Strobe Help

[bsvihrajr]

Right now I have a Canon S230 with the Canon DC600 housing. I'm semi-new to diving, but have enough experience (AOW with a few specialties, getting Rescue soon) to work with my camera and dive safely while doing so.

I'm debating whether it's possible to get a strobe that I can use now with my housing and also in the future with an Olympus, Nikon, or Canon housing. Basically, from what I've read the PT-015, which is very popula, takes a slave strobe, which is what I'd need for my housing now, right? And TTL is with a housing that has a plug? How does the PT-015 set off a strobe? And any suggestions on what I might get?

 

[Gilligan]

The cameras internal flash sets off the external strobe.
The Sea & Sea YS90DX is a popular strobe along with the newer Inon D-180.
They both use a fiber optic cable to transmit the light from the cameras internal strobe to the external strobe head (frame 1 below for the Inon). I believe the S&S uses a Velcro type device to attach the cable to the front of the camera housing.
The Inon uses a screw on plate that attaches over the camera housings flash diffuser panel (frames 2 and 3 below) and the other end screws into the strobe head (frames 4 & 5 below). It also has a dark film patch with adhesive that covers the camera flash to block it and convert it to infra-red (frame 6 below).
I recently purchased the Inon D-180 for my Oly PT-010 and am happy with it. It is a very compact unit. Click on"My Camera Setup" link below to see it.
This is what the fiber optic setup looks like for the PT-010. The kit varies in design for the different housings.

 

[TedJ]

We should pin or somehow put this in a place where it could be viewed by all those who ask the main "What strobe?, how does it work?" questions The images are really helpful.
Just MHO,
TedJ

 

[justleesa]

Just MHO,
TedJ

My humble opinion???