Ikelite Housing Issue??

[jdcpa]

I just got an Ikelite 6140.64 housing for the Canon A640.

I was just sitting and trying out the housing and I discovered that each time I use the camera flash I get a "Backflash" that shows up like a crescent moon at about 11:00 in the picture.

It does the same thing with or without the DS-51 substrobe.

I have narrowed it down to the camera flash causing it.

It seems like there is a gap between the camera lens and the gasket on the front of the housing that lets light get back to the camera.

Has anyone else had the same issue?

How do I fix it?

 

[alcina]

If you are using an external strobe hard wired in, you need to turn your internal flash off.

Pretty sure that if you are, for whatever reason, going to use your internal flash only, then you need to attach the difuser plate to the housing. It's the little white plastic thing.

 

[jdcpa]

Thanks for the reply Alcina. Sorry, I must have done a poor job explaining.

Unfortunately, you can't hard wire in an A640, it does not have a hot shoe. The only way the external flash will work is off of the internal flash. If I don't use the internal flash, the external flash will not work. That does take care of the problem, but I can't take a picture then.

Regardless of whether I use either of the little white plastic things, the diffuser or deflector, the result is the same. It flashes behind either of the little white things and on to the picture.

I am using what Ikelite recommends with those cameras, an EV connector if that helps you any.

I would love more ideas please. I am at a loss. Maybe I am just missing it.

 

[alcina]

Hmmm, not sure with the Ike strobes. I know with the Inons you put a little sticky thing over the internal flash that blocks the visible light but allows it to trigger, via the optic cable, the external strobe.

Best and fastest bet - call the guys you ordered it from and have them tell you how to hook it up. You can also head to www.ikelite.com as they have a pretty good support list on the website, if I remember correctly. You may find the answers there.

 

[SteveC]

From my experience, you have to 100% isolate the lens from the flash. Any flash that gets to the lens will produce this glare. I have been fighting this on a housing that I made. I have thinking about getting the Cannon A640 also. I was hoping the internal flash could be turned off

 

[jdcpa]

Alcina:

I have calls and emails in to Ikelite. Hopefully they will have an answer. I have another strobe that acts like you mention. The EV controller does the same thing, but it is a sensor situated a few inches away so that the flash has to activate for the strobe to fire. I a not certain if I covered up the internal flash that it would work.

The camera screws into the back half of the case, so there is only one way it fits.

SteveC:

I think you hit the problem on the head. Problem is the housing does not do that. It would seem the front gasket would shield the lens from the internal flash, but it does not do that. I guess I could build a gasket to go on the front gasket, but why would I want to do that?

Yes, you can turn the flash off on the A640, but then the strobe does not work. At that point why even have it? BTW: I love the camera. I have an A620 and the A640 is noticably better to me.

 

[jdcpa]

Ikelite has requested I return the housing.

I sent them an email and they promptly responded.

 

[AUTiger]

My Oly ike housing came with a "non-diffuser" that attached to the lense port. It looks like a diffuser but is solid white. That was supposed to allow the internal flash to fire (to trigger the strobe), but prevent the internal flash from lighting the subject.

David

 

[jdcpa]

David:


The Ikelite has the same thing. It sits about an inch from the internal flash though, and I get the same result using it as well.

Good idea though.

Thanks.

 

[MARKTGOD]

Hi,

Anyone else had this problem with the backflash using A640 with ike housing? I am on the verge on buying the ike housing, but now im not so sure? Any help / advice appriciated.


cheers