SMDV Hot Shoe Safe Sync Adapter SM-512 for Canon EOS Digital Rebel T3i, T5i, T4i, 10D, 20D, 30D, 40D, 50D, 60D, 70D, 5D, 5D Mark II, III, 7D, 1D, 1Ds, Mark II, III, IV, and Canon Powershot G11, G12, G

The Korean made SMDV-512 Hot Shoe Safe Sync Adapter for Canon appears to be of good quality. The most important feature is that it will protect the electronic circuit of my Canon Rebel T1i digital camera from the high trigger voltage from my 28 year old Novatron 550 VR power pack studio strobe light system. Per the camera's owner's manual, the maximum safe trigger voltage (electrical energy needed to fire the external flash through the camera's hot shoe either directly [camera mounted flash] or with a PC to hot shoe adapter) to prevent damage is 6 volts. I have two 500 VR power packs and tested both with a voltmeter to determine the voltage supplied at the PC connection. One was 5.7 volts and the other was 13.5 volts. The difference between the two was probably due to the condition of the internal capacitors, one better able to fully charge while the other less able due to age, use, etc. (always measure the voltage with a meter to know for sure what your individual power pack is supplying). I attached the PC cord from the higher voltage power pack (13.5 volts) to the adapter and measured the voltage between the single button that directly contacts the larger terminal on my camera's PC hot shoe and the metal rail on the adapter. The 13.5 volts had been reduced to 3.5 volts, making the PC connection now safe for me to use with my digital camera's hot shoe. I then placed the adapter in my camera's hot shoe and tested it with my strobe system to ensure that the strobes would fire when the camera's shutter was actuated. Everything worked perfectly! So if you don't want to use a slave and flash trigger or want to spend the money on a wireless trigger system and are comfortable maneuvering around a PC cord connected between the camera and the power pack then this provides a safe and effective solution to protect your Canon digital camera circuitry from flash trigger voltages up to 60 volts.The adapter also has a built in battery (provided) test button so you'll know when its time to replace the internal 3V, CR 2032 battery (requires removal of four very tiny Phillips head screws). The female PC cord connection on the adapter also held my PC cord firmly, so I shouldn't have to worry about it constantly falling out.

Seems to work well for Canon Rebel T4i

The Canon PowerShot G12 is specified for a 6V max trigger voltage. I measured the trigger voltage of my 1970's era Vivitar 285 at 8.6V with a digital VOM. (Some of the older Vivitar flash units have a trigger voltage as high as 350V which will definitely fry most digital cameras and remote triggers.)The SMDV SM-512 reduces the Vivitar 285 trigger voltage down to 3.3V, as measured with a digital VOM. I tested it on-camera using the 285 mounted on the SM-512 attached to the G12 hotshoe, as well as off-camera with the Vivitar SC-3 remote sensor cord, PC sync cord, and Yongnuo RF-603 remote radio trigger. The 285 fired without any issues in all configurations.The SMDV SM-512 hotshoe safe sync adapter is sturdy and well made with a metal hotshoe on top and a plastic foot with lockring on the bottom. It is 1 3/4" (44mm) long by 1 7/16" (37mm) wide and extends 1 1/4" (32mm) above the G12 camera body when mounted on the hotshoe.Iniitially, I was put off by the fact it uses a battery. Then I realized that the CR2032 battery would likely last for a year or two at least. The SM-512 also has a battery check button on the back of the unit that illuminates a small red LED on top, indicating if the battery is still functional.I am completely satisfied with the SMDV SM-512 hot shoe safe sync adapter. I did consider buying the Wein Safe-Sync hotshoe adapter but didn't like the fact that it uses a circuit board as a center contact for the flash unit. The SMDV SM-512 uses a sturdy metal hotshoe with a metal center contact. The Wein unit also costs three times as much.There are some issues involving using a non-Canon flash unit with the Canon PowerShot G series cameras. Older G cameras have no limitations while the newer ones do. The G12 must be in single shot mode for one. When there is a device mounted in the G12 hotshoe, the camera's built in flash is disabled. However, I am able to sync the Vivitar 285 up to a 1/2000s shutter speed with the G12 in M mode. The G12 will also fire the 285 in A, P, Tv, and Av modes as well, though the sync speed varies by mode.

Targeted to what is called the strobist community of photographers, this unit is designed and advertised to lower the flash shoe voltage of certain flashes (older Vivitar flashes) who's shoe voltage is much too high to use with other standard camera equipment. This Hot Shoe SAFE Sync does no such thing! Indeed, this unit is worse than worthless as it gives the buyer a false sense that their expensive equipment will be protected by this lemon of a product. However, a volt meter does not lie. My voltage measurements were then verified by a photography expert who has has decades of experience using and testing photography equipment.Adding insult to injury, the Amazon seller has a questionable TWO WEEK return policy that has expired. Are you surprised that the seller ignored my request for refund? It is probably good that these false advertising dweebs hide behind the web because if they had a real store front I would be banging on their counter demanding satisfaction and force feeding them the equipment this thing damaged.In summation - the Hot Shoe Safe Sync is absolutely worthless. It is supposed to do only ONE thing (provide safe voltage to camera equipment) and it doesn't do that. What kind of a outfit would peddle such junk? I should have realized that the two week return policy is just part of their greedy trap.

I learned it only handles 50 volt flash trigger and I had a 250 volt Vivitar flash it would not work which was good because I would have ruined my camera. I returned it and purchased a wein unit. Amazon was very good and gave me back my money and the return was easy.

My Pentax dedicated Vivitar flash is voltage-safe for modern cameras at only 3.5 volts, but I don't want to take a chance with the data pins connecting with the incompatible pins of my Samsung NX30.This device reduces the voltage to 3.09 volts, but more importantly provides a safe single pin connector onto the camera.Note that on the manufacturers website there is only one SM-512, there is no apparent customisation to any particular camera brand beyond having a standard hot shoe (not the different connector used on Sony/Minolta cameras).

Bought this as I wanted this to use a Vivitar 283 flash (trigger voltage 297V) on a Leica M7 which has electronic, and I think, low voltage flash trigger. Plugged the flashgun into the item and I measuredthe output (trigger) voltage which had dropped to 3V. Put it on the camera and flash would not fire even though it fired with the test button on the adaptor itself. Had a Pentax flash AF280T which had a trigger voltage of about 9V. Couldn't use it directly on the Leica as the flash has extra terminals (for Pentax TTL flash) and not sure whether the output from the those would damage the flash circuit when connected directly to the Leica. However as the adaptor only has single hotshoe terminal tried the Pentax AF280T and the trigger voltage was now 3V and when I connected to the Leica and it worked fine. Only conclusion I can draw is that either the one I have is faulty (unlikely as meter readings show it is doing what it is advertised to do) or it is working but trying to trigger with 3V isn't enough to fire the Vivitar 283. I'll keep it because at least I can now use the Pentax flashgun with my Leica quite safely.

Whilst it's a nicely made item it doesn't work with a Canon EOS 600D due to it operates a micro switch when it attaches to the hot shoe so it turns off any fkash control. I wanted to use the external flash pc jack but of course this won't work.

Fails to trigger my Mecablitz 45 CT-1 using the PC-Sync connector on the front, when used either on my EOS 6D or EOS M. If you press the test button on this adapter then the flash fires.It does the job of protecting the camera from the high voltage on the flashgun sync lead (183 volts, with only 3 volts presented to the camera) but that's not much use if the flash doesn't fire.

When I tried it out with a few test shots it Initially worked alright with my Centon FG 30 on a Canon EOS 1200D reducing 270 V at the hot shoe to low Voltage the Canon could handle. Took it to a party where I was quasi-official photographer and it failed to fire the flash! Had to rely on the built in flash. The flash unit itself still works perfectly on my old SLR, so I have to presume that the fault lies with the Safe Sync Adapter, which will be returned for a refund tomorrow. Very disappointing!