Canon OC-E3 Off Camera Shoe Cord 3
The Canon OC-E3 Off Camera Shoe Cord maintains all on-camera flash functions (including E-TTL II) for one Canon Speedlite used off-camera at distances up to 2' (60 cm). It is compatible with all Canon EOS cameras except the 630 and RT (which require a combination of TTL Hot Shoe Adapter 3, OA-2 Off Camera Shoe Adapter & Connecting Cord 60).
The OC-E3 has been improved over the OC-SC 2 with better sealing against dust and moisture, to better match the weather-resistant design of the EOS 1D Mark III and the 580EX2 flash. It also now features a sturdier foot.
- Also fully functional with the combination of the T90 camera and 300TL flash (from Canon's older FD manual focus system).
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 341 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
90%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Easy to use (208)
- Reliable (192)
- Lightweight (179)
- Durable (117)
- Strong construction (57)
Cons
- Not durable (16)
- Flimsy design (12)
- Poor quality (11)
- Poor design (9)
- Pricey / poor value (7)
Best Uses
- Portraits (123)
- Everyday (67)
- Studio (58)
- Travel (54)
- Fill flash (47)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Professional (84), Semi-professional (71), Enthusiast (64), Pro photographer (18), Tech savvy (18)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (105), Yes (4)
Most Liked Positive Review
Is the Canon Off Camera Shoe Cord 3 worth 25 bucks more?
Yes, the Canon Off Camera Shoe Cord 3 is worth 25 bucksmore. I use a flip flash bracket and after going thru severalCanon Shoe Cord 2's I gave up with Canon. The screws...Read complete review
Yes, the Canon Off Camera Shoe Cord 3 is worth 25 bucksmore. I use a flip flash bracket and after going thru severalCanon Shoe Cord 2's I gave up with Canon. The screws inthe upper shoe would tear out or the wired metal plate in theupper shoe would work loose and leave the flash wobbly. Itried a Dot Line for Canon ETTL shoe cord which is betterconstructed but would inadvertently switch from ETTL to TTLcausing excess flash. Yes, you could reset the flash backto ETTL mode bymounting it directly back to the camera but who has time forthat? Promaster also makes a Canon shoe cord which I wasabout to try next until I noticed the Canon Shoe Cord 3. Assoon as I bought it I noticed that the upper shoe (for theflash) is slightly wider and longer. The shoe bracket is nolonger painted black (which the black paint would just getscratched up anyway). The upper shoe bracket now has ametal female screw collar as opposed to plastic. The upper shoewired metal plate looks thicker than before and is securedby 4 metal screws vs. four impacted metal posts. The uppershoe clam shell cover is secured by four long screws vs. onlythree screws in Shoe Cord 2. The lower shoe (camera mount)is slightly wider and longer than the Shoe Cord 2. It has abetter weather proof seal in the back and the slide lockfeature is faster and easier than the dial screw lock on theShoeCord 2. The foot of the lower shoe is solid metal vs.plastic on the Shoe Cord 2. The lower shoe contacts arerounded metal points vs. thinner rounded metal strips on theShoe Cord 2. The Shoe Cord 3 lower shoe slides on or offthe camera easier than the Shoe Cord 2. So far it worksgreat with my Canon 580EX but only time will tell how longit will last on my flip frame. If you use a flip flashframe save yourself $50 bucks on a Canon Shoe Cord 2 whichwill not last long! For $25 bucks more avoid the headacheof flash problems.
Expertise: Part-time photographer
Problems Encountered: One downside of the Shoe Cord 3 is the Made in Chinapainted on the bottom shoe. Acetone won't remove it, but apaint stripper gel will. Simply cover the Canon logo withcellophane tape and rub the gel on with a Q-tip. Rub theexcess off with a clean Q-tip. Don't over do it as you willeventually rub off the black paint below as well.
Previous Equivalent Item Owned: Canon Off Camera Shoe Cord 2
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Plastic foot snaped off when on bracket
The second time I used this product attached to a Tiffen QuickFlip 350 bracket, the plastic foot snapped off on the hot-shoe section that connect to the flash. It was locked down but the ...Read complete review
The second time I used this product attached to a Tiffen QuickFlip 350 bracket, the plastic foot snapped off on the hot-shoe section that connect to the flash. It was locked down but the plastic is so flimsy that it just disintegrated, rendering the whole thing useless for future connection. The foot on the other end is metal, so why isn't the foot at the flash end for [$] bucks?
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 341 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-20
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Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Everyday use
- Home
- Macro Photography
- Portraits
- Studio
Comments about Canon OC-E3 Off Camera Shoe Cord 3:
Just what I expected! Wonderful!
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
Cons
- Not Durable
Best Uses
- Event Photography
Comments about Canon OC-E3 Off Camera Shoe Cord 3:
As some other reviewers have noted, the part that attaches to the flash is weak. My flash suddenly started working only intermittently, and I discovered that it was rocking back and forth on the base, which appears to have broken internally. If tipped backwards, the contacts would work, and the flash would fire. If tipped forwards or to the side, the flash would not fire. The unit has never been banged or otherwise abused; it appears that use every month or so on a Stroboframe was enough to cause the mount to fail.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Everyday use
- Off-camera flash
- Portraits
- Wedding Photography
Comments about Canon OC-E3 Off Camera Shoe Cord 3:
I like using the OC-E3 Off Camera Shoe Cord on my 5D Mark II when I am not able to (or, don't have the time to) set up a light in another part of a room or scene for off-camera flash.
The only thing keeping it from getting 5-stars for me is that I would have loved to have a 3-foot cord. I'm a tall guy so my wingspan is a bit longer, and having just 2-feet is a bit limiting when I really want to bring the flash in from the side.
All-in-all a great solution, though!
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Weddings
Comments about Canon OC-E3 Off Camera Shoe Cord 3:
I used this hot shoe adapter whit my canon 30 d and 40 D it works great the last one that i had last it for more than five years
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Portraits
- Studio
- Traveling
Comments about Canon OC-E3 Off Camera Shoe Cord 3:
The OC-E3 is easy to use, and works great with my 5DII and 40D. It performs as advertised and is very reliable.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Canon OC-E3 Off Camera Shoe Cord 3:
I use these between flash units and the Pocket Wizard TTL radios. Extends the range and reliability. Adding a ferrite choke ([...]...) at the flash end improves this further.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Portraits
- Studio
Comments about Canon OC-E3 Off Camera Shoe Cord 3:
You get what you pay for, I bought a cheaper version of this from Zeikos and of course it stopped working in less than a year and it really wasn't used that much. So the Canon is a great choice, spend a little more for quality!
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Portraits
- Studio
- Traveling
Comments about Canon OC-E3 Off Camera Shoe Cord 3:
does what is supposed to do.[...]
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
Cons
Best Uses
- Everyday use
- Home
- Portraits
Comments about Canon OC-E3 Off Camera Shoe Cord 3:
I use the OC-E3 with an Orbis Ring flash. I maintains all functions, connects securely and appears to be well built. I went through the old SC2 often. The cords would break at connection points on both ends and it would jump to TTL for no apparent reason. This new OC-E3 cord connects much better and holds well. So far so good . . . Time will tell!
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Photo Journalistic Use
Comments about Canon OC-E3 Off Camera Shoe Cord 3:
I have a two year degree in photography from a local community college and I do a lot of shooting of local events around the County where I live.
My camera is a Canon 20D which I purchased brand new.
I use the Canon OC-E3 off camera shoe cord with a Canon 430 EX speedlight which is ETTL capable. The flash bracket I use is an Impact 35mm DSLR
I owned this same product,the Canon OC-E3, a few years ago and it was damaged when I dropped it. I mention this because the first thing I noticed about the new one was that the method of attaching the cord to the hotshoe of the camera has changed to a lever instead of the thumbwheel and I like that change. I also noticed that the place that the cord attaches to the Impact Bracket has been beefed up and I like that also because that is where my last one was damaged. I would like to see Canon do the same thing to the end that attaches to the handle as they have to the hotshoe connection. I did find it confusing as to how to attach the flash to the cord. It might be a good idea to explain how the flash attaches. I will say it is idiot proof,it only goes on one way.Overall a very good product that I would recommend to my Canon user friends.
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Everyday use
- Macro Photography
- Portraits
- Studio
- Traveling
Comments about Canon OC-E3 Off Camera Shoe Cord 3:
The cord works great, dependable, durable and works great for getting the flash off the camera.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
Cons
- None
Best Uses
- Portraits
Comments about Canon OC-E3 Off Camera Shoe Cord 3:
I HAVE ORDER A LOT OF THING ONLINE ,THIS TIME IT WAS PAINLESS AND ONE OF THE MOST REWARDING PURCHASES I HAVE EVER DONE .I WILL BE USEING THIS COMPANY AGAIN .
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Everyday use
- Portraits
- Studio
- Wedding Photography
Comments about Canon OC-E3 Off Camera Shoe Cord 3:
I'm using flash cords on my daily photo shoots and they are just simply great quality, never had a single problem.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Lightweight
Cons
- Not Durable
- Not Functional
Best Uses
Comments about Canon OC-E3 Off Camera Shoe Cord 3:
I go through about 3 or 4 of these in a year, and I have about had it. They start to cause power surges to my flash and I blow out exposures if I use them once that has started. I have complained about this in the past and was sent another complimentary one...which lasted 3 months. I don't abuse these cords. They are secured to a stroboframe, nothing fancy. This is the purpose it was designed for! I keep having to buy them because there's no other simple alternative and the generic bran ones are even worse (that one lasted barely an hour!)
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
Cons
- Not Durable
- Poor Design
Best Uses
Comments about Canon OC-E3 Off Camera Shoe Cord 3:
The flash connector portion of the cord broke in half during the first 10 mins of use. It was attached to a Manfrotto camera mount flash bracket, Canon 5D and a 580 EX. It wasn't able to support the weight of a 580 EX. The Canon technical rep told me that this is a "safety" feature to protect the base of the flash. In my case the flash fell to the ground! There is no Canon warranty for this product and the rep told me to "return it to the retailer for replacement".
- Was this a gift?:
- Yes
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Portraits
- Studio
Comments about Canon OC-E3 Off Camera Shoe Cord 3:
Using the off camera cord is awesome! If you use it with a bracket or just holding it in your hand at different angles, will greatly improve your flash photography.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
Cons
- Not Durable
Best Uses
- Everyday use
- Portraits
Comments about Canon OC-E3 Off Camera Shoe Cord 3:
This is the 2nd one in two years. The old one works when it wants to. So this is a replacement while I send the old one back to Canon for repair.
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
- Reliable
Cons
- Cord isn't long enough
Best Uses
- Everyday use
- Home
- Macro Photography
- Portraits
- Studio
- Traveling
Comments about Canon OC-E3 Off Camera Shoe Cord 3:
I wish I hadn't waited so long to buy the off camera cord. It really makes a difference in the quality of the photos I shoot. The only con is have is the cord length. It would be nice if it were even six more inches long. I have longer arms and I would like to be able to move the flash further away from the lens.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy to install
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Macro Photography
- Wildlife
Comments about Canon OC-E3 Off Camera Shoe Cord 3:
I use it with a bracket for the flash with a Better Beamer and telephoto lens or with a bracket for macro
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Everyday use
- Portraits
- Studio
- Weddings
Comments about Canon OC-E3 Off Camera Shoe Cord 3:
Bought this to use with a JustRite Bracket I purchased. Cord works Great. Mounts Securely, Holds Flash securely...off camera Flash functions the same as when on the shoe mount of my 5D mkii. IT'S A CANON PRODUCT = GREAT AS USUAL. Not much else to say.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Displaying reviews 1-20
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