G11 with ikelite sync cord and case TTL setup.

[SailNaked]

I am sure there are posts about this but I am search impaired.

I have a new Ikelite gs160 to go with my ikelite case and canon G11, I have looked at the settings for flash but they are only for the internal flash, how do I set up TTL flash and turn off the internal flash?

the internal gets partially blocked by the front lense so leaves a crecent shadow on the pics.

I read that if I turn off the internal flash that the shoe is still hot? how does this work, I set the flash for TTL and just count on it to go off when needed?

I shoot in manual and mostly close up but rarely macro.

also any advice on setting up the white balance would be awesome as I usually have to fix it on the computer at home and this gets tedius.

some advice would be great as tomorrow I will be spending 8 days getting familiar with my new setup.

 

[Ramsy]

When you connect the flash cable in your Ikelite case to the hot shoe connector on your G11, all flash commands will be sent to the hot shoe and the flash attached to the hot shoe. The G11's internal flash will not fire. This is no different than if you attached a Canon external flash to your G11 for use on land. You adjust flash settings for your external strobe on the G11 the same way you would for the internal flash - auto, always on, slow sync, etc. For TTL, set the G11's flash to auto and the external strobe to TTL and the strobe will fire automatically as needed. When the G11 requests the use of a flash, instead of the internal flash firing, it will send the flash request command through the hot shoe, and to the external strobe.

As for white balance, the G11 has a custom white balance feature where it sets the white balance based on the environment. To get to it, hit the FUNC/SET key, scroll down to white balance option, pick custom1 and point the camera to something white, and click on the MENU key to have the camera evaluate the white balance. As water conditions change, repeat this procedure to update your white balance.

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

I shoot in manual and mostly close up but rarely macro.

also any advice on setting up the white balance would be awesome as I usually have to fix it on the computer at home and this gets tedius.

If you usually shoot close up, with your new ttl strobe I'm assuming the vast majority will be shot with the strobe firing, and "strobed" images require no white balancing.

White balance is pretty much "just" for ambient lit, non close up underwater photography, and for your few non close up, ambient lit underwater photographs with your G11, much better results will probably be accomplished shooting in raw with the camera in full auto, including auto WB, and getting "tedius" on the computer at home.

 

[SailNaked]

Thanks all,

I now have one day of experience with my new setup. I normally shoot in raw, and then play with it at home, however today my settings were set to JPG, and AWB. so tomorrow will be back to Raw. and I am going to try cloudy, as the pics were fairly blue. and too red for close ups. Ramsy you are right, TTL is automatic via the cable in fact it really did not matter much on what I set the f or speed to. seems the flash is pretty dominant on the exposure. more tomorrow, I have changed a few settings.

 

[SailNaked]

I figure here is as good a place for this as any;

I now have about 17 dives with the new setup. and a lot of fun.

the GS160 is a monster. it is almost a simple point and shoot. the speed and F-stop were rarely changed much, unless it was very overcast and dark or very shallow and bright.

the only issues I had were on sand as the flash would blow out most things. I tried putting it down to -4 with the diffuser, but even that was not enough. I might get an extra diffuser of some home made design but will see next trip.

some changes I made this trip were to turn off digital Zoom, and to set the WB to overcast. maybe will try the underwater setting, but I do not like how red it makes things when you take a shallow shot.

I used the macro setting and optical zoom and got some nice shots. cant wait till bonaire with no current and I can optimize my skilz.