New Inon D2000W Strobes

I was thinking to have a strobe , not for general use but just only with situations where a strobe is needed.

 

The follow photo was taken in a low visability and contrast sea with a 16mm

Photo directly from the camera

 

I was thinking that a strobe like a inon would help me in this kind of problem

 

what are you thinking guys?

Well. a bit off-topic, but i don't think strobes would help unless you could get closer.

I would check out Alex Mustard's "Magic Filter" and do some manual white balance type shots.

Or, do what I did; Shoot RAW, then in Camera Raw try to find a small section of white to do an eye dropper raw correction with. Really worked well on several shots (see below), as long as there isn't too much particulate in the water, as it also brings up backscatter.

I think all fish should have a small white tag so we can do white balance later on...

Jack

I have the Magic filter :-)

Mat are you sure that the New inons focus light work with the shuter release? Becauce my dealer told me that it work only with the old Z220 strobes?

I have a nexus housing where normaly it must work

Lambis, I'll try it next weekend and let you know...

Hi folks ,

I have tested the D2000w over the weekend with 4 different cams : Olympus C5060 , 7070, SP350, E500 only at surface and with two settings optical and Oly- TTL , the results are :

Optical :

The D2000 is the best optical triggerd strobe I have seen it does all you need also the strobo fokus light of the E300 /500 and you have different settings .......as complicatet as flying an airplane but if you have learned it it´s no problem.

Wired :

There is a malfunktion I think : the quench signal is not canceld in manual and full mode so the wired TTL is alwas priority also in manual and in full modes if haveing a preflash TTL like the TTL from M.Heinrichs converters offer. There is no change by installing the little magnet ..... always the same .

Using a TTL cam you are not able to switch to manual if not posible to deaktivate the TTL converter ..... I am waiting for a test with a ..... Nikonos V to clear up this should also not work while the cam always is sending a quench signal.

Using a easy x- trigger hotshoe all is working well in manual.

Michael

I am really curious about the combination 10,5mm - Diver Portraits - and D2000W Strobes I think that the power must be enough

Michael Its really intresting to see what the test with the Nikonos V will show!!

Lambis

Wired :

 

There is a malfunktion I think : the quench signal is not canceld in manual and full mode so the wired TTL is alwas priority also in manual and in full modes if haveing a preflash TTL like the TTL from M.Heinrichs converters offer. There is no change by installing the little magnet ..... always the same .

 

Using a TTL cam you are not able to switch to manual if not posible to deaktivate the TTL converter ..... I am waiting for a test with a ..... Nikonos V to clear up this should also not work while the cam always is sending a quench signal.

This is TTL+Manual in action. This new "feature" hasn't been explained anywhere that I have seen. By my estimation, the strobe will take reflectance information from the auto sensor into account when trying to decide whether to listen to the quench signal or the manual setting.

Insulators are supplied to block the quench line when diving w/ manual strobes.

The D-2000WN allows this to be disabled underwater.

Ryan do you recomment INON 2000w for 10,5mm - Diver Portraits ?

This is TTL+Manual in action.  This new "feature" hasn't been explained anywhere that I have seen.  By my estimation, the strobe will take reflectance information from the auto sensor into account when trying to decide whether to listen to the quench signal or the manual setting.

 

Insulators are supplied to block the quench line when diving w/ manual strobes.

 

The D-2000WN allows this to be disabled underwater.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

From what I understand from the manual, what you describe is correct. I believe the EV adjustment button constitutes the Manual part of the "Manual+TTL" system, i.e. you use that button to fine-tune flash output, as you would of a flash EV setting on your camera. That's exactly what I want to check when I go diving this weekend.

Ryan do you recomment INON 2000w for 10,5mm - Diver Portraits ?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

In terms of coverage, if your diver subject covers about half the frame, this flash should be OK (100º coverage for a 180º lens). With the 10.5mm, you also need to be quite close to your subject, so the GN of that flash should also be OK (shooting say F8 at 4ft)...

Thanks man!! I was thinking to that may it will work with just one D2000W. Maybe it will be more hard to aim the Strobe but I have many photos on my www.tripledepth.com gallery that are exactly like this.

But for the Photo that i have posted above is will be hard....

Inon strobes are rated with 100° topside. Underwater, they have been tested with 50° according this PDF file strobe test. I used two Inons in order to lighten the 15mm fisheye's frame (which has ~ 108° on my camera).

Julian

Hi

@ryan

Ok now I know wether this funny locking litte black pads are for .... They are locking like a smily with only 3 pinn holes inside and a gap for the Nikonos lokation Pin they block the quench spring pin and the sp springpin inside a Nikonos bulkhead socket but it will be a little tricki to get them out later on...... this is a sorry INON very ... ... solution but it will work I guess.

( I have no english manual of the D2000w to find out .....and my japanese is not ..... existing )

Michael

Hello,

My name is Steve, General Manager of Inon America. There seems to be some confusion on the differences between the D-2000W & D-2000Wn strobes. Hopefully I can shed some light on the subject.

The D-2000W & Wn have the same high performance of the D-2000 with some added features and camera compatability.

D-2000W:

- Nikonos 5 pin-type electrical connector for digital and film SLR cameras

- Manual + TTL mode

When using the D-2000W with a digicam or digital SLR connected via the 5-pin connector (Sea & Sea sync cord N):

- S-TTL is not compatible

- 24 step External Auto mode is compatible

- 13 step Manual mode is compatible

When using the D-2000W with a digicam or digital SLR via the fiber optic connector (Inon Optical D Cable):

- S-TTL is compatible

- 24 step External Auto mode is compatible

- 13 step Manual mode is compatible

- Able to switch between ALL useable flash modes underwater (with compatible cameras).

When using the D-2000W with film cameras via the 5-pin connector. Two configurations are possible:

- Configuration # 1

- TTL (Nikon TTL compatible)

- 24 step External Auto mode

- Manual + TTL Auto mode

- Configuration # 2

- 13 step Pure Manual mode only

When shooting film cameras, configuration # 1 or # 2 must be selected in air prior to diving! The user can not switch between Pure Manual mode and Auto modes underwater.

D-2000Wn:

This is the same exact strobe as the D-2000W but designed for Nikon TTL film camera users who prefer UNDERWATER ACCESS to Pure Manual mode in addition to TTL Auto and Manual + TTL Auto modes. This is the only functional difference between the D-2000W & D-2000Wn models.

I have received many inquiries to why the D-2000W is not up on the Inon America website. The answer is simply we do not at this time have an English translated manual to supply with these strobes. Our dealers & Inon America do have them in stock and we will provide support to our end users. For users outside Inon America's territory (North, Central & South America), please contact your local dealer or Inon Japan directly at info@inon.co.jp. The English translated manuals should be available after the first of the year.

Inon also understands the market needs for a more powerful yet compact strobe and is taking this issue very seriously.

Steve Philbrook

General Manager

Inon America, Inc.

Hi Steve,

This is a very good summary indeed. As you mention, there's no English manual available right now, so would you be able to explain how to swtich to the full manual control on the D2000W, as this is my normal way of shooting?

Thanks,

Mat

Hi Steve

Maybe you can aswer folow question

The new inons D2000W focus light will work with the shuter release?

I have a Nexus housing with Nikonos V conectors

Lambis

Hi

@mattdiver ,

if your cam does not send a quench signal ( Nikonos protocoll ) just connect it to the bulkhead and take shots in manual mode .. if there is a quench signal ( you are using a film Nikon cam or a MH TTL converter ) you can insert the insulater inside the Nikonos socket or you cut the quench line between cam and bulkhead..... I am now thinking of a special synccable with a reed switch ( like my pilot light switch cable for the Z220)

so you will be able to get the same funktion as with the D2000wn .....

just another question to Steve what is about the shutter released pilot light ?

Michael

Hello Guys,

First, how to set the D-2000W to Pure Manual mode:

1) Set the "TTL Insulation Plate" in the camera system's sync connector on land.

2) Connect the camera system and the D-2000W via S&S Sync Cord N.

3) Set Main Mode Switch to "M" or "Full" position.

4) Magnet is necessary for D-2000W (D-2000Wn needs magnet depending on camera system).

a.) Nexux D70/D100 and Nikonos V (M90 & B mode) the magnet is necessary.

b.) Magnet is not necessary except above.

5) At "M" position, the D-2000W & D-2000Wn emits a fixed amount according to EV Controller position or a full amount of flash at "Full"position.

Focus Light:

The only way to turn on the D-2000W focus light is manually, on the back of the strobe. Either Single or Continuous Modes are possible with any camera system. The focus light can not be activated with half shutter press like the Z-220 was when used with Nikon film cameras.

The automatic off function when the shutter is opened is actuated by the Master Strobe, like an internal strobe of a digital camera or another external strobe to which the D-2000W is slaved (with Optical D Slave Cable). In these cases, the D-2000W senses the flash from the master strobe and turns off the focus light (in Single Mode), or for 0.5 seconds (in Continuous Mode).

However, the D70 is a "real time" camera in that when the D-2000W is connected, it becomes the Master Strobe and the focus light will not turn off in time. Therefore, there is a chance, in some limited conditions that the focus light may be visible in the image. This is only in rare cases, in Macro, when the shutter is open for long periods or when camera is set to rear curtain sync.

Steve philbrook

Inon America, Inc.

I think it is sad the INON upgrade the Strobes so fast and take away features like focus light with half shutter press.

The think that we maybe need is a more powerfull INON strobe with

focus light on half shutter press. ITTL will good for Nikon users but Manual is enough for most off us.

I dont get it why INON have make the 2000W not as powerfull as the old good Z220

Lambis

Hi Lambis,

Personally, light falloff from the Inon's is more abrupt than I like for shooting w/ the 10.5, and I like a warmer color temp, so I use 2 or 3 Ikelite DS125. When I have an ISO 100 camera again, I'll start using some new DS200 strobes. Ike knows I like metal, too, so I hear they are going to paint them with Aluminum Krylon to help me with the chicks...

I've seen some excellent full frame work with these Inon strobes, and because the 10.5 puts you so close to your subjects, I don't think their lower guide number will bother you for yoru style of shooting. With wide rect. lenses it would be more of an issue for me, as I'm more likely to be shooting from 3-5 feet away.

I also am not a fan of shutter activated focus lights for the way I shoot. At high magnificaitons, it is a pita to half press to activate my light. I've tried the Sea & Sea shutter activated light, and didn't like it for this reason, and beause of its focused beam. I much prefer those beautiful wide beamed 20w halogen jobbies that are always on and have a rheostat dial to pull back the intensity. Fisheye's new red filter does a great job of making the light less obsene to inverts, too.