Camera PC jacks need to die!!

Camera PC jacks are the bane of many a photographer.

Why? Because they go wrong. OK most things go wrong, but these little beauties do so due to their design not allowing a decent connection and therefore cable to be produced.

This wouldn’t be so much of a problem of they were cheap to replace, but with a Nikon brand cable starting around £35 they are an expensive necessity.

David Hobby @Strobist had a good and simple idea, swap them for 3.5mm(1/8″) headphone jacks.

OK I’m not sure if it was his idea entirely but he’s definitely onto a winner.

3.5mm jack cables are a little more reliable, maybe not massively so, but with them available from £1 each on eBay the worry starts to go away, simply buy spares.

David has put the challenge to manufacturers that he will actively promote their product on his site,  http://strobist.blogspot.com if they produce a hot shoe flash in 2010 that includes a 3.5mm jack.

So if you happen to be a camera or flash manufacturer (Nikon I’m looking at you) got yourself over there and get it made!

Take a look at Davids’ article at this link It’s Time for the PC Jack to Die.

Tags: News, Photos, strobist, The Web

Filed under: Photos by Matt Dean