Quick Tip: Quickly Change Between TTL and “Dumb” Sync Modes With Off Camera Flash

We got this great quick tip by mail from Brian Carey. He shoots a lot with off camera lighting and came up with a clever hack to switch between TTL and “dumb” PC-sync in a second. No complex menus, no fiddling with small buttons, just a straight easy swap. And it only takes a small game of Operation.

This is one of my favorite and most used photo hacks. With my portable speedlite light modifiers I use either Cybersync or TTL flash and this hack allows me to change to and from wired TTL to wireless (in this case non TTL) in seconds. The 3.5 mm, 1/8″ miniature jack also works with Pocket Wizards and other triggering devices.

These days I have wireless TTL via the Canon 600RT and the ST E3 RT and this setup offers me a backup in the event of battery or equipment failure as well I don’t have to change out my hotshoe adapters when changing triggering systems. So in this case I have three triggering options without changing out my adapters. If you got a serious shoot going down you got to have backup plans!

So what do I do. I simply solder the 3.5 mm, 1/8″ miniature jack to a Off-Camera Flash Cable.

Tools and supplies needed: 3.5 mm, 1/8″ miniature jack, a Off-Camera Flash Cable, solder pencil, solder, wire cutters/trimmers. ohm or multi-meter …….

 

With a small phillips screwdriver disassemble the unit, as seen here.

 

With your multi-meter determine your tip and ring connections

Solder the cable in place

Reassemble and your ready to go

The final result

My other unit.

I carry two bags of connectors and adapters with me and any reduction in the amount of gadgets you need or have to use is a good thing.

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