CHDK for Canon compacts or buy yourself an Inon Z240/D2000?

[Interceptor121]

Due to issues with Sea and Sea customer service I got myself an Inon Z240 for my new Sony RX100 Mark II

I just done some tests with the Canon S95 and I have to say it is a pleasure to use this strobe with the S95 in manual mode without having to worry about my script. The strobe in fact meters better than the camera!

So unless you have a Sea and Sea strobe or an Inon S2000 the best way forward is to get at least a D2000

Using external auto you can use the canon camera in manual with the flash set at the minimum and the Inon strobe will do the rest making you shoot again within 3 seconds! Smashing

 

[Hatul]

Does it matter that the sensor needs to point at the subject in external auto mode, and normally we don't point the strobe at the subject.

 

[Interceptor121]

When you shoot TTL external auto or not you have to point to the subject

Generally as long as the lights goes at an angle I aim at the subject for all macro shots, from top, side or behind depending what I want to achieve. Aiming the strobe away in macro situations for me generally does not work for me as I have one side of the picture lit which is distracting but again this is personal

For wide angle with twin strobes you aim directly in front and the lights hits the subject at an angle depending on what is behind it will meter correctly or you need to adjust but it still better than complete manual

 

[Interceptor121]

I have done a few more wide angle tests to check on Hatui observation and if the subject is not in the way of the strobe the external auto results are not predictable

So even in that case for Z240/D2000 I recommend to have my script on board in case you don't feel like shooting manual and want to resort to in camera TTL for exposure

 

[staggsSevin]

So for someone that typically just shoots macro we should have decent results if we point the sensor at the subject using external auto? I may try conning my wife I letting me get a z240 or d2000 before my March trip.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

 

[Interceptor121]

I got slightly off track with my testing and I have to change my statement again. As this is not proper ttl the camera doesn't detect a return if you don't aim at the subject so the internal flash would always do a full dump and the external strobe would fail ttl in those cases anyway. In fact with a compact without a real ttl you should shoot wide angle in manual so am back to my original with inon d2000/z240 no need for the script

---------- Post added February 7th, 2014 at 07:00 AM ----------

So for someone that typically just shoots macro we should have decent results if we point the sensor at the subject using external auto? I may try conning my wife I letting me get a z240 or d2000 before my March trip.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

For macro you shoot 100% ttl as the distance is short and backscatter is not usually an issue so external auto is good. The z240 has a nice aiming light with a red filter that seems particularly useful for this kind of shooting

 

[coralcruiser]

Just wish the z240 was a little lighter for travel purposes....but I can probably get used to its size (as compared to the smaller and lighter s2000). Price isn't too bad either at $599

 

[Interceptor121]

Where have you seen it at 599? I recently spec'ed a rig for someone and it was $799. The sea and sea YS-D1 is $699 and the D2000 is $689. $110 difference. Most people that want so save some pennies go for the sea and sea that in terms of power is even a bit stronger however is less sophisticated as a strobe

 

[coralcruiser]

Where have you seen it at 599? I recently spec'ed a rig for someone and it was $799. The sea and sea YS-D1 is $699 and the D2000 is $689. $110 difference. Most people that want so save some pennies go for the sea and sea that in terms of power is even a bit stronger however is less sophisticated as a strobe

You can order from divervision.com (usually get it within 5 days) or from uwdigitalcamera.com (same amount of shipping time)

I have ordered form Yuzo (uwdigitalcamera) several times and have never been disappointed.
A friend of mine recently ordered from divervision and got her package in 3 days.

 

[Interceptor121]

Ok. I was referring to normal prices. You can do direct imports but then inon representatives in the country may refuse service or repair as the products are clearly marked not for sale outside Japan and they have special serial numbers to identify them
Having said that it's a matter of personal risk. I think both the s2000 and d2000 are quite weak and only work with cameras with small sensors. The canon g and s series are in this category so still an option