S80 with Ikelite Housing

[CompuDude]

So I have my shiny new S80 with it's equally shiny Ikelite housing. Overall, I love it... the Ike housing is like a TANK compared to the Canon housing I had with my SD550.

One downside I've discovered: While the SD550 in the Canon housing did really well for macro shots with the onboard flash (stuff close enough that backscatter wasn't an issue), the Ike housing has a lens tube that is just big enough and wide enough that it actually BLOCKS approximately 25% of the onboard flash when shooting, rendering the built in flash utterly useless.

So it looks like I might need a strobe. (Yes, NEED, not just WANT.)

I've been pointed towards the DS-50 package with the EV Manual controller, and the ball joints, for around $550 online.

Opinions? Alternates? Kudos?

 

[nvert]

Funny...I ALREADY have a strobe and am looking to upgrade to the S80+Ike housing. Only thing is I have the Inon D2000w (which worked great with the optical sync on my A520/DC WP-60 case) but apparently the only way I'll get it to work with the Ike housing is through another similar optical sync arrangement which Ike considers as "nonsense".

Well it worked GREAT on my other setup so why not on this new one? I just wonder if the optical connection will fit over the Ike diffuser. IF it does then I'll be more than happy and go so far as to reccommend the Inon D2000 for you as well. For me, I found the D2000 to offer more flexibility than the DS series and you don't have to fuss with the EV manual controller, pointing it at your cameras flash (which seems more nonsensical to me).

Let me know what you find out - I'm very interested since I'm in your shoes, just working backwards!

Brad

 

[stu_in_fl]

One downside I've discovered: While the SD550 in the Canon housing did really well for macro shots with the onboard flash (stuff close enough that backscatter wasn't an issue), the Ike housing has a lens tube that is just big enough and wide enough that it actually BLOCKS approximately 25% of the onboard flash when shooting, rendering the built in flash utterly useless.

the Ike housing should have come with a diffuser for the flash - put that on and you can use flash in macro mode (without it half the shot will be dark).

 

[CompuDude]

the Ike housing should have come with a diffuser for the flash - put that on and you can use flash in macro mode (without it half the shot will be dark).

I'll have to experiment a little more, but I did try at least one shot with the diffuser on, and it still seemed like part of the shot was noticeably darker. Has anyone here used JUST the camera, Ike housing and diffuser and taken a big series of macro shots?

 

[stu_in_fl]

these were taken without a strobe - just internal flash (S80 with Ike housing - diffuser placed in front of internal flash) - macro button pressed.....must admint, the water was pretty clear, so no backscatter.

- the other settings - Apperture Priority mode, and I think f5.6

 

[CompuDude]

these were taken without a strobe - just internal flash (S80 with Ike housing - diffuser placed in front of internal flash) - macro button pressed.....must admint, the water was pretty clear, so no backscatter.

- the other settings - Apperture Priority mode, and I think f5.6

Nice! Ok, I guess perhaps this puts it back in the "want" category, vs. "need".

VERY good to know, in case I can't make the strobe happen before my next trip (next weekend).

So... given that, any opinions on the S80 with the DS-50 strobe? Are there better ones for the camera that don't cost 3x as much? Or are there any just as well matched that are cheaper?

 

[CompuDude]

Funny...I ALREADY have a strobe and am looking to upgrade to the S80+Ike housing. Only thing is I have the Inon D2000w (which worked great with the optical sync on my A520/DC WP-60 case) but apparently the only way I'll get it to work with the Ike housing is through another similar optical sync arrangement which Ike considers as "nonsense".

Well it worked GREAT on my other setup so why not on this new one? I just wonder if the optical connection will fit over the Ike diffuser. IF it does then I'll be more than happy and go so far as to reccommend the Inon D2000 for you as well. For me, I found the D2000 to offer more flexibility than the DS series and you don't have to fuss with the EV manual controller, pointing it at your cameras flash (which seems more nonsensical to me).

Let me know what you find out - I'm very interested since I'm in your shoes, just working backwards!

Will do. Actually, the Inon D2000 was on my short list of alternates. I'd be interested to hear how it works out for you, as well. I really liked that it had an integrated spotting light, for one thing. One guy I spoke to expressed concern that it may be too much flash for the camera, however. I dunno... not experienced enough in this area, having never used a strobe before, on land or water. (other than built in) I read a very good review of the D2000's predecessor, however. I thought I read something about a cool IR filter that goes over the flash, that lets the IR light from the flash through, which will trigger the sensor on the strobe, but not add any light to the scene. Again, however, I haven't actually laid eyes on it, nor have I ever used one, so I'm just regurgitating what I've read elsewhere.

 

[midwestdvr]

I don't have an s80 but I do have the Ike housing for my a620 and an inon d-2000. The strobe works with the housing once I figured out how to attach the fiber optic cord to the housing. I like the d-2000 coz it's powerful enough for the kind of pics I take and it's compact. YMMV

 

[nvert]

Yeah, the D2000 does very well and has LOTS of controls, especially if used manually in tune with the camera. I just ordered my s80 + Ike housing this afternoon. I'll mount the optical clip to the Ike's diffuser panel and use the strobe just as I did with my old A520. This was a very easy and very practical setup. With the A520 I used the "clear system film" to cover the camera's flash. This only let non-visible light to pass to the D2000's optical sensor (thus eliminating any backscatter problems that may occur with light "escpaing" between the flash and the sensor). I'll use the same method with my new S80 and I feel confident that this setup will work very well.

Also, if you go with the D2000 make sure you get the "w" behing the strobe number - D2000w. This paticular strobe has the electronic capabilities to be hard syncd to a camera down the road - like a dSLR or a compact with an external flash hotshoe. Again, more flexibility here.

I did lots of research before buying the D2000w and am very happy with it. When the camera is in full manual mode, you can adjust its flash output as well as the 13+ outputs of the strobe to get the light intensity you desire. My A520 had 3 different flash ratings so with the D2000 it really offered me A LOT of flexibility in intensity.

Additionally, with my new setup, I purchased a .5 white diffuser for the strobe to soften the perimeter of the strobe's light. I too would reccommend this for you. This, along with learning how to manually control the intensity of the strobe and/or the intensity of the S80 sync flash, should get you to shoot with appropriate flash/strobe intensity.

It all comes down to practice and experimentation, both above and below water. First get to know your camera's multi capabilities and then learn the strobe. My first pics were either well under or over exposed or the strobe was not centered on my subject. But practice does make perfect!

 

[nvert]

Images taken with my A520 and D2000 from the Bahamas....

Not sure if this link will be deleted...just got to find a way to get these images transfered to the SCBoard Gallery ????

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/whitn...=&.done=http://photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos