TTL Strobe setup for Olympus C-7070

Hi, I'm a newbie to UW photograpy and I'm hoping the folks on this forum can help. I have an Oly C-7070 with an Oly PT-027 housing and I'd like to use an external UW TTL flash (i.e. not the Oly flash). I think I'm going to need some kind of adaptor between the hot shoe and the port on the housing and a Sync cord to a flash unit (I haven't purchased a flash yet). Guidance on adaptors, cords and TTL flashes would be appreciated!

Secondly, the camera has problems focusing on night dives - I think I may need a focusing light to illiminate the subject. Could I just strap another dive light on to a bracket? What do other folks do?

Cheers, Dave.

if you want to use non oly strobes you can exchange the Oly synccord socket on the PT housing with a nikonos type socket. there is a TTL converter for the PT housing available too: http://www.mike-dive.de/html/content/konverter.htm

Other solutions are based on optical triggering.

Julian

Cheers Julian, thanks for the info. Seems like the perfect solution, although I couldn't understand the German website totally. Anyway, I e-mailed Mike for some more info. Do you have personal experience with Mike's products?

Dave.

The olympus adaptor is also available from the maker Heinrichs Weikamp Here There's an english translation if you click on the UK flag top left. Lots of good stuff here about how it works and what its compatible with.

I have a C-8080/PT023 and am considering this option to get a Nikonos bulkhead connector rather than use the special Oly connector sync cable. Dave - I would appreciate you letting me know how you get on with Mike Dive and what the outturn cost is.

Hi Dave,

I don't have Oly TTL stuff from Mike. But I know a few Oly shooters being very happy with the stuff from Mike and his support.

Julian

Balroq

Sure, I'll let you know, but I may take some time making my mind up!

Dave

Thanks Dave I'll probably take forever doing it too.

Noticed the second link in my previous post was broken. Its the 'Nikonos bulkhead for Olympus PT-housings' I'm favouring at the moment.

Balrog

Hi Balrog

Yes, that option looks interesting - I could get a Nikinos SB-105 from Ebay and have the whole rig for a reasonable cost. The only drawback is that it doesn't solve my focusing problem on night dives. I could use something like an Inon Z220F strobe which has a focusing light, but it's a lot more money.

D.

Hi Balrog

 

Yes, that option looks interesting - I could get a Nikinos SB-105 from Ebay and have the whole rig for a reasonable cost.  The only drawback is that it doesn't solve my focusing problem on night dives.  I could use something like an Inon Z220F strobe which has a focusing light, but it's a lot more money.

 

D.

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You can always use some external modeling flashlight like a lot of people prefer anyway also when they have the option of the strobes modeling light.

The advances for that: Its probably will cost you less, usually there is more light from the stand alone flashlight and its have its own power source so its won’t reduce the working time from your strobe.

I don't think the Nikon SB105 is compatible with the TTL adapter. The strobe has to be able to fire very rapid preflashes and the 105 isn't up to it.

Cheers

James

My first time on this forum and all the folks are very helpful - thanks.

The TTL adaptor manufacturer claims it works with SB-105; anyone out there tried it?

Regarding modelling lights, hoiw does that work? Just strap a dive light to the camera. If you don't kill the light before taking the photo does it show on the photo?

Regards, D.

I have bought Heinrichs Nikonos bulkhead thingy for my PT-027 and it works a treat using a YS120 strobe. I can recommend. If only it was available before i bought my D2000, as it would have saved me quite a bit of cash. Got the YS120 quite cheap. Everyone is off loading their old 'film' strobes you see. The YS120 can handle quick pre-flash. Heinrich reckons the SB105 works. He should know.

I bought an SB-105 via EBay a few months ago but had to wait (and save) to get the C7070/PT-027 combo. I also bought the bulkhead conversion kit in anticipation of getting rest.

Well seems I was lucky. After looking around and saving hard I was ready to buy. Ouch bad news C-7070 no longer available, Olympus stopped production.....panic

Well as luck will have it, I managed to pick one up for the price I was willing to pay just in time.

Now back to the subject.

Made the necessary bulkhead conversion (for the SB-105) and took it down 25mtrs (without camera) for a test..... 1 drop of water showed inside the casing. At the surface cleaned inside, checked O-rings and went down again with camera (8mtrs.). Again 1/2 drops of water and started misting up inside (not a good sign). Broke off dive just in case.

While on the dive I did manage to get 1 or 2 shots in (not the greatest) for a first time try with new equipment. I should mention I also have a C5050/PT-015 set which I've been happly using for about 2 years now.

Still after playing around in the short time I had, the Camera and SB-105 worked as they should. After reseting the camera to Slave flash mode the flash worked in Auto mode and did what it should do.

Now all I have to do is work out where the leak is...there are so many O-rings and the bulkhead conversion, makes me wonder where to start. Still back to basics... re-assemble bulkhead then re-check standard O-rings and test again.

This is abit long for a simple answer, but I thought it worth sharing my experiences so far. The bulkhead conversion DOES work, but have to be EXTRA careful with the O-rings.

Regards

You can always use some external modeling flashlight like a lot of people prefer anyway also when they have the option of the strobes modeling light.

The advances for that: Its probably will cost you less, usually there is more light from the stand alone flashlight and its have its own power source so its won’t reduce the working time from your strobe.

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Just a tip

I have a couple of small(very small) bicycle lamps (yes bicycle) which are tested to 30mtrs. They use 4 AA batteries and have 3 small halygen lamps. The lampis about 8cm long. They cost me about 20 euros each and are called CAT EYE (check your local bike shop).

They are small and light enough to carry, great as a reserve lamp on a night dive. Also, the produce enough light (held between lefthand and housing)to shine on the subject and give enough light for the camera to focus with.

I have some of the result's posted on my website (www.diving4fun.nl), under Photo Albums/Maldives/nightdive. These were using my C5050/PT-015 and internal camera flash.

It dosen't always have to be expensive to produce good night photo and it's a usefull little lamp to have in your pocket if your main lamp goes out.

Good luck

Just to add a quick note to this subject for future readers... I have the Heinrich TTL conversion kit as well, using my SB-105 and the preflash/flash works great. I get very balanced photos, seems to work on just about every shooting mode too on the 7070. I believe Heinrich has updated his page too, supporting the SB105. Very pleased.