Question Does it really matter where you control your strobes power output?

[Hoag]

I just bought a new Canon R100 and I have an Ikelite housing on order. For years, I have used INON S2000 strobes primarily because of their size. Because of this I ordered the housing with the Fiber Optic trigger rather than the "traditional" bulkhead style. This fiber optic trigger still plugs into the camera's hotshoe.

Until I replace my strobes, however, with Ikelite strobes, I will have to control them manually (The trigger will operate as a TTL trigger with Ikelite strobes), and this raises my question:

To control the light level output from the strobes, does it make any difference at all whether I use the "Flash Compensation" feature on the camera, or the dials on the back of the strobes?

I realize that if I want the strobes to output different levels, I would have to adjust that on the strobe. I am asking about quick adjustments affecting both strobes. The S2000 strobes are somewhat notorious for their dials being tiny and hard to adjust quickly, so if I can adjust their power in the camera, it might be quicker.

Thanks in advance.

 

[tursiops]

I thought the fiber optic connection did not allow any communication from the camera to the strobe, so how would the strobe know what the dial on the camera is set at?

 

[Hoag]

I thought the fiber optic connection did not allow any communication from the camera to the strobe, so how would the strobe know what the dial on the camera is set at?

It doesn't directly, but the Ikelite TTL Trigger is connected to the camera via the Hot Shoe. If I can control the amount of light getting from the camera to the trigger, the trigger will (in theory) send a smaller amount of light to the strobe and (hopefully) control the amount of light that the strobe produces.

That is what I am basically asking.
The easy (but expensive) option would be to buy new Ikelite strobes, but I am hoping to avoid that at least in the short term.

 

[Mike_4635]

If the optical trigger only signals the strobes to fire, then you will have control the strobe power using the strobe power switch. This is the way alot of us do, shot manual and control strobe power on individual strobes.

 

[Hoag]

If the optical trigger only signals the strobes to fire, then you will have control the strobe power using the strobe power switch. This is the way alot of us do, shot manual and control strobe power on individual strobes.

Thanks. I was afraid of that. The control dials on the S2000 are TINY and I was hoping to find a work around.

 

[cerich]

I thought the fiber optic connection did not allow any communication from the camera to the strobe, so how would the strobe know what the dial on the camera is set at?

It doesn't directly, but the Ikelite TTL Trigger is connected to the camera via the Hot Shoe. If I can control the amount of light getting from the camera to the trigger, the trigger will (in theory) send a smaller amount of light to the strobe and (hopefully) control the amount of light that the strobe produces.

That is what I am basically asking.
The easy (but expensive) option would be to buy new Ikelite strobes, but I am hoping to avoid that at least in the short term.

did you get the TTL Optical? ( https://www.ikelite.com/products/tt5-canon-ttl-fiber-optic-transmitter-for-dl-and-dlm-underwater-housings?pr_prod_strat=pinned&pr_rec_id=8a787e13c&pr_rec_pid=9081403474205&pr_ref_pid=8486240682269&pr_seq=uniform )

I believe that unless you are using Ikelite strobes with 2x RC2 TTL Receiver for DS strobes you are going to be doing flash power adjustments on the strobe as your strobes are not a Canon TTL protocol. Get the Ikelite strobes and the RC2 receivers and you can adjust strobe output selecting over/under adjustment in the camera.

If you plan is Ikelite strobes later (as cash allows) and TTL with camera control, you will be looking at spending $300 more as the "save money now" tax (2x TTL Optical receivers) and be using optics. If you want to go corded when you get the Ikelite strobes you will be spending $350 for the link and $160 for the dual cord as well as removing the $325 TTL optic transmitter you are getting with the housing now.

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[Hoag]

did you get the TTL Optical? ( https://www.ikelite.com/products/tt5-canon-ttl-fiber-optic-transmitter-for-dl-and-dlm-underwater-housings?pr_prod_strat=pinned&pr_rec_id=8a787e13c&pr_rec_pid=9081403474205&pr_ref_pid=8486240682269&pr_seq=uniform )

I believe that unless you are using Ikelite strobes with 2x RC2 TTL Receiver for DS strobes you are going to be doing flash power adjustments on the strobe as your strobes are not a Canon TTL protocol. Get the Ikelite strobes and the RC2 receivers and you can adjust strobe output selecting over/under adjustment in the camera.

If you plan is Ikelite strobes later (as cash allows) and TTL with camera control, you will be looking at spending $300 more as the "save money now" tax (2x TTL Optical receivers) and be using optics. If you want to go corded when you get the Ikelite strobes you will be spending $350 for the link and $160 for the dual cord as well as removing the $325 TTL optic transmitter you are getting with the housing now.

​

For some reason, when I clicked on your link, I couldn't get it to work.
This is the Fiber Optic Trigger that I ordered the housing with:

TT5 Canon TTL Fiber Optic Transmitter for DL and DLM Underwater Housings

Ikelite TTL exposure algorithms for underwater strobes has been famous for accuracy since the dawn of digital. Now you can enjoy the most reliable Canon TTL strobe exposure with a fiber optic connection between your Ikelite housing and DS strobes. Replace your Ikelite flash bulkhead or 1/2-20...

www.ikelite.com

 

[PatW]

My strobes, Sea & Sea have a T T L mode triggered through fiber optic , I think. I just shoot manual. So I have not fooled with it. But I bet old strobes are a lost cause. And I think strobes only talk to certain camera systems.

 

[cerich]

My strobes, Sea & Sea have a T T L mode triggered through fiber optic , I think. I just shoot manual. So I have not fooled with it. But I bet old strobes are a lost cause. And I think strobes only talk to certain camera systems.

so traditionally, most strobes for UW have been a TTL that is a protocol the strobe manuf made that the strobe is doing the work and not really talking but just observing the behaviour of the on camera flash and/or what the strobe is getting for exposure while it fires based on what it sees via a sensor, each brand of strobe had its own TTL protocol. Now, you see that underwater strobes, like their surface cousins are being made to work with the camera manufs TTL recipe. That means the strobe and the camera REALLY talk to each other, and that is a better solution but been lagging in underwater (exception olympus RC), now we are seeing it more commonly. Ikelite has been a huge leader in this, but with external adapters. Internal programs for Canon/nikon have been non existent, Olympus yes in some strobes and most recently Sony TTL protocol in the Backscatter HF1. If Ikelite does a strobe with internal Canon and or Nikon it will be a first and a big deal.