Setting up the Inon s-2000 for first time use with G12 - please help!

[terson]

You're dead right about the yawn mate, think you know everything?
Well the cemetery is full of divers like you.
My EPL-2 is used in manual exposure AND manual flash set at 1/64th.

 

[Nemrod]

You're dead right about the yawn mate, think you know everything?
Well the cemetery is full of divers like you.
My EPL-2 is used in manual exposure AND manual flash set at 1/64th.

Oh good grief, look fella, I have no interest in trading insults with you. You are being a bit dramatic, I seriously doubt cemeteries are full of divers like me who died as a result of, according to you, mis-operation of an Inon S2000 strobe. In fact, I seriously doubt the cemeteries are full of scuba divers of any sort, like me or not. Get over yourself, it isn't that dramatic. I am going to stay with what I said.

Advanced Cancel Cricuit

This feature is for use with External Auto and Manual Modes when using pre-flash type cameras. The circuit reproduces the camera’s pre-flash, but at higher intensity than the camera flash. This creates optimum underwater performance, faster recycle time for the camera flash, quicker follow-up shots, and longer camera battery life.

To accomplish this, the INON emits a pre-flash up to 22 times stronger than the camera pre-flash. The camera 'sees' this strong pre-flash, judges the subject to be close to the camera, and decreases the power (duration) of the main flash by the camera. The minimal main flash by the camera results in faster recycle time of the camera flash, and extended camera battery life.

If your camera does not fire a pre-flash, ACC must be disabled.

The ACC is ON by default, but can be disabled in one of two ways, depending on the model of strobe:

[TABLE="width: 400"]
[TR]
[TD]Strobes with a Magnet Hole[/TD]
[TD]Strobes with a Dial Switch[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]

[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]For models with a magnet hole type switch, insert the provided magnet and secure in place using the provided retaining screw to disable ACC.[/TD]
[TD]For models with a dial type switch, depress the dial and rotate to lock in the depressed position to disable ACC.
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Courtesy of Reef Photo.

N

 

[terson]

Quite simply, what I have said is correct.
When using my EPL-2 in manual exposure with manual strobe there is no need for the magnet as there is NO pre-flash from the camera! Remember the S2000 is a slave strobe and only fires when triggered by another flash.
While diving, if I choose to use S-TTL underwater all I have to do is change the settings of the strobe to S-TTL and then camera flash setting to TTL and all's good. If I do it your way, the magnet will be in place and cancel my S-TTL usage. Sooo, with my EPL-2, there is no need for the magnet to be in place at all.
The Canon G12 that the original poster is using, is another camera that doesn't fire off any pre-flashes when used in manual strobe, so again, the magnet is not necessary for use in either full manual or S-TTL, when used with the S2000 strobe.
Compact camera usage might differ, but I have not given any settings for compact camera usage, only the EPL-2 and G12, both of which I have experience with topside and underwater and both with the S2000 strobe at these settings.
Bruce

 

[Nemrod]

Quite simply:

G/S Series Camera Mode--Camera Flash Mode--- Preflash--Inon S/D Series Magnet Switch--Inon S Op Mode-- Inon D Op Mode
Program----------------------------- Auto --------------Yes -------------NA ------------------------------sTTL ---------------sTTL
Auto Tv/Auto Av ----------------Default Auto ---------Yes -------------NA ------------------------------sTTL ---------------sTTL
Auto Tv/Auto Av ----------------Default Auto ---------Yes -------------Remove Magnet -----------------NA ----------------EA
Auto Tv/Auto Av ----------------Select Manual --------No -------------Install Magnet -------------------Manual -----------Manual or EA
Manual ----------------------------- Manual ------------No -------------Install Magnet -------------------Manual -----------Manual or EA

Like I said, I will not enter the name calling and negative aspersions.

Why use sTTL in camera Manual and camera Manual stone selected, yeah, it will work and the slaved S2000 will exactly mimic the camera strobe set at whatever Manual power setting it is selected to but you could, I suppose, vary the S2000 output with the knob to plus or minus. If you wanted to, if that is what the argumentative is, do not know why that would be useful except in cameras that have Auto TTL flash in Manual exposure mode.

N

---------- Post Merged at 09:37 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 06:54 PM ----------

I think I figured out what is going on by testing against a mirror.

In camera Manual mode with the camera flash set in Manual (and choose power level) and then setting the Inon S2000 in sTTL, the S2000 is expecting a pre flash. In sTTL it is always expecting a pre flash. The S2000 sees the camera strobe go off which set in Manual does not fire a pre flash and the S2000 fires it's first "ACC" preflash and then never seeing the second flash fires a weak second "exposure" flash. Of course, the camera does not know all that is going on simply being set in Manual, the S2000 slaves that single camera flash event and that is what is making the exposure, the S2000's ACC preflash. By the time it fires the second flash the camera shutter is closed though I suspect slow shutter speeds might ghost seeing parts of two flash events.

Then, next, when shooting camera in a preflash producing mode (Auto, Program etc) and the S2000 in Manual without the magnet switch activated, all is well because the S2000 does expect the preflash and of course the camera gives one so the S2000 is a happy camper.

Maybe, dunno, not sure it is worth thinking that hard on actually. Sort of like this:

From the Underwater Photography Guide:"Using the strobe in Manual Mode"

"When the Inon S2000 is used in manual mode (turn the left switch to "M"), the magnet switch is used to tell the strobe whether to ignore pre-flashes or not. Normally the magnet is not inserted into the hole, but when using Canon point and shoot cameras like the Canon S90, G10, or G11 on manual mode, you want to insert the magnet, and set the Canon flash power to it's lowest setting. This is because Canon compact cameras do not preflash or support TTL when in manual mode."

For what it is worth.

---------- Post Merged on August 1st, 2012 at 10:25 PM ---------- Previous Post was on July 31st, 2012 at 06:54 PM ----------

N

 

[Nemrod]

Here, I made this fancy chart. Apparently I dive and read a lot cuz I figured out how to make this goofy MAC cooperate, sort of.

N

 

[NautilusCairns]

Just came back from diving in Timor Leste where I played around with the various settings on my S2000/S95 including using the magnet and using the strobes in sTTL and manual and the S95 in manual and auto flash. I also tried using CHDK with the shutter over ridden to 1/200th and the aperature adjusted mainly to f8 in Av mode with the S2000 on sTTL for macro shots.

I would agree with Nemrod's chart except that in autoTv/Av, camera flash on auto and the S2000 on sTTL if you leave the magnet in (ACC off) the camera battery would not make two dives whereas with the magnet out (ACC on) the battery lasting two dives wasn't a problem. I still changed the battery after the second dive.

So I believe the chart would be more accurate if NA was replaced with sTTL in the S Op mode column when the magnet is removed.

 

[Nemrod]

Just came back from diving in Timor Leste where I played around with the various settings on my S2000/S95 including using the magnet and using the strobes in sTTL and manual and the S95 in manual and auto flash. I also tried using CHDK with the shutter over ridden to 1/200th and the aperature adjusted mainly to f8 in Av mode with the S2000 on sTTL for macro shots.

I would agree with Nemrod's chart except that in autoTv/Av, camera flash on auto and the S2000 on sTTL if you leave the magnet in (ACC off) the camera battery would not make two dives whereas with the magnet in (ACC on) the battery lasting two dives wasn't a problem. I still changed the battery after the second dive.

So I believe the chart would be more accurate if NA was replaced with sTTL in the S Op mode column when the magnet is removed.

It isn't so much that the mode did not work but that you found it, uh, draining, lol, . In any case, if y'all want to modify the chart, have at it, I can probably provide my original Word doc. I am not saying the modes listed are good for all cameras but only that they will functionally work as a starting point since so many seem to have difficulty reconciling the various manuals suggestions, this thread is a perfect example.

Yes, indeed, using the camera with the camera flash set in Auto will drain the camera battery more quickly than using the camera with the camera flash set in Manual (and lowest power choice). With the S2000 set to sTTL the magnet switch has no function. The magnet switch is only functional in Manual setting on the S2000 (and Manual and eAuto with the D2000).


Edit-------


Ohhhhh, I see, I think you misunderstand my chart, the third line relates the eAuto mode of the D2000 to magnet switch position and the S2000 does not have the eAuto mode thus the NA. OK, well, maybe in Rev. B I will try and make that more easy to follow.

N

 

[NautilusCairns]

It isn't so much that the mode did not work but that you found it, uh, draining, lol, . In any case, if y'all want to modify the chart, have at it, I can probably provide my original Word doc. I am not saying the modes listed are good for all cameras but only that they will functionally work as a starting point since so many seem to have difficulty reconciling the various manuals suggestions, this thread is a perfect example.

Yes, indeed, using the camera with the camera flash set in Auto will drain the camera battery more quickly than using the camera with the camera flash set in Manual (and lowest power choice). With the S2000 set to sTTL the magnet switch has no function. The magnet switch is only functional in Manual setting on the S2000 (and Manual and eAuto with the D2000).


Edit-------


Ohhhhh, I see, I think you misunderstand my chart, the third line relates the eAuto mode of the D2000 to magnet switch position and the S2000 does not have the eAuto mode thus the NA. OK, well, maybe in Rev. B I will try and make that more easy to follow.

N

So what you're saying is that the ACC feature on the S2000 is redundant when used with a Canon S series. Because if using strobe and camera and camera flash setting all in manual you need the magnet in to turn off the ACC as there is no preflash. And if using the strobe in sTTL then ACC is automatically turned off.

I read in one of the many threads on this issue (from Interceptor I think) that the camera flash needs to be set to Auto for sTTL to work. Your chart indicates the same if that is what is meant by "default auto". This is a real Catch 22 because of the heavy battery drain when in camera flash on Auto.

 

[Nemrod]

So what you're saying is that the ACC feature on the S2000 is redundant when used with a Canon S series. Because if using strobe and camera and camera flash setting all in manual you need the magnet in to turn off the ACC as there is no preflash. And if using the strobe in sTTL then ACC is automatically turned off.

I read in one of the many threads on this issue (from Interceptor I think) that the camera flash needs to be set to Auto for sTTL to work. Your chart indicates the same if that is what is meant by "default auto". This is a real Catch 22 because of the heavy battery drain when in camera flash on Auto.

Yes, I think you have it right as rain. And, yes, camera flash in Auto (with camera in Program, Auto or Av or Tv) will result in heavy drain especially noticeable on the little S series battery.


What I mean when I say "Default Auto" is that is the factory setting and the camera software allows you to select Manual if you so desire and it is a sticky setting in that it will stay as last selected. Where I say "Select Manual" I mean we are selecting the Manual flash setting instead of the Default Auto flash setting which is only relevant for the G and S cameras when in the Av or Tv modes. Now, I know you guys are messing with the CDHK software, my chart may not apply once we start messing with the original software.

N

 

[smoore]

This is a very interesting discussion. I have the EPL2 and the Inon S2000. I was initially confused by Inon instructions regarding the magnet and shooting in manual mode. I assumed that the EPL2 did not use a pre-flash when the flash was set for a specific flash duration like 1/64th but there was nothing in the manual that confirmed that belief. I left the magnet in assuming that if I was shooting in STTL (including in manual mode on the camera but with the forced flash setting) the STTL setting in the flash would override the magnet and if shooting in full manual the magnet would ensure that the ACC was cancelled. When I tried this at home I had the impression that without the magnet in full manual the pictures I got were underexposed. I did not try shooting into a mirror. As a result of my testing I have left the magnet in but I tend to shoot in manual mode with forced flash and take advantage of the camera's ability to use STTL in manual mode. So far no problems and I have never had problems with the draining of my camera battery with the magnet in.

Since I have never shot in full manual underwater without the magnet I cannot confirm that one could get properly exposed pictures. Since I only get to dive about a dozen dives a year I don't see myself experimenting with the magnet out in full manual mode. I will just leave the magnet in.