In the next few steps I’ll show you my experience in adding a sync port to the 580ex. This can be useful if you’re on a job and need to use your flashes in a pinch with some other lighting equipment or to just enhance your flashes capabilities.

Unfortunately canon decided not to add a pc sync port on the 580ex. In this write up I add a mini jack to trigger the 580ex. Here are the tools needed:

Here are the tools needed to add sync port on the Canon 580ex

-copper wire
-solder
-small screw driver
-drill
-monophone jack (I picked up mine from here: http://store.acradiosupplyinc.com/

STEP 1
After you’ve got all the tools on hand you’re ready to begin! First thing to do is take off the bottom foot. In the pic below are the four screws you need to take out. It will still have a wire attachment at this point so when removing it be gentle!:

STEP 2
Firmly pull out the connection holding the foot. Congrats! Now we’re ready for the fun.

STEP 3
Once you have the foot detached from the flash you need to decide where to drill the hole for the monophone jack. I screwed up and put the hole way to close towards the front. When I went to put it back together the monphone jack was hitting the front of the flash and messed up the trigger connection. I had to go back and put a second hole in. Also note that there is metal inside the flash on the side of where canon has the connections. If the metal from your jack connects with this when you re-assemble it it will cause a constant trigger of the flash. You can use electrical tape to insulate it. (what I did)

So your options for the jack placement are:
1. Drill the hole on the opposite side of where canon has it’s connections and towards the center or back of the foot to ensure it will fit when the flash is reassembled.

2. Drill the jack hole on the side of the connections on the flash but ensure that the metal from your jack will not touch the metal inside the flash when re-assembled.

The hole towards the front in this picture was too far forward. Also try to get a drill bit about the size of your jack so you can have a nice snug fit.

STEP 4
Identify on the circuit board the two connections we are interested in. One is the ground connection and the other is the trigger to trigger the flash. The ground is near the white wire and the trigger is the white wire.

Once you’ve identified the connections on the circuit board you need to determine where the connections are on your jack. One will be the ground and one will serve as the trigger. The other will not be used. (if your jack is like mine) I used approx 1.5″ of copper wire for each connection and found the connectins by trial and error. If your jack is like mine the ground is the one sticking off horizontal. As for which is the trigger on the jack you’ll have to hook it all up to a camera and try triggering it until you find the connections which are correct. (there are only two so it does not take very long)

STEP 5
Once you’ve got your connections all figured out you’ll solder them all in place. I suggest soldering to the jack first and then soldering to the circuit board connections. Put the jack in the hole screw everything back in place and you should be good to go! If you find your trigger isn’t working I suggest checking these things:

- Make sure it isn’t shorting out any where. Metal isn’t making contact where it shouldn’t.
-Make sure your solder job didn’t fall apart once you screwed everything in place.

The white wire on the canon circuit board is the trigger (it is to the right) The ground connection is to the left)

Here’s the finished product! I added a little rubber stopper that I pillaged from some old electronics I had in the extra hole.

I am currently working for the NGO Beyond Borders to document their work in Haiti as well as covering the overall relief working being done. 

In a country so devastated with the loss of life and infrastructure the people have an amazing strength to continue on with every day activities.  Many Haitians lost their homes and are now living in tent cities and relying on aid to meet their everyday needs.  As I get out and talk to people they have a sense of appreciation for the assistance and appreciate my presence.  At one tent city a Haitian man, in a thick accent, came to me and said “I love you, thank you for coming.”  I couldn’t help feeling a little like my cameras were not doing much but my mere presence seemed to convey to the Haitian man a concern that I as a foreigner had for his situation. 

It is easy to look at some of the images coming out of Haiti and forget that these people are people.  They have a sense of community, a culture, and a love for their country just as we in the states do.  I hope that we in America can recognize this and see the Haitians as equal humans with many of the same joys and pleasures in life.  They need our respect as much as they momentarily need our aid. 

In later posts I hope to highlight some of the personal stories of specific individuals as well as some of the specific challenges facing the Haitians currently.