Ikelite Manual digital Slave Sensor

I just noticed the new digital manual slave sensor on the Ikelite website. Does anyone have any info on this sensor? Does it do TTL as well as manual? This could be the solution to my problems with tuning the DS-125. It might allow me to dial down the strobe to less than 1/8 to get proper exposure with my canon s300.

(I realize that this problem is mostly caused by the fact that I can't change my aperature or shutter speed on this point and shoot camera.) I'll upgrade it as soon as they have solved the shutter lag problem in the top end pro-sumer digitals (the nikon cp500 is nearly there). Until then I figure I can work on composition, strobe positioning etc. with the elf. It takes some pretty good pictures in the hands of someone who knows what they are doing. When that time comes I'll be halfway there with this strobe.

Chris

It's probably the 10-power level manual controller that was on display at DEMA. I should have one coming to me to test out at some point -- I'll post some photos.

It looks the same, anyway.

Here's a link to the page, since it's sort of hard to find.

Yup, that's the one. Does this do TTL too? or just manual in 10-steps? Also, how does this work with the settings on the DS125? i.e is the effect multiplicative, 1/2 setting on the strobe and 1/2 setting on the sensor =1/4?

Thanks,

Chris

I have no idea.

Maybe Ike or Larry can jump in here to enlighten us...

Hope to have more manual flash controller information on the web site, and the product available next week. Same basic housing as the wireless TTL sensor, but not enough room for electronics to do both. Manual sensor attaches like a sync cord and contains a sensor that can be tripped by another flash. It also has a bulkhead to allow any of our sync cords to be attached. Unit provides ten power settings in half/stop increments. It operates with our digital SubStrobes and can be set to operate with or ignore pre-flash.

I'm confussed, can I use it with your Ds125's on a UK Germany housing? Any of idea of when this goes to beta? Need a tester?

Picture says a 1000 words

Provides ten manual power settings in half/stop increments for the DS-50 and DS-125 model SubStrobes. It can operate as a wireless sensor triggered by another strobe, or by optional sync cord.

Coming late November

OK, according to that sentence on the Ikelite website, it looks like you can run a sync cord from your housing to the Controller and then you get the 10 power settings. Sound right?

So you just need a cord from your UK Germany housing to the Ike Controller.

Did I get that right Ike? I could be totally off-base here.

Cheers

James

James,

I think you are correct, a pictures worth a 1000 words. I have an Ike strobe port on the UK housing all I need is a dual TTL strobe cord and that cool new Controller. Guess I need to sell my remote sensor.

Manual controller has a cord that attaches to the strobe and it mounts on our handles or arms. It can be aimed at a digital camera same as our TTL wireless sensor.

The controller also has a bulkhead into which a sync cord that goes to anything from a Nikonos to an exotic SLR can be attached.

Another strobe with our wireless TTL sensor attached would duplicate what a manually controlled strobe was doing.

Hope to add picture and description to our web site this weekend............

So if I understand this right Ike, what the manual controller does is:

1. Allow you to adjust the output of the strobe over a 10 setting range

2. Functions as a wireless sensor to trigger the strobe much like your other wireless sensors OR can be used with a sync cord instead of as a wireless controller

3. Does NOT provide the TTL function to quench the strobe when the other strobe (internal / external) fire

Does that sound right?

Thanks

Tom

Yes! tshepherd got it all right............

3. Does NOT provide the TTL function to quench the strobe when the other strobe (internal / external) fire

Number three would be a nice add on.. Then you could house the SLR flash (housed) and use the IKE strobe all in E/D/? TTL..

Ike has posted some new pictures of the manual sensor on his site:

http://www.ikelite.com/web_pages/mansensors.html

Lookin' good!

Cheers

James

Can someone explain what the A, B, C and D settings on the controller are used for?

thanks

I don't know for certain, but I would assume that is the mode switch.

I would think there would be 4 modes:

1. Wireless / no compensation

2. Wireless / compensated

3. Synch Cord / no compensation

4. Synch Cord / compensation

Just my guess though.

Tom

Or maybe instead of wireless / synch-cord preflash / no-preflash?

Interior switches behind the old battery door:

"C" is SubStrobe DS-125 and "D" is SubStrobe DS-50.

Controller will ignore preflash in switch setting "B" with its slave sensor.

Controller will fire on first flash in switch setting "A" with its slave sensor.

Strobe MUST be in TTL position.

http://www.ikelite.com/web_pages/mansensors.html

Ike,

So, it is actually two switches? Sorry but it's hard to see from the picture. BTW, how is the synch cord connection on the new C-5050z housing gonna work? I'm assuming you're going to allow manual strobe control from the hotshoe . . .

Thanks

Two small switches are behind what was a battery compartment door. These are to be preset to which strobe (50 or 125) and if sensor is to fire the strobe on or ignore initial flash which would be a preflash.

Our new 5050 housing will include a bulkhead with wiring to the hot shoe, allowing sync corded manual flash with or without the Manual Controller. Engineering types are not encouraging about decoding the Olympus TTL system for our strobes anytime soon.

Problem with the new 5050 housing is extreme difficulty in pushing buttons, especially two at a time, while trying to turn a dial and watch the monitor without extra helping hands. We are exploring a better way to accomplish for this superb new camera.