G10 and YS-17 problems... please help

[annieols]

I have a cannon g10 with a single sea and sea ys17 strobe. The problem is that sometimes my photos are just right, sometimes they are black, and some times they are totally overblown. I am not changing the settings, but sometimes it seems as if the strobe isnt even affecting the photo.

yesterday i was watching the strobe fire, but the photos were still almost totally black!! then i took another photo and all of a sudden the photo was totally overblown.

do i have my camera in the wrong setting, or am i just crazy?!?

Please help

 

[furby076]

That happened to me on the G11 also. I had a different flash then you. I had no idea what was going on. I would take 7 pictures of the same target with the same settings and some were blown out, some were underexposed, and some came out just right. I could never figure out what happened.
Can you give an example of the setting you used when this happened? Also what were you trying to photography?

 

[Warmwater Wank]

Annieois, you might want to give yourself another option besides the wrong camera settings--or being crazed. Where is the YS-17 set? Check it's mode switch and also offer us some notion of what your camera settings are. Personally I'd suggest setting the strobe to Manual (check the owner's book, I'm not sure if the YS-17 has more than one Manual setting) and use the camera on Manual exposure settings.

I know, I know. People who don't shoot manual think it's horribly complicated but it isn't, since you really don't have to mess with camera exposure settings all that much and you do have some ability to adjust the YS-17 output. Rather than guess at other problems it will help knowing what settings you are using on your camera and strobe, then it should be easy to pin down the problem. (Unless of course you are crazy, in which case you are at least on the right Forum! ) // ww

 

[annieols]

I have the strobe in manual setting normally (there is a full and half power setting). Occasionally when it is acting up i put it in ttl (which sometimes makes a difference and sometime does not).

The camera (i admit) is in Program mode, i need to get into manual but havent gotten comfortable enough yet (uw photography is new to me). I am shooting RAW, ISO 80, cloudy white balance. I havent changed any of the cmera flash settings, so they are factory setting (not sure what that is, and i dont have the camera in front of me).

I am usually a fan of macro shots, and as i am new, i usually choose subject which dont move or move very little . however yesterday, i was on a wreck and was trying to do some wider angle and stich assist shots. The first (approx) 10 shots the flash was good, then i did a short video, and then all went south. I could see the flash firing, but the photos look as if there was no flash at all. they were so dark, or colorless when ambient lighting was ok. this lasted for (approx) 30-45 shots (20 frustrating moments), where i shot one subject (corals on the wreck, in the shadows) repeatedly while changing settings (on flash and camera). Eventually i turned the camera off deciding to enjoy the dive (which my buddy appreciated). before swimming back to the reef, i tried one more time to get a picture of a tube sponge in the foreground and wreck in the background- flash fired, but photos were dark and colorless. I turned the camera toards myself and shot (to ensure the flash was firing), and from then on the shots were soo overblown!! white white white!

i would love any suggestions you all have (even if its for a new? strobe)...

:cool2:

 

[bvanant]

How is the strobe connected to the camera. I am guessing that it is with a fiber optic cable. If that is the case, then you should be using TTL on the strobe and the camera in manual mode. Set the system up in your kitchen and shoot some flowers at different settings. Unfortunately I am going to suggest a more modern strobe but lets see if we can work through what is going on now. Is the housing the Canon housing?
Bill

 

[furby076]

For my test shots I went to my bedroom, at night, turned out all the lights and practiced with that. It helped a little bit, if anything playing with the camera settings at night and feeling out what ISO, F-stop, etc really mean to me

Another option, if available to you, is going to a pool. Take some toys with you and your mask/snorkel. Stick the toys in the water and shoot. Yea the vist will be amazing but you will get a better shooting experience.

 

[ScubaMarc]

i would think it is a simple as the strobe not firing due to a loose cable or not charged up from the prior picture.

 

[Roko]

I have the strobe in manual setting normally (there is a full and half power setting). Occasionally when it is acting up i put it in ttl (which sometimes makes a difference and sometime does not).

The camera (i admit) is in Program mode, i need to get into manual but havent gotten comfortable enough yet (uw photography is new to me). I am shooting RAW, ISO 80, cloudy white balance. I havent changed any of the cmera flash settings, so they are factory setting (not sure what that is, and i dont have the camera in front of me).

i would love any suggestions you all have (even if its for a new? strobe)...

:cool2:

As mentioned above, you should try using one of the manual modes. The "P" mode on the G10 still automatically gauges the exposure and aperture settings based on it's internal flash, on land, not taking into account the way your strobe fires and the underwater environment.

The Manual modes really aren't that difficult to figure out, they just appear to be daunting. I usually set them before the dive and just adjust my strobe's output intensity on the dive. (With my YS-27, I'm not sure if the YS-17 is adjustable). This way, I always know what the exposure settings will be, and just adjust the flash accordingly after taking a test photo.

Granted, I did practice A LOT with fiddling around with settings with the camera in it's enclosure and strobe attached, in my living room with my dry gloves on just to figure out what everything does. After a couple of dives, I was turning out decent pictures. (Admittedly I have a lot of poorly focused, poorly exposed photos for every good photo)

Just keep on fiddling around with it, and it'll "click"

Some of my better G10 with YS-27 photos:
dive.roko.ca

 

[annieols]

thanks for the help guys... i think that going manual is completely necessary, and i think i am ready for that step

I have the cannon housing and use the fiber optic cable- i will def use it in ttl from now on (i wasnt really sure to be honest!)

I guess my next step is to practice with the camera on land before going in the water again...

Any suggestions if i was going to upgrade strobes?

 

[bvanant]

Inon, Sea&Sea are the two main options for optical TTL with your camera. Look through the threads and you will see there are fanboys of both. I am an Inon guy but have used S&S as well and both seem to behave well.

Bill