Background:
In my experiments with the 430EX II (direct and indirect lightning on wall / ceiling, use of light formers, manual settings) has quickly become clear to me that I achieve a greater distance between the camera and flash interesting image effects by lateral lighting or backlighting of the subject could. So I did some searching on the market. Through my partly negative experiences with replicas from other areas and the philosophy "Whoever buys cheap, buys twice" I have decided, despite the high price ultimately for the original.
Application / function:
The cable is an excellent workmanship, has the same precision-fit connectors (hotshoe / Arretierungsmöglichkeiten) as the flash unit and the camera and the material quality of the plastic also has no criticisms. Only bothers that the end to the hot shoe can be attached not reasonable on the supplied flash stand, because it is loose and makes it much easier to slip out (a piece of paper but provides remedy). The flash works with cable (incl. ETTL II) as if no cable between.
Criticisms:
Was written just as it did in other reviews, the cable is quite short (30cm in the relaxed state and pulled a maximum of about 60-80cm apart). That's enough to secure the flash on a flash bracket or to hold in your hand (one hand on the camera, the other to the flash), but not to totally detached position the flash of the camera fixed in space. For example, the flash mounted on the included stand and aligned, shifts the flash as soon as the cable is only slightly lower voltage. When pulling the bend protection may very quickly heavily loaded, so that the maximum length u. Should not be accessed.
In summary:
+ Fit
+ Super material quality and processing
+ Works as it should
- Quite short
- By the spiral cable length is not fully utilized
Conclusion:
The OC-E3 is not perfect, but does the job and will certainly have a place in my camera bag in the next few years. Who has no desire to experiment with replicas, makes nothing wrong here (the length problem is now known :-)). Whether the price is justified, everyone must decide for themselves.
It would be nice if the article description still a length specification could be included.
I have now additionally a replica "External E-TTL II flash cable 1.2M for Canon Speedlite 580EX II, 430EX, 550EX, 540EZ, 220EX, 420EX OC-E3 replacement" ordered by Ideal Photo for currently 16,90. This I would like to one of the many proposals which is "extend OC-E3" under the keyword can be found on the network, expanding to about 5m, without endangering the expensive original purpose. Said replica is recommended in several contributions as a basis for an extension. I will then write on occasion there a review and here dwell on the topic conversion / extension.