Canon s100 with inon s2000

[conger]

I've just bought a canon s100 with inon s2000 strobe with wide angle lens and port for a resea housing.
I have just started using this setup. I'm looking for advice on strobe settings. I have the strobe connected via fibre optoic. I've been trying iso 80, f2.8, 1/125th and keeping the strobe in manual mode but pics come out very dark. I read I should be using f4 as this is the s100's sweat spot. Yesterday I set camera to manual mode, iso 200, f4, 1/60th and had strobe on full power in manual mode but still didn't seem to light up the subject correctly. Using the wide angle lens, maybe I just wasn't close enough to the subject (wreck).
Anyone have any advice on camera settings I should be using for wide angle shots, strobe settings and strobe position?
Thanks!!

 

[flareside]

A photo to help diagnose the problem would have been nice, but based on the description of shooting "wrecks", sounds like you are shooting way too far. Flashes dissipate rapidly underwater and beyond 2 to 3 feet (depending on the water quality) you will notice their power waning rapidly.

 

[Nemrod]

N

 

[chris196]

Ok, basic questions.
Is the strobe operating at all for you? Do you see it lighting up other subjects?
Have you done the mirror test to make sure the strobe is firing in sync with the shutter in the mode you're using?

 

[Gilligan]

As chris196 stated use the mirror test to see if the strobe is firing.

One of the biggest mistakes with fiber optically fired strobes is the "flash" and "pre-flash" setting on the strobe.

If the S100 is like my G10 and G12 some camera settings have a pre-flash and some don't. Check that out in the mirror.

 

[conger]

Thanks for the responses!

I read over the manual and discovered that I needed to install the little magnet to disable ACC. There is no preflash the s100 so needs magnet, dont really understand it but since the strobe now works very well in manual and has decent power!!

What is the mirror for? When not using fibre optics or something? If I use fibre optic dont think i need that mirrior?

 

[Nemrod]

Thanks for the responses!

I read over the manual and discovered that I needed to install the little magnet to disable ACC. There is no preflash the s100 so needs magnet, dont really understand it but since the strobe now works very well in manual and has decent power!!

What is the mirror for? When not using fibre optics or something? If I use fibre optic dont think i need that mirrior?

Yes, you needed the magnet per my chart above.

The mirror is used for slaving without optical fiber cables or remote slaving etc.

N

 

[chris196]

That is not what I meant by the mirror test at all.
All I'm suggesting is taking a picture of a mirror (bathroom mirror works well) with your setup in the exact mode you say the pictures are dark.
If your stobe is firing in sync with the shutter you will see this in the photo with a very bright strobe.
I suggest this, because it's very easy to think everything is ok when you see your strobe fire. But, it may be firing out of sync, so thus no help to your exposure.
I was asking a very basic question as to whether your strobe is working for you at all.

 

[Nemrod]

That is not what I meant by the mirror test at all.
All I'm suggesting is taking a picture of a mirror (bathroom mirror works well) with your setup in the exact mode you say the pictures are dark.
If your stobe is firing in sync with the shutter you will see this in the photo with a very bright strobe.
I suggest this, because it's very easy to think everything is ok when you see your strobe fire. But, it may be firing out of sync, so thus no help to your exposure.
I was asking a very basic question as to whether your strobe is working for you at all.

The S2000 comes with a mirror for slaving, at least mine did.

Yes, standing in front of a large wall mirror, aiming the camera and strobe at the mirror and firing the rig using the various settings one plans to use is the best way to test strobe sync, which is how I developed the chart above and of course, verifying in the water over the last four or so years I have had Inon strobes. The mirror trick is not just for Inon, it works with any strobe on any camera to verify sync. If the strobe flash is not visible in the resulting image upon review--whether the strobe fires or not--it is NOT in sync. Many people are confused because they see the strobe fire but it is firing on the preflash and is NOT synchronized with the shutter.

N