ds125, 160 strobes not synching with 30d

[emptech]

Using dual strobes, ikelite housing, canon 30d cam, most photos look like taken with available light. Very few photos are lit from the strobe. Using aperature preferred at f22 to get maximum depth of field. Iso 800 setting should allow me to 4-6 feet max. But there is no evidence of even underexposure, looks like available lite shots. From another post where somebody found their strobes were set to full instead of ttl, solved their problem. I found one of my strobes was set to full, the other ttl. Would I be better off using shutter preferred, say a fast enough speed like 1/200 to stop some motion? It's obvious the shutter speed isn't too high, as the backgrounds are blurred.

What settings should I change?

Jim

 

[bvanant]

My recommendation is to shoot in full manual mode. F16 and 1/200 sec should be fine for most of what you are trying with the strobes set to manual as well. Find a static subject that you can shoot in your kitchen, like a flower. Start with a single strobe set at half power. Shoot and see what you get. If you increase the power, you should get more and more exposure. Once you see that you have good results try the other strobe (in a single strobe setup). Then move to dual strobes.

Let us know how it looks, post some pics.
Bill

 

[emptech]

Bill:

I had the same problem a while back with a 530ex, one of their own strobes in aperture preferred. I called Canon yesterday and explained the situation, their suggestion was to use either shutter preferred or manual. The tech person said he "didn't know how to explain" to me why that mode didn't work. He said it was best for weddings, if you can believe that. Nothing in the Canon manual about this situation, looks like a Canon problem. I talked to other photogs on the dive boat today, they say it should work. Even Canon says it doesn't work.

I shot in manual today, big difference, I shot 1/200 at f22, got good exposures on every shot. I have to concentrate on focus, since I'm using a single point in the middle. I line up with the subject, half depress the button to lock in the focus, then adjust the frame as necessary, then squeeze off the photo.

Big improvement from yesterday.

I pretty selective about what I shoot, didn't do that many today, but I'll post some soon.

By the way, did the Manta dive last night, got great video.

Jim

My recommendation is to shoot in full manual mode. F16 and 1/200 sec should be fine for most of what you are trying with the strobes set to manual as well. Find a static subject that you can shoot in your kitchen, like a flower. Start with a single strobe set at half power. Shoot and see what you get. If you increase the power, you should get more and more exposure. Once you see that you have good results try the other strobe (in a single strobe setup). Then move to dual strobes.

Let us know how it looks, post some pics.
Bill

 

[jdcpa]

Honerstly, I am just not smart enough to understand the question. Bouncing back and forth to the other thread you mention, that was a case of the strobe firing before the shutter, or so it seemed.

I agree with the shoot on manual comment, but wanted to comment about the rest anyway to see if maybe a solution exists.

Did you trying setting the CFN-03, I think it is, to set the shutter speed in Av to 1/250?

Ikelite did update the software in the 30D housing after it was released.

Canon did not make a 530EX to the best of my knowledge. They made a 550 and a 580. I also think the 30D was the first camera in that line to have Ettl II.

Finally, are you using the correct sync cord and not one of the old ones?

Just thoughts, maybe a better explanation of the problem would be helpful.

 

[bvanant]

Bill:

I had the same problem a while back with a 530ex, one of their own strobes in aperture preferred. I called Canon yesterday and explained the situation, their suggestion was to use either shutter preferred or manual. The tech person said he "didn't know how to explain" to me why that mode didn't work. He said it was best for weddings, if you can believe that. Nothing in the Canon manual about this situation, looks like a Canon problem. I talked to other photogs on the dive boat today, they say it should work. Even Canon says it doesn't work.

I shot in manual today, big difference, I shot 1/200 at f22, got good exposures on every shot. I have to concentrate on focus, since I'm using a single point in the middle. I line up with the subject, half depress the button to lock in the focus, then adjust the frame as necessary, then squeeze off the photo.

Big improvement from yesterday.

I pretty selective about what I shoot, didn't do that many today, but I'll post some soon.

By the way, did the Manta dive last night, got great video.

Jim

The Canon guy is correct. In AV mode, you set the aperture, the camera sets the shutter speed as if there were no flash attached then it adjusts the flash for what it thinks a good FILL flash is going to be. That is why the Canon guys suggest it is for weddings. You can set the default shutter speed (CF3 I think) to 1/100 but that is too much work for me, just shoot in manual and TTL works fine.
Bill

 

[emptech]

Canon strobe may have been 550, was recently stolen, so can't look at it. Now have I believe a 580ex. Minor detail.

I switched to manual, 1/200 @f22. Getting much better results. Problem with shutter preferred, can't guarantee the f stop, so manual was the best way to go. Have some good photos now, not excellent but good. Biggest challenge now is to get sharp focus, using single point, need to lock onto target, then shift off to the side as necessary to get proper composure.

Took diving off today, back to it tomorrow morning.

I appreciate all the comments and suggestions. Been doing u/w photo for over 30 years, switched to digital a couple years go, had better results with my Nikonos cameras, but had to move on.

Got excellent video (gl2) of manta dive, more on all this later.

Jim