Problems with C8080 + DS125 strobe

[mishthefish]

I have done at least 100 dives with my c8080, Ikelite housing and DS 125 strobe with some wonderful results. However a couple of months ago the TTL setting on my strobe stopped working. The strobe fires but very, very dim. I now have to use the Full setting and even with the diffuser and F8 my macro shots are coming out very over-exposed. I have the camera on all the settings posted on the Ikelite website for underwater photography. I just got a new cord that goes between the housing and the strobe because I thought that might be the problem but it still doesn't work.

Any advice would be very appreciated. I live in Roatan, Honduras so can't pop down to my local camera shop for help!

Thank you.
Mish

 

[Larry C]

First thing I would do is check the contacts on the camera, the hotshoe connector inside the housing and especially the cable connector outside the housing. I don't have an Ikelite but I've experienced similar issues on my Sea & Sea strobes when the cord o-ring has wept a bit and corroded the contacts. I swabbed them with vinegar, cleaned them with alcohol, prayed to the Gods of Underwater Photography and they now work fine again. When they were malfunctioning I had either a mistimed flash or full flash while on my ttl setting. Probably the contact that sends the ttl control signal was corroded.

 

[mishthefish]

Hi Larry,

Thank you so much. That could well be the problem. I will try it out and I will tell you if you were right. I had also forgotten the Gods of Underwater Photography so that might have contributed to the malfunction!

Regards
Mish