Thanks Rob, you were brave cutting up your cable, I know thats the kind of thing I would have done and probably will when I get one. Why don't they have them in different lengths like some of the other cables, its a pain when you don't have a choice. Never mind it just means more blue peter adaptions.:D

I found a link where a number of electronics bods like myself had extended the cable by various means. It seems to work OK upto five or six metres OK. Part of the problem is making sure the digital signals don't get degraded by extending the cable too far. There were many links to a store in the USA that would make custom lengths upto 50 metres. Personally I think 50 metres is too far and will cause a problem. When I got onto the site they seem to have stopped selling them. Maybe Canon got onto them for one of two reasons. Firstly the item will no longer conform to the electrical regulations. i.e the CE mark in Europe or FCC in USA. This includes electrical interference. The other is if the signals are degraded much this will lead to unreliable operation.

Alot of the guys cut the cable and inserted a longer cable with plugs and sockets. In my case I replaced the exsisting cable with a 6 way multicore screened cable. Thereby I can restore the original cable if need be.

I bought the off camera cord 2 from a u.k. supplier for £27 + £3p&p on ebay (Denise Camera?)... obviously a grey import but without major shipping cost.

Bit flimsy vs Nikon though

Many reports of damaged cords. I suspect not man enough to take the weight of the 580ex unsupported.

I have heard about reports on cracking of the connector head, not sure which end. Its something to be aware of and not pull at it.

Although I've heard the tales of woe about the cable, it's the block that the flash attaches to that seems a bit weak... with the flash on a bracket, catch the flash gun on something, even lightly and there could be trouble.

No problems here, but I'm not a regular flash user.