SD990 and Inon D2000 Setup

[steviet02]

Hi Everyone,

First, I've found this forum a great help in determining some equipment purchases for my camera setup. So, thanks to all before me who spread their knowledge and input, save me time and money.

I've got an SD990IS with the Canon Housing and an Inon D2000 type 4 strobe and some Inon wet lenses (Fisheye and stacked closeups).


On the D2000, I am confused whether or not the magnet needs to be installed into the strobe housing to shut off the AAC. The way I understand it is that it's only used for camera's that provide true TTL to the strobe. Is that right?

Also, is the clear film actually necessary? Can I cut a hole in some duct tape and put it on the housing to achieve the same effect? Are there any negative aspects to doing that?

Thanks,
Steve

 

[Nemrod]

Hi Everyone,

First, I've found this forum a great help in determining some equipment purchases for my camera setup. So, thanks to all before me who spread their knowledge and input, save me time and money.

I've got an SD990IS with the Canon Housing and an Inon D2000 type 4 strobe and some Inon wet lenses (Fisheye and stacked closeups).


On the D2000, I am confused whether or not the magnet needs to be installed into the strobe housing to shut off the AAC. The way I understand it is that it's only used for camera's that provide true TTL to the strobe. Is that right?

Also, is the clear film actually necessary? Can I cut a hole in some duct tape and put it on the housing to achieve the same effect? Are there any negative aspects to doing that?

Thanks,
Steve

No, no and no.

No, with the duct tape, it will damage the camera strobe, you can use developed slide film to similar effect but no, not duct tape unless you want to damage the camera.

No, the clear film is not needed if you can effectively block the strobe.

No, the camera does not have TTL, it effectively has sTTl, Simulated TTL, and that only when the strobe is selected to sTTL mode.

No, the magnet switch is canceled in sTTL, in the other modes, External Auto and Manual the magnet switch is effective and must be selected correctly. If your camera emits a pre-flash the magnet should not be installed. The strobe will then look for and expect a pre-flash. If the magnet is installed the camera fires as soon as it sees a flash. Therefore to get proper sync the switch must be set correctly.

Turn off any red-eye modes your camera has.

N

 

[steviet02]

No, no and no.

No, with the duct tape, it will damage the camera strobe, you can use developed slide film to similar effect but no, not duct tape unless you want to damage the camera.

No, the clear film is not needed if you can effectively block the strobe.

No, the camera does not have TTL, it effectively has sTTl, Simulated TTL, and that only when the strobe is selected to sTTL mode.

No, the magnet switch is canceled in sTTL, in the other modes, External Auto and Manual the magnet switch is effective and must be selected correctly. If your camera emits a pre-flash the magnet should not be installed. The strobe will then look for and expect a pre-flash. If the magnet is installed the camera fires as soon as it sees a flash. Therefore to get proper sync the switch must be set correctly.

Turn off any red-eye modes your camera has.

N

Thanks Nemrod. Red Eye is off, AWB is enabled, shutter is @ 1/125, EV on strobe is 2.8.

I've installed the magnet as I don't have pre-flash in the SD990, so I'll use manual mode on the strobe, and fine tune it when I get underwater. Testing in a dark room with the setup, manual mode medium setting on the strobe seems to be OK, maybe slightly over exposed but I'm going to try to test the rig out in the water this weekend. Little cold in the Boston area but Saturdays Temps are supposed to be 'warm'

I installed the Clear Photo system in front of the flash on the camera. I have the black diffuser/blocker that came with the Clear Photo system, that the fiber attaches to, but I want to make sure that the backscatter isn't an issue as the black mount stands away from the housing by a 1/2" or so. May be enough to emit some of the flash.

Thanks for the reply.

Steve

 

[Ryan]

SD990 DOES fire a preflash, and the ACC magnet should not be installed.

 

[steviet02]

SD990 DOES fire a preflash, and the ACC magnet should not be installed.

Really? I scoured the manual yesterday to find out and it never mentioned it, or I missed it, so I assumed it didn't pre-flash. Thanks for the info.

Steve

 

[Nemrod]

It pre-flashes for sure.

It will pre-flash in all modes except manual I bet. Also, your camera has Manual flash exposure, page 90 of your manual. If you are shooting manual exposure, set your flash to manual and forced and then set it to 1/3 power level. It will not fire a pre-flash in this setting. However, if you switch your camera from manual to auto then the camera will override your manual flash setting and the camera will once again emit a pre-flash.

What this means is that you must decide before your dive if you want to shoot your camera in auto or manual and then set the D2000 magnet accordingly.

You can also shoot the Inon D2000 in sTTL with the camera in Program, the sTTL selection overrides the magnet switch.

A: Shoot in manual mode, magnet in D2000, D2000 in external auto, SD990 flash set to manual 1/3 power and forced. camera does not pre-flash.

B: Shoot in program, D2000 in sTTL, camera flash forced, magnet switch is overridden. Camera pre-flashes.

C: Shoot in auto, D2000 magnet not installed, D2000 in External Auto or Manual. Camera pre-flashes.

D: Shoot in manual mode, magnet in D2000, D2000 in manual mode, SD990 flash set to manual and 1/3 power and forced. Camera does not pre-flash.

Review page 156 for mode compatibility.

N

 

[steviet02]

It pre-flashes for sure.

It will pre-flash in all modes except manual I bet. Also, your camera has Manual flash exposure, page 90 of your manual. If you are shooting manual exposure, set your flash to manual and forced and then set it to 1/3 power level. It will not fire a pre-flash in this setting. However, if you switch your camera from manual to auto then the camera will override your manual flash setting and the camera will once again emit a pre-flash.

What this means is that you must decide before your dive if you want to shoot your camera in auto or manual and then set the D2000 magnet accordingly.

You can also shoot the Inon D2000 in sTTL with the camera in Program, the sTTL selection overrides the magnet switch.

A: Shoot in manual mode, magnet in D2000, D2000 in external auto, SD990 flash set to manual 1a/3 power nd forced. camera does not pre-flash.

B: Shoot in program, D2000 in sTTL, camera flash forced, magnet switch is overridden. Camera pre-flashes.

C: Shoot in auto, D2000 magnet not installed, D2000 in External Auto or Manual. Camera pre-flashes.

D: Shoot in manual mode, magnet in D2000, D2000 in manual mode, SD990 flash set to manual and 1/3 power and forced. Camera does not pre-flash.

Review page 156 for mode compatibility.

N

Thanks again Nemrod. That's what was really confusing me, pre-flash vs mode vs D2000 operation. I'm curious as to which one will give me the best performance? It looks like either the Program or Manual mode will give me the best flexibility, and probably is the answer to the performance as well. I gotta read and test a little more, I should be able to get in the water Sunday.

I really appreciate the help... Thanks,

Steve

 

[Nemrod]

Well, that is the way I think it works given what I know and the cameras I have had at my disposal in recent years. Before that once in a life time shot when that whale shark in a pink Tu-Tu in formation with a UFO swims by, check them out in your living room and see if indeed I am right.

BTW, important, do not, DO NOT, remove or replace the magnet switch on the D2000 while the strobe is turned on. To alter the switch, turn the strobe off, install or remove the magnet, then turn the strobe back on. I am not sure if this would damage the circuitry or if the strobe simply fails to reset, in either case there is a warning in the manual not to do it.

Also, you can fire the D2000/S2000 in air but be sure not to over heat them, they use water for cooling.

N

 

[steviet02]

I've done some playing around with the different modes of both the camera and strobe and feel like the Manual mode of the camera - forced flash 1/3 power - with the magnet in the strobe, and the strobe set to manual settings will give me the best control and flexibility. I understand a little better the options and their limitations/flexibilities so I'll just need to find what suits me better.

Steve