What Is a Sync Cord and How Is It Used in Photography?
When taking photography that require supplemental lighting such as fill flash, a ‘sync cord’ is an electrical cable which connects a camera directly to a flash unit to allow the use of flash synchronisation. A signal is sent from the camera to the flash unit via the sync chord when the shutter button is pressed. This signal instructs the flash to fire at the exact moment required to produce the required lighting within an image. Sync cords are extremely reliable but require the camera to be directly connected to the flash, potentially limiting the photographer ability to move.