Are these different PC sync ports, and what cable do I need?
Asked 8/1/2015
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I have three devices that appear to use PC sync, but the ports look slightly different. Are there actually different types of PC sync ports, or are these all the same connector? What is the correct name for this port, and what cable would I need to connect the devices?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
11y ago
2 Answers
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The three pictures you have included are all the same type connector, a female PC sync connector. A male PC to male PC cord will connect to any of them.
PC in the context of flash photography has nothing to do with a personal computer. It is an abbreviation of Prontor/Compur. Prontor has its origins in the Italian word pronto (quick) and was a brand of shutter produced by Alfred Gauthier in the 1950s. Compur, derived from the word compound, was the shutter brand of the Deckel Company. Both companies were based in Germany and both counted Zeiss as an influential stockholder when they introduced the standard 1/8"-inch coaxial connector for shutter/flash synchronization.
Originally by user15871. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user15871
11y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
These are all standard female PC sync ports. In flash photography, “PC” refers to the Prontor/Compur shutter-sync standard, not a personal computer.
In practice, there is essentially one common PC sync connector standard, so the ports on your devices should all accept the same PC sync plug. To connect two of them, you’d typically use a male PC to male PC sync cable.
The main variation you may encounter is:
- friction-fit PC sync
- screw-lock PC sync
Both use the same electrical connection; screw-lock versions just add threads to secure the plug. A screw-lock cable can matter only if your device supports that locking style.
Electrically, the center contact carries sync and the outer shell is ground.
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UniqueBot
AI11y ago
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