Strobe question Canon S95 and Sealife SL960d

[ChainDiver]

My shots in P mode are underexposed (practically black)
Shooting in M the exposure is good.

Both shots had the following settings f2.8 , Exposure 1/60, ISO-80.

Any ideas as to why?

P.S any one know if the Chicago or Miami airports would sell the canon NB-SL battery. I just tried my brand new spare and the top is loose. I am leaving for the Galapagos on Sunday and really wanted a second battery.

 

[Nemrod]

Probably because in Manual mode your SXX is not giving a pre-flash and in P(rogram) mode it is and your Sealife flash is therefore not syncing up.

Also, you could turn off all of the Safety Exposure and Safety Focus etc.


You must set your strobe to expect a pre-flash when shooting the camera in Auto or Program. In camera Manual mode there is never a pre-flash, in Auto or Program there is ALWAYS a pre-flash, in Av/Tv yyou get to select by choosing Auto flash (always a pre-flash) or Manual flash (never a pre-flash).

Aim at a mirror, I bet in Program you do not see the flash fire in the resulting image???? Setting your pre-flash switch should be on pages 12 and 13 of your manual.

I suggest you set your SXX to either Manual mode or Av mode. In Av mode be sure to set the camera flash to Manual and to low power (or as needed to fire your strobe). This way you can switch back and forth from Manual exposure to Av auto exposure without having to re-set your strobe pre-flash selector switch.

JR

 

[ChainDiver]

Thanks.

That was definitely the problem.

I was aware of the pre-flash settings on the strobe. I did not think there was any pre-flash from the camera in any mode. On other cameras you can really see the pre-flash. It is not as obvious on the S95.

When I set the strobe to one pre-flash P mode works. In manual the strobe does not fire since it never gets the second flash.

Can you change the flash setting on your strobes during the dive? The sealife switch is inside the battery compartment.


Being a newbie I was hoping to switch between P and M (and possibly Auto)

Thanks again!

 

[Nemrod]

Thanks.

That was definitely the problem.

I was aware of the pre-flash settings on the strobe. I did not think there was any pre-flash from the camera in any mode. On other cameras you can really see the pre-flash. It is not as obvious on the S95.

When I set the strobe to one pre-flash P mode works. In manual the strobe does not fire since it never gets the second flash.

Can you change the flash setting on your strobes during the dive? The sealife switch is inside the battery compartment.


Being a newbie I was hoping to switch between P and M (and possibly Auto)

Thanks again!

No you cannot change settings on the SL strobe during a dive. You will need to do as I said if you want to use both an Auto mode and Manual mode. You will need to use Av which is an Auto mode and set the camera flash to Manual and low power (or whatever power setting is needed to fire your SL strobe). Set this way you can switch between Av and Manual without needing to re-set the switch on your SL960D strobe.

James

 

[ChainDiver]

Hi Nemrod,

I know the sealife strobes can not be changed underwater.

I was wondering if your strobes (or any other strobes) had the ability to change the number of pre-flashes underwater.

Mike.

 

[Nemrod]

Hi Nemrod,

I know the sealife strobes can not be changed underwater.

I was wondering if your strobes (or any other strobes) had the ability to change the number of pre-flashes underwater.

Mike.

The simple answer is yes, they do. Some strobes like the Inon series do not need to be set for the number of pre-flashes, they only need to be told via a selector switch to expect a pre-flash or not. Their internal "computer" takes it from there. However, in practical terms, one must really decide before the dive how they want to be configured. This is because the magnetic switch actually has the photographer install a magnet into a little hole. The Inon Z240 actually has a rotary switch instead of the "magnet in the hole" trick. Either way, the strobe does not have to be dismantled or any seals removed to set for pre-flash or no pre-flash.

N