hankg Posted April 27, 2007 Share #1 Posted April 27, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Any forum members handy with fabricating electronic parts? Since Leica eliminated the PC connector from the M8 there is no way to fire a strobe with the 90deg Viso finder mounted on the M8. The chimney finder works great for landscape oriented shots, its like using an old Rollei, but for portrait orientation -not so good. Since most of my portraits are shot with the camera flipped into portrait mode a work around the lack of pc connector is vital. I need a connector to fit in the hotshoe that will fit under the 90 finder with a wire coming out the back to a 2.5mm Submini (that will plug into a MicroSync sender). There is only enough room for a plate to slide into the hotshoe. It doesn't have to be pretty, so long as it works. Anyone care to give a price to fabricate one? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted April 27, 2007 Posted April 27, 2007 Hi hankg, Take a look here Need a custom hot shoe to pc cord. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jaapv Posted April 27, 2007 Share #2 Posted April 27, 2007 The alternative is to use the funnel finder and a Nikon cable. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hankg Posted April 27, 2007 Author Share #3 Posted April 27, 2007 The alternative is to use the funnel finder and a Nikon cable. If you mean the straight finder I allready use that. With the straight finder you can mount the microsync in the hot shoe no problem. But turning the camera 90deg with the straight finder is not practical so hand held it's landscape mode only. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted April 27, 2007 Share #4 Posted April 27, 2007 True. Also I find the left-right switch in the straight finder unpractical:o Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wparsonsgisnet Posted April 27, 2007 Share #5 Posted April 27, 2007 Hank, John Milich, of WATE custom filter fame, has mentioned that his next project is a low-profile hot shoe adapter with a pc attachment. You could find his email here somewhere and ask him what he plans. Conversely, he may read this post and say something on his own. In the meantime, if you're working on aj tripod, do the focusing, remove the hood, and attach the pc adapter for the pic. A drag, but it works -- unless your shooting a moving target (all portraits fit this definition, of course). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hankg Posted April 27, 2007 Author Share #6 Posted April 27, 2007 Thanks Bill, I just sent John an email. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
afineman Posted April 28, 2007 Share #7 Posted April 28, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) You might want to talk to Michael Bass http://michaelbass.blogspot.com/ I was talking with him a couple months ago about having a custom made adapter so that i could use my 28 & 21 viewfinders with the pc sync. But I decided to wait on getting an m8 instead because of the black fabric issues. Michael had some great ideas for solutions that could work at reasonable prices. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hankg Posted May 9, 2007 Author Share #8 Posted May 9, 2007 Well I contacted Michael Bass and in a day he had knocked up a working prototype from my text description. He has some refinements in mind but his first effort works just fine for me. I also got my Viso back from Brightscreen with a plain screen with 1.33 crops. I'm ready to do some studio portraits with the 135/4 tele-elmar that just arrived. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/22639-need-a-custom-hot-shoe-to-pc-cord/?do=findComment&comment=250316'>More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted May 9, 2007 Share #9 Posted May 9, 2007 Hank that looks like a good working solution . I would want a female PC outlet instead or the mini plug for the Microsync transmitter and sure that can be done. I certainly am interested in this. Any chance he can give us a idea on cost. Frankly i would sell my vertical finder in a minute if i could get one of those and go back to the right angle finder Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hankg Posted May 9, 2007 Author Share #10 Posted May 9, 2007 Hank that looks like a good working solution . I would want a female PC outlet instead or the mini plug for the Microsync transmitter and sure that can be done. I certainly am interested in this. Any chance he can give us a idea on cost. Frankly i would sell my vertical finder in a minute if i could get one of those and go back to the right angle finder He is very reasonable, contact him at Michael Bass Michael Bass Designs For landscape oriented images I like the chimney finder, it's like using a Hassy. Very stable, I fire the shutter with my thumb. Plus the straight finder is super bright with no prism. But for portraits you need a 90. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted May 10, 2007 Share #11 Posted May 10, 2007 Lots of people who do not use a Viso also want an off-camera flash solution, one without the wireless hassle. In other words, a TTL shoe-to-foot cable. Metz are deaf. Leica, are you listening? The old man from the Age of Edison-mount Flashbulbs Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hankg Posted May 10, 2007 Author Share #12 Posted May 10, 2007 Lots of people who do not use a Viso also want an off-camera flash solution, one without the wireless hassle. In other words, a TTL shoe-to-foot cable. Metz are deaf. Leica, are you listening? The old man from the Age of Edison-mount Flashbulbs I think the Nikon cords will work. But wireless is really less hassle and more flexible. The micro-sync transmitter is tiny, perfect for the M. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
howard_cummer Posted May 10, 2007 Share #13 Posted May 10, 2007 The Nikon SC 17 works fine for off camera flash with the M8 and the SF 24 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted May 10, 2007 Share #14 Posted May 10, 2007 The SC17 also works with the Metz 54 but mostly here the concern is studio strobes although i would guess he can make it with a hot shoe end too. I e-mailed him yesterday and he is just waiting on Hanks feedback and is working on a slightly different design and will contact me when ready for me to get one. I am going for the miniplug end for the Micro sync. maybe even glue a dead hot shoe on top of the Viso prism to hkeep it from flying around. BTW i am looking for a Viso III right angle finder if anyone see's one Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toke Posted May 10, 2007 Share #15 Posted May 10, 2007 It would be great to have a tiny ttl adaptor to slide into the hotshoe of the M8 (or M6ttl, M7), which acommodates a plug to connect a ttl flash WITH all the ttl connections needed. On top og the adaptor there should be a hotshoe (with or without conections) to use Your external viewfinders. That way I could use my M6TTL or M8 with sub 28 (24) mm. lenses, and still use handheld TTL flash! And I would be able to use my M8 with the apropriate viewfinder AND my studio flashes! I REALLY don't understand why Leica decided after 50 years: "Let's try something new, let's REMOVE the flash connection possibillity from the M" So please, if anyone could make a very small and very rigid solution, which would make it possible to shoot the M8 with external viewfinder and flash (hotshoe mounted or studioflash) at the same time, I would love it! Toke Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wparsonsgisnet Posted May 10, 2007 Share #16 Posted May 10, 2007 Lots of people who do not use a Viso also want an off-camera flash solution, one without the wireless hassle. In other words, a TTL shoe-to-foot cable. Metz are deaf. Leica, are you listening? The old man from the Age of Edison-mount Flashbulbs Lars, I use the Metz off-camera cord and it drives me nuts. It's coiled, doesn't stretch all that well, and only lets the flash move about 2 feet away. I plan to acquire a Microsync Digital device. I have worked with a guy who has one and they are not noticable on the camera, as opposed to the offputting things from pocket wizard. I will have to explore the connectivity of the receiver with the Metz 54. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted May 10, 2007 Share #17 Posted May 10, 2007 Lars, I use the Metz off-camera cord and it drives me nuts. It's coiled, doesn't stretch all that well, and only lets the flash move about 2 feet away. I plan to acquire a Microsync Digital device. I have worked with a guy who has one and they are not noticable on the camera, as opposed to the offputting things from pocket wizard. I will have to explore the connectivity of the receiver with the Metz 54. I am watching with interest. Any full system off-camera solution would make it possible for me to hand-bounce flash with an SF 24 flash – and that just may at last make me want one! I'll also look into the Nikon cord. The old man from the Age of Available Light Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Bass Posted June 4, 2007 Share #18 Posted June 4, 2007 Hi all - The new version of the Low Profile Hot Shoe pickup seems to be working just fine, and is just under 0.25 inches in height, locks in place, and can be positioned so the cord exits in almost any direction, and is short enough to fit under the Visoflex finder. The hot shoe adapter (optional) has the mating sync jack, and can be mounted anywhere through the 1/4-20 threaded insert in the bottom. Different connector ends are available, as needed. Here is a link to one of the pictures on my site: Low Profile Pickup As far as a TTL pickup, it looks like the Nikon SC-17 could work, as long as the plastic foot is adjusted to account for the angled cutout in the Leica hot shoe. Another hot or cold shoe could be mounted to the top of the SC-17 to allow a finder to be mounted there as well. Happy to help! Michael Michael Bass Designs Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted June 5, 2007 Share #19 Posted June 5, 2007 FYI: Nikon SC-17 has been replaced by SC-28 cord, basically the same except that the cable now heads off to the side: http://www.nikonusa.com/template.php?cat=1&grp=257&productNr=4765 SC-28 is similar, but able to generate AF assist beam for Nikon cameras: http://www.nikonusa.com/template.php?cat=1&grp=257&productNr=4766 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Bass Posted June 5, 2007 Share #20 Posted June 5, 2007 Actually, it is the SC-29 (usually back-ordered) that has the auto-focus assist in the camera end, and is a much bigger block on the camera hot shoe. The SC-17 is generally available on eBay, is grey in color while the SC-28 is black in color, but also the same size as the SC-17. I have mounted the extra hot shoe atop the SC-17 camera end box, as it is a flat top, unlike the SC-29. Michael Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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