10D mis syncs w/strobes/Wein Safe Sync!!!! HELP

vance_dovenbarger · #1 03-15-2006, 03:58 PM

Hi,
When I shoot with my Speedotron 2400 pack my 10 d will not sync/fire 20% of the time. I can change sync cords,curly PC cords (the one that plugs into the body) and sometimes that will cause it to start syncing again. Generally I use a Wein safe Sync at the end of the sync cord right before it goes into the pack. The "non syncing" seems to happen with or without it. When I initally got my 10D, a few people indicated it was best to shoot with a safe sync when shooting with strobes due to fluctuating electrical currents (or something like that). Yesterday when it was not firing (had the Safe Sync in) I was also getting an Err 99. I re booted the camera by taking out and reloading the battery and took off the Safe Sync and it seemed to start syncing again. Lastly,when shooting today I had problems getting it to sync when shooting vertically with sync plug side down. When I shot vertically with the sync plug side up it seemed to sync OK.

Very inconsistent and annoying problem pattern. I have an extended Mack warranty but hesitate to send it in as it's such a sporadic problem and one that would be difficult to recreate without the same gear?? Any ideas about what may be wrong would be appreciated.

Cheers,
Vance

ChuckWestfall · #2 03-15-2006, 04:42 PM

Vince:

Chances are good that you need to reverse the polarity of your sync cable to solve this problem. If the end of the cable that plugs into the power pack is a double-bladed type, just turn the plug around. If it's more like a headphone jack, you may have to rewire the sync cable to reverse the leads.

You should continue using the Wein sync filter with your EOS 10D as well.

vance_dovenbarger · #3 03-15-2006, 06:31 PM

Hi Chuck,
Thanks for responding. I do generally try the "reversing the polarity" thing and sometimes that works. What are your thoughts about how it would sync or not when I was shooting vertically?

Regards,
Vance

ChuckWestfall · #4 03-16-2006, 10:19 AM

If the sync polarity is OK and sync is intermittent when the camera is positioned vertically, but OK when the camera is positioned horizontally, it sounds like you are losing electrical contact somewhere along the line. Check the tightness of the fit between the sync cable and the camera's PC socket, and/or try a new sync cable. If neither of these measures resolves the issue, have the camera checked by a service technician.

Bob_Green · #5 03-19-2006, 05:38 PM

Hi Chuck and Vance, I have been encountering this same situation. I have switched from 2400 to 4800 and still had this problem of the strobe not syncing. The only difference is that I switched from AC power, back to the battery and have not had an issue. So my question is with this all going on (I have unhooked and reconnected everything several times, is there and issue with the on camera flash and it's sensor not allowing the camera to sync as it would if the pop up flash was active?
Thanks, Bob

ChuckWestfall · #6 03-20-2006, 11:56 AM

>>is there and issue with the on camera flash and it's sensor not allowing the camera to sync as it would if the pop up flash was active?<<

Hi, Bob:

Sorry, I'm having a tough time following your question. WOuld you mind rephrasing? Thanks.

vance_dovenbarger · #7 03-20-2006, 05:24 PM

Hey Bob,
I'm in Minneapolis as well. I had a conversation with LouAnn Dietz today (fixes power packs in Maple Grove) and after describing my symptoms she said she believed the problem was actually the pack. I have a 2405 pack and when I pressed the red "dump" button it would not go off and dump the flash head every time. It was intermittent. I had also recently had a problem when using that pack as a remote pack and slaving it off an extension cord and a slave peanut. It would go off sporadically (sp?).

I'll be happy if in fact it is the pack as the problem will finally be diagnosed and fixed. It's a bugger when you can't determine what is causing the problem....the camera or the pack. I'll let you know whatever gets diagnosed.

In the meantime Chuck,thanks for your responses in any case. Who knows,it may still end up being the sync connection in the camera.

Vance