon days, I know that there is a way to shorten up the cable alot. Have a search about on the web, the details are out there. I think it entails opening the connector on one side unsoldering the existing connection cutting the cable and resoldering.

 

[akptc]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I tried the Pentax off-camera cord and it fits the connector pins on the M6 and on the SF24D but I think the pinout is not the same because the flash in TTL reports odd info (not what it should be as compared to it being mounted on the hot shoe directly). I tried that because I'd read somewhere that the Pentax TTL cord would work. I am now hunting for the Contax TLA 100 cable, it looks like it might work and even if it doesn’t I can still use it with my Contax. In the meantime, I will try to shorten the SC-17 cable, see how that goes.