Cable slip out and digital back

[evgeny]

When I shoot models tethered and walk in the studio the FireWire cable slips out from my 54M Sinarback.

What do you do to keep the cable permanently attached to your digital back?

Thank
--
Evgeny

[David WM]

I remember Kodak came up with a solution for this. I just googled Kodak strain relief and came up with this link.

http://www.kodak.com/global/en/service/pro...b/tib7087.jhtml

Maybe it is still available, or you can use the concept to make something up. When I had one of the early digital backs with a poor cable connection I used to have a flat piece of aluminium between the camera body and the tripod head which I shaped up behind the back to provide an anchor for the cable. A bit of a rough improvisation compared to the Kodak device, but it worked, though a bit unwieldly for hand held work .

David

[Goodi]

When I shoot models tethered and walk in the studio the FireWire cable slips out from my 54M Sinarback.

What do you do to keep the cable permanently attached to your digital back?

Thank
--
Evgeny

I think there is a special cable availabe which you can fix at the 54M, but then you have the risk to damage the 54M in case that you are step on the cable.

Best regards
Michael

[Doug Peterson]

When I shoot models tethered and walk in the studio the FireWire cable slips out from my 54M Sinarback.

What do you do to keep the cable permanently attached to your digital back?

Thank
--
Evgeny

I think you're letting the tail wag the dog.

Rather than come up with a fix for your existing cable I would look for another brand of firewire cable. They do not all have the same size of plastic/rubber wrapping around the male end.

The 15' firewire cable included with the Phase One digital back is very tight, and we sell a 33' firewire cable which we picked out of samples of a dozen brands/makes/models because it was reliable, but also because the end physically just fit into the Phase One back and therefore when fully inserted was rock-solid and not at all prone to being accidentally janked out.

Can any Sinar users comment on which cables they've found which fit tightly?

Doug Peterson,  Head of Technical Services
Capture Integration, Phase One & Canon Dealer  |  Personal Portfolio

[evgeny]

Doug, I have three cables from different manufacturers. These cables slip out under pressure of their own weight when I walk.
These cables may not be fixed tight in the FireWire connector of the Sinarback 54M. My scanner, for example, has a similar FireWire connector, but the scanner doesn't move. I think a thin lightweight cable may help (mechanically), but I'm not sure if it is a good electric solution..

[evgeny]

David, a cable Tie Strap looks interesting, I will think how to safely implement it with my Contax 645 / Sinarback 54M.
Thank.

[Guy Mancuso]

I know my P25 Plus and the Firewire cable from Phase fits like a glove and fits really tight. Not sure if Sinar has a special cable but Granite Digital sells a lot of Firewire cables and maybe take a shot of the firewire port and send that to them and see if they can match the dimensions. Not sure but maybe worth a try. http://www.granitedigital.com/

[BJNY]

Evgeny,
Why not start simply
by wrapping the plastic plug part with a little [gaffers] tape
or even a small rubber band
to make the fit more snug?
Billy

[Doug Peterson]

Evgeny,
Why not start simply
by wrapping the plastic plug part with a little [gaffers] tape
or even a small rubber band
to make the fit more snug?
Billy

Freaking genius.

Making me feel dumb as developing an upside-down-writing-pen rather than a pencil.

That's a much better first pass solution.

Doug Peterson,  Head of Technical Services
Capture Integration, Phase One & Canon Dealer  |  Personal Portfolio

[clawery]

Freaking genius.

Making me feel dumb as developing an upside-down-writing-pen rather than a pencil.

That's a much better first pass solution.

Doug Peterson,  Head of Technical Services
Capture Integration, Phase One & Canon Dealer  |  Personal Portfolio

Depending on how fat the cables and ends are, try using heat shrink.  It is used by electricians to secure cables.  You simply slip it over the cables and then apply heat to it.
The heat shrink reduces in size to any cable / fitting.  It comes in several different sizes, but make sure the ends of your cables can slip over it.

Chris Lawery
Sales Manager
chris@captureintegration.com
Capture Integration, Phase One Dealer of the Year

877-217-9870 | National  Atlanta / Miami
404-234-5195 | Cell  
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[DavidP]

I might think about looping it around a little and attaching the cable to the camera somewhere about 8 inches or so from the end so if it does get yanked it won't damage the socket. I usually do that when it is on a mono pod or tripod so if someone trips it will just yank on the cable and not directly on the back.

[BJNY]

Very good, Chris.

for my colleagues who use Phase One,
Unibrain FireWire cables (red ends) fit very snugly into Phase One digital backs,
and are relatively inexpensive.

[Guy Mancuso]

Depending on how fat the cables and ends are, try using heat shrink.  It is used by electricians to secure cables.  You simply slip it over the cables and then apply heat to it.
The heat shrink reduces in size to any cable / fitting.  It comes in several different sizes, but make sure the ends of your cables can slip over it.

Chris Lawery
Sales Manager
chris@captureintegration.com
Capture Integration, Phase One Dealer of the Year

877-217-9870 | National  Atlanta / Miami
404-234-5195 | Cell  
Sign up for our Newsletter | Read Our Latest Newsletter

Damn that is a brilliant idea.

[Guy Mancuso]

Very good, Chris.

for my colleagues who use Phase One,
Unibrain FireWire cables (red ends) fit very snugly into Phase One digital backs,
and are relatively inexpensive.

Thanks Billy very helpful.

[BJNY]

By the way, Sinar's 5Meter & 10Meter FireWire400 cables are very popular
due to its most flexible sheath.
The 10Meter is pricey at about $250? but they stay flat to the floor,
so there's less chance of people tripping over.

[evgeny]

Thanks all !