ikelite strobes

I am trying to decide wether i would get into a digital SLR. In the descriptions (ikelite website) of each housing there is some information.

I have an old Ai substrobe that recently has been checked at ikelite. If i can keep this, this might save some initial cost at first. At the site it is stated that "(2) Old SubStrobe Ai, MV, 50, 100, 200, and 400 models can be used, but operate only as manual strobes. The housing back may still need to be returned to us for conversion circuitry modification to utilize these older pre-digital era strobes"

* is it possible to check beforehand if the housing has to be converted?

* Can you use the manual flash + / - system on the housings with these older strobes.

* can you use the older synch cords ?

* and if I get a new DS-125 or other digital strobe eventually, will the TTL circuitry still work or does the housing have to be converted again?

I tried to ask ikelite these questions a month ago, but maybe their spamfilter got in the way...

Gerard

Hoi Gerard,

I use "old" strobes with my D70 Ikelite-housing, and it works fine. Answers to your questions:

* I don't think the housing needs to be converted, you can come by my home with your strobe to check it with my housing (I don't know where you live in NL)

* NO

* Yes, as long it has the 5-pin connector

* See first comment.

Groeten,

Kees

I've used the "old" Ai/n and 100 strobes with an Ikelite D200 housing. You have to use them in manual mode. The older TTL synch cords work fine on the new housing (for manual). You cannot use the housing's built-in controller, just set it to manual. I had trouble with an old 50 substrobe, it did not work correctly with the D200/Ikelite D200 housing combination. I did not need to have the housing modified to work with these strobes. You can combine a DS125/50 with the older strobes if you use manual exposure, but you cannot use iTTL (or whatever it is called this season). You can also slave a Nikonos 105 with with the DS series in manual as well (but again, not in iTTL) - be warned, it has a different colour output than the Ikelite strobes.

I tried a bunch of strobe combinations just so I would know what my options were with my existing strobes. Between the camera, housing and new lenses I was already spending a lot so I'm using the less optimal, but cheaper manual method for now. I'll probably upgrade in the near future when my bank account has recovered.

HTH

Rinjani

My question was because of that cryptic remark at ikelites website I quoted, checking it in real life would help. I can probably ask a friend of mine (dont see him very often) the same for a canon camera.

Kees, I live in Zwolle. Thanks for the offer, i will PM or mail you for arrangements (i'm not in a hurry though, its more something for next year...

Hi there,

I use a pair of elderly Ike strobes (An Ai I bought new a long time ago and an Ai/n I got cheaply off eBay) with my Canon 350 and Ikelite housing with no problems at all.

One day I may upgrade to modern TTL strobes, but for the moment I'm more interested in learning to use my new dSLR and my problems have nothing to do with the strobes!