SuperMacro and flash on C-5060

[JMPhillips3]

Hey everyone. I've really enjoyed all of the posts and have learned quite a bit just reading the forum.

I have the Oly C-5060 in the Ikelite housing, DS-50 strobe and TTL sync cord. I've only taken it on a few dive trips so far.

This setup generally works great. But, there are a few instances where I'd like to be able to use the strobe in super-macro. On land, the camera doesn't even fire the internal strobe in supermacro.

However, there were a few instances underwater where the external strobe actually fired while in supermacro with great results.

But, I can't figure out what setting actually caused it to fire. Or, if it was just a fluke or some strange set of environmental variables that caused it to fire.

Any ideas?

 

[gualter_marques]

On land, the camera doesn't even fire the internal strobe in supermacro.

Oh yes it does

The user manual just doesn't explane how.

I read it yesterday on another forum and I'm waiting for the next weekend to try it underwater.

The camera has to be in Manual mode, then you have to set the internal strobe to slave and select a value from 1 to 10.

I tryed it and guess what ... it works !

 

[ReyeR]

OK, it goes like this:

The reason why the C5050's/5060's flash won't fire IN TTL in Super Macro mode is because the camera's flash can throw a shadow of the lens on the subject because of the extremely short focusing distance attainable in Super Macro mode.

However, Olympus does allow you to use an external flash or strobe in Super Macro mode. Two most common ways of doing this:

1. Using an external SLAVE flash or strobe
In Super Macro mode you can get the camera's flash to fire in 'Slave' mode (OK >> Mode Menu >> Camera >> Flash >> Slave). This is only available in A or M shooting modes only. The idea is to use the camera's flash to trigger an external slave flash or strobe in sync with the camera's shutter. Note that in 'Slave' mode the camera's flash is not working in TTL i.e. the camera does not control the flash to get the correct exposure but only serves as a 'trigger' to sync an external slave flash or strobe. You will then need to adjust the camera's aperture and/or the external flash or strobe's output to get the correct exposure. This is the method strobes like the Inon D180 (with a fibre optical cable) use to take pictures in Super Macro mode. You can set this up in the following way:

• Manual or Aperture Priority shooting mode
• Start with F5.6 and 1/125
• SMacro (Super Macro)
• Flash Menu set to 'Slave' (OK >> Mode Menu >> Camera >> Flash >> Slave)
• You should now be able to set the Flash Mode to ':lightning Slow' (hold the :lightning button on the left of the camera and turn the jog dial)

You should see the camera's flash fire in Super Macro mode

2. Using an external flash or strobe that understands Olympus' TTL protocol
Because Ikelite has implement the Olympus TTL protocol with their TTL conversion circuitary (that little circuit you see inside the Ikelite housing) it allows the camera to 'communicate' with the DS-50 or DS-125 in TTL. Hence the DS-50 or DS-125 will fire in Super Macro mode:

• Turn off both the camera and the strobe (in this case the DS-50)
• Insert the housing flash connector into the camera's hotshoe
• Connect the TTL sync cord from the housing to the strobe
• Turn the camera on, then the DS-50 and set the DS-50 to TTL
• Try the following on your camera:
  • Manual
  • Start with F5.6 and 1/125
  • SMacro (Super Macro)
  • Flash Menu set to external flash symbol (OK >> Mode Menu >> Camera >> Flash >> External Flash)
  • You should now be able to set the Flash Mode to ':lightning Slow' (hold the :lightning button on the left of the camera and turn the jog dial)

The DS-50 should now fire in TTL in Super Macro mode.

 

[JMPhillips3]

Thanks for the advice. I'll try it out and see what happens.

OK, it goes like this:

The reason why the C5050's/5060's flash won't fire IN TTL in Super Macro mode is because the camera's flash can throw a shadow of the lens on the subject because of the extremely short focusing distance attainable in Super Macro mode.

However, Olympus does allow you to use an external flash or strobe in Super Macro mode. Two most common ways of doing this:

1. Using an external SLAVE flash or strobe
In Super Macro mode you can get the camera's flash to fire in 'Slave' mode (OK >> Mode Menu >> Camera >> Flash >> Slave). This is only available in A or M shooting modes only. The idea is to use the camera's flash to trigger an external slave flash or strobe in sync with the camera's shutter. Note that in 'Slave' mode the camera's flash is not working in TTL i.e. the camera does not control the flash to get the correct exposure but only serves as a 'trigger' to sync an external slave flash or strobe. You will then need to adjust the camera's aperture and/or the external flash or strobe's output to get the correct exposure. This is the method strobes like the Inon D180 (with a fibre optical cable) use to take pictures in Super Macro mode. You can set this up in the following way:

• Manual or Aperture Priority shooting mode
• Start with F5.6 and 1/125
• SMacro (Super Macro)
• Flash Menu set to 'Slave' (OK >> Mode Menu >> Camera >> Flash >> Slave)
• You should now be able to set the Flash Mode to ':lightning Slow' (hold the :lightning button on the left of the camera and turn the jog dial)

You should see the camera's flash fire in Super Macro mode

2. Using an external flash or strobe that understands Olympus' TTL protocol
Because Ikelite has implement the Olympus TTL protocol with their TTL conversion circuitary (that little circuit you see inside the Ikelite housing) it allows the camera to 'communicate' with the DS-50 or DS-125 in TTL. Hence the DS-50 or DS-125 will fire in Super Macro mode:

• Turn off both the camera and the strobe (in this case the DS-50)
• Insert the housing flash connector into the camera's hotshoe
• Connect the TTL sync cord from the housing to the strobe
• Turn the camera on, then the DS-50 and set the DS-50 to TTL
• Try the following on your camera:
  • Manual
  • Start with F5.6 and 1/125
  • SMacro (Super Macro)
  • Flash Menu set to external flash symbol (OK >> Mode Menu >> Camera >> Flash >> External Flash)
  • You should now be able to set the Flash Mode to ':lightning Slow' (hold the :lightning button on the left of the camera and turn the jog dial)

The DS-50 should now fire in TTL in Super Macro mode.

 

[domino22]

Thanks for the advice. I'll try it out and see what happens.

You should have asked this before we dove the Flower Gardens!!!!

 

[SubAnimal]

After reading this thread, i was able to fire my Inon d-2000. Thanks!
Is there anyone here with recent experience with the Inon d-2000, in a week or so i,m diving in Egypt (St. Johns route) so any advice is more then welcome!