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

[Nemrod]

You will not be able to run your S2000 strobe in sTTL and will not be able to control power output in Manual strobe and Manual strobe selected in the camera menu. The Canon does not produce a pre-flash when run in Manual strobe in the menu. You will need to select your Inon to position (1), no pre-flash, and Manual on your S2000 strobes and set the power at the strobes.

The S/D2000 and S220 and Z strobes can certainly run sTTL with Canon/Sony cameras but not with the Ikelite proprietary and over complicated system that requires a transmitter at the housing that plugs into the hot shoe and converts the signal from electrical to optical and then a receiver at the strobe to convert the optical signal back to electrical. My Sony can run optical from the camera flash or the UWT TTL control board using the Sony WL Command wireless protocal. My new NA-R50 can ony use the camera flash. Which despite reduced battery life, I have come to prefer for simplicity and reliability. Every time, all the time.

I do not think there are any underwater strobes that talk back to the camera or cameras that have real time, off the sensor, TTL metering. The strobes would have to have an optical LED transmitter in the strobe. The UWT TTL board or the new UWT external controller or Ikelite's external transmitter, I do not think they communicate back to the camera either. There is indirect feed back using the Inon strobe, in sTTL switch position, Advanced Control (Inon's sTTL) strobe provides pre-flash response to the camera when it meters the pre-flash)..

I hope you enjoy your new camera system.

 

[Hoag]

You will not be able to run your S2000 strobe in sTTL and will not be able to control power output in Manual strobe and Manual strobe selected in the camera menu. The Canon does not produce a pre-flash when run in Manual strobe in the menu. You will need to select your Inon to position (1), no pre-flash, and Manual on your S2000 strobes and set the power at the strobes.

The S/D2000 and S220 and Z strobes can certainly run sTTL with Canon/Sony cameras but not with the Ikelite proprietary and over complicated system that requires a transmitter at the housing that plugs into the hot shoe and converts the signal from electrical to optical and then a receiver at the strobe to convert the optical signal back to electrical. My Sony can run optical from the camera flash or the UWT TTL control board using the Sony WL Command wireless protocal. My new NA-R50 can ony use the camera flash. Which despite reduced battery life, I have come to prefer for simplicity and reliability. Every time, all the time.

I do not think there are any underwater strobes that talk back to the camera or cameras that have real time, off the sensor, TTL metering. The strobes would have to have an optical LED transmitter in the strobe. The UWT TTL board or the new UWT external controller or Ikelite's external transmitter, I do not think they communicate back to the camera either. There is indirect feed back using the Inon strobe, in sTTL Advanced Control (Inon's sTTL strobe pre-flash response to the camera when it meters the pre-flash)..

I hope you enjoy your new camera system.

Thank you. That was a very comprehensive (and unfortunately somewhat disappointing) answer that addresses the questions I had.

I anticipated that I would not be able to use sTTL, but I was hoping that I could set my strobes to manual and then use Flash Compensation from the camera to adjust but it looks like that won't be a viable option either.

 

[Nemrod]

Thank you. That was a very comprehensive (and unfortunately somewhat disappointing) answer that addresses the questions I had.

I anticipated that I would not be able to use sTTL, but I was hoping that I could set my strobes to manual and then use Flash Compensation from the camera to adjust but it looks like that won't be a viable option either.

I admit to not being expert on Ikelite systems. I have been shooting Inon though now for 17 or more years and I kind of have them figured out .

I had no intention of causing you dissappointment with your new system. I am positive that you will like it and that it will do well for you. But, if you are going to shoot TTL you are either going to have to go whole "Hoag" and go Ikelite strobes with the required additional Rx or start modifying your outfit to shoot fully optical TTL so you can use optical only strobes (Inon, YS, BS, AOI and on and on).

That might entail discarding (selling) the Ikelite Tx you just got, purchasing the new UWT external Tx and a 1/2 to 16mm port adapter (the Ike is a 1/2 inch thread). Or, if you are okay with the DS strobes, just buy a couple. It is only $.

Look here:

External TTL-Converters Archives - UWTechnics

uwtechnics.com

This is just me being me, I would dump the Ikelite Tx and go UWT and run any dang strobe I want to and I love (S220) Inon strobes. And want some Retras or possibly the new AOI or UWT strobes. I am poor and have no money for that at the moment because I keep buying Nauticam housings and new cameras, it is an obsession I fear.

This right here and you are in high cotton with your S2000 strobes or any other optical strobe:

18032-M16-IK External M16-Ikelite Optical TTL-Converter for CANON cameras for IKELITE underwater housings - UWTechnics

Product will be available starting June-2025. External M16-Ikelite Optical TTL-Converter for CANON cameras for IKELITE underwater housings. Installation in M16 threaded hole on the top of the housing + nut. Compatible underwater strobes: Inon Z-330 / Z-240/ S-220/ D-200, Sea&Sea YS-D1 / YS-D3...

uwtechnics.com

 

[Barmaglot]

Speaking of Ikelite strobes, Divervision lists (probably old stock) DS200 for relative peanuts - Ikelite DS-200 TTL Strobe

 

[grantmac]

My recent experience with Diver vision is they will "sell" you something they don't actually have available then try to find it while holding your money.