Question on a Sync cord for a D3100 and SB-700

[Revet]

I am just starting off camera flash and I am looking into sync cords. First question, Is there value in having the sc-29 TTL type sync cord or is the manual flash only type sufficient??

2nd question - As I searched through the SC-29 stuff on Google, I ran into a Viltrox SC-29 out of China that is dirt cheap. Does anyone have experience with this item??

 

[hark]

Do you really need the AF assist of the SC-29? If not, Vello makes a compatible SC-28 sync cord in a few different lengths which aren't too expensive. Personally I don't know anything about the Viltrox brand, but Vello makes a variety of compatible items for Nikon cameras which get good reviews.

SC-28 Cord for Nikon | B&H Photo Video

 

[Revet]

I forgot about the SB-28 so I guess I should rephrase the question to include the SB-28 vs the SB29 vs just a PC sync cable for manual use of flash only. Since I am just starting out (learning manual flash first), is it nice to have the TTL capability if in a hurry? Does anyone use the AF assist with the SB-29 and find it valuable??

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

iTTL is a very nice option if you can get it then do. Will make your life easier.

 

[WayneF]

I forgot about the SB-28 so I guess I should rephrase the question to include the SB-28 vs the SB29 vs just a PC sync cable for manual use of flash only. Since I am just starting out (learning manual flash first), is it nice to have the TTL capability if in a hurry? Does anyone use the AF assist with the SB-29 and find it valuable??

(aside from focus assist of SC-29), the hot shoe cord is an advantage over a PC cord only if you want to use TTL.

Focus assist is not normally of much advantage in a normal lighted room, since the camera focuses OK anyway. In a very dark place however, it will be essential.

The hot shoe cord can only control ONE iTTL flash. Multple iTTL flash requires the wireless commander. But the commander cannot individually control more than two or in some cases three remote flashes.

Other methods for triggering manual flash (optical sync slaves, radio triggers, etc) are more popular then PC sync today. I happen to still prefer PC sync however, to the one near fill flash above camera, and it triggers the others via optical slave.

A bigger problem to expect with TTL BL and the hot shoe cord is that the flash and camera are not at the same place, so the D-lens distance can easily mess up exposure. See the example at the bottom of page at Mini-Review of the Yongnuo YN565EX Speedlight

 

[Revet]

Great! Thanks to all. I ordered the SC-29 from B&H. It wasn't that much more than the 28. Since I don't have a dedicated studio for portraits, I suspect that I will try TTL first using flash compensation and then go to manual if I don't like what I am seeing. During my learning process right now, I am using manual only. I think it is a good idea to be comfortable with both.