Is it time for a paradigm shift?

I agree a bit with Paul, in that if a new "standard" cord type was adopted having enough conductors to satisfy all brands flash protocols would make sense.

Also, even though Canon uses 6 wires and many high end users on WP don't seem to want to learn how to use eTTL2 (or Nikon's iTTL either) to the effectiveness it is used all the time above water, this would certainly make it easier for newer dSLR shooters to get results they're happy with....Ikelite TTL houing users (with Ikelite's DS series strobes, of course) can be shown how to use the eTTL2 / iTTL in a matter of minutes and be getting good exposures. Even with moving critters!

Finally, I went back and looked, and I see about 50 /50 Nikon to Canon dSLR shooters on my trips and housing sales last year. So this may be just particular to countries or regions. I thought in sheer world wide volume Nikon still hasn't caught Canon in shipping dSLR units of all models, but I could be wrong (????)

But for usability it still comes down to the chef, not the pot

YMMV

dhaas

Whilst this may not be quite on topic, it might be of interest.

At the last Olympics I have read that Canon outnumbered Nikons 2:1.

I have talked to many pro photographers who have switched from Canon to Nikon, but no-one who has switched the other way around.

Now this is not a comment about anything other than Canon SLRs becoming 'more' popular, and I suspect that this is starting to filter through to underwater! Ten years ago there were very, very few SLR users of Canon's underwater in the UK. There are a lot more today. I don't think we can ignore a shifting market by retaining an old and fundamentally flawed flash connection. I use S6 connectors (and a Nik V in case I'm stuck with having to try out/use a Nik V fitting flash unit) on my own housing(s) although I only use manual flash control. I have had sufficient problems with Nik V to prefer to use a rarer but more reliable connector.

S6 to Nik 5, S6 to Ikelite and S6 to S6 cables are already available. If S6 sockets were readily available on housings then perhaps more manufacturers would offer the option of cables to fit.

Next Dema should have a reunion on the agenda with the technical representatives of the different housings and strobes manufacturers. Most of the folk attend this show so this occasion is the best,

Damm, if I can buy a CD burner and set it in most PC, I fail to see how we would not be able to attain a standard in our field,

1) A 6 pins cable should be made available by the different strobe manufacturer to accomodate their units.

2) The mounting hole dimension for ANY bulkhead on the housing should be standarized,

3) And specification for the wiring of the housing bulkhead / hotshoe connection also should be a standard to avoid consumer confusion and /or problems.

All it take is a meeting between the players in this field to make the consumer's life easier.

Standarize the connector or at least make it available in all housing manufacturer, and why not a version for smaller size hole so retrofiting older housing would be a sinch.

Regards

I would also warn against jumping too soon, especially as the need for 6 pin seems to specifically for one brand, Canon.

Keep in mind that standardization, as compared to specialization, should lead to lower consumer cost as more volume of the same item is produced. The price is higher when there have to be multiple variations on a product...

Additionally, as there would just be a single standard cord and fitting, shops, boats, repairs kits, etc, would always have the cord that works, and cords could be traded between users if necessary with no ill effect.

~Matt Segal