Lack of lighting with YS-27DX

I just started taking pictures with a YS-27DX strobe attached to a movable arm with my Canon SD-550. The housing has the masking and the fiber-optic cable attached right and all, and the strobe fires as slave to the camera's flash, so mechanically, everything works. Oddly enough, though, none of my pictures had proper lighting. I'm not saying slightly under/over-exposed, I mean almost completely dark. I tried it on multiple power settings, and with the camera on manual (which is mostly automatic anyway) and underwater profiles, no change. From the EXIF data, it didn't matter what the exposure speed was, since 1/60 and 1/120 were both just as dark. I'm pretty sure the strobe was pointed properly (about 8" away from camera lens, above and to the right, facing downward in front of subject), and of course, all batteries were completely charged.

I've taken some really well-lit pictures (mainly macro) with just the camera's flash, but all the strobe-assisted ones I've done turn out terrible. What am I doing wrong?

Take a photo of a mirror and see if the both flashes are firing at the same time.

Cheers

James

I'm not familiar with S&S strobes, but I am wondering is there is a misfiring due to an incorrect preflash setting? Does it look like the strobe is firing at all?

Does the SD-550 fire 1 or 2 preflashes. If it's 2, it might be a problem. Make sure red eye function is off as well...

From a product description for the YS-27DX

"Some digital cameras adjust flash levels after a first flash and then capture an image with a second flash. This first flash is called the “pre-flash.†The strobe’s pre-flash cancel function ignores the pre-flash and synchronizes the strobe with the second flash.

*The YS-27DX is not compatible with digital cameras that emit two or more pre-flashes."

My camera doesn't have any preflash, except for a focus-assist light that comes on when you half-press the shutter. I don't use the red-eye feature anywhere, especially underwater, either. When I was originally setting the thing up, I took a picture of the strobe (presumably shooting the flash into the sensor on the strobe) and it captured a bright flash coming from it.

I don't have it with me right now, so I can't do the mirror test, but over the weekend I'll give that a try.

I'm almost sure that this camera uses pre-flash as all the other canon P&S cameras.

Use the mirror check that James suggest and ensure the right modes in the camera & flash.

In some cases the flash can't synchronize with the camera's pre-flash and the only solution is to use the camera without it, in Canon's P&S it's usually mean to use manual mode.

I have to agree with Arnon. My experience with Canon point and shoots is that they pretty much all do emit a preflash. There is still a chance you might not be "seeing" the preflash. Anyways, try both preflash and no preflash settings on the strobe.

Thanks for all the advice...I'll give it a try using varying settings over the weekend and post the results.

So it turns out you were all right...the camera, no matter what flash setting it is on, emits an imperceptible pre-flash. When I got the strobe, the manual said the test (taking a photo with flash of the strobe to make it go off) should simply make the strobe activate. In reality, when it is set correctly (preflash on), the strobe literally blinds the camera and gives a completely washed out image every time.

Oh summer, you can't come soon enough!

In reality, when it is set correctly (preflash on), the strobe literally blinds the camera and gives a completely washed out image every time.

umparrothead... correct me if I'm wrong, but the YS-27DX doesn't do TTL, right? Don't you have to manual adjust the power dial unlike the YS-110 which has DS-TTL ability.

So it turns out you were all right...the camera, no matter what flash setting it is on, emits an imperceptible pre-flash. When I got the strobe, the manual said the test (taking a photo with flash of the strobe to make it go off) should simply make the strobe activate. In reality, when it is set correctly (preflash on), the strobe literally blinds the camera and gives a completely washed out image every time.

Oh summer, you can't come soon enough!

To confirm, according to the HeinrichsWeikamp web site, the SD 550, listed by it's European name as the IXUS 750, emits a single preflash.

Even though the SD 550 lists "manual mode" as one of its many shooting mode options, if fact there is no way to specifically, overtly control either aperture or shutter speed independently on this basic camera. There may be however a possible workaround. I have not tested this theory personally because I don't own the camera. But it may be possible to run a quick series of tests to confirm or deny. According to the dpreview.com web site, here is a list of shooting mode options available to the SD 550 user:

• Auto

• Manual

• Digital Macro

• Portrait

• Foliage

• Snow

• Beach

• Fireworks

• Underwater

• Indoor

• Kids and pets

• Night snapshot

• Stitch assist

• AE compensation -2.0EV to +2.0 EV in 1/3EV steps

As I stated, I have not tested this theory.........but I wonder if the above shooting mode options fix a permanent aperture/shutter combination for each mode regardless of ambient light conditions. If so, and with a little research and an EXIF program (it appears you have access to EXIF info), it may be possible to choose a desired aperture in this manner. Knowing the aperture setting in advance will be important in choosing the correct, corresponding intensity level on the external, manually controlled strobe.

For instance, snow or beach (bright environments) may choose an aperture of f/5.6 or f/8 whereas the Canon techs may have set f/2.8 for their "indoor" shooting mode. I assume "kids and pets" may require a faster shutter speed default than say portrait.

And then there's the "underwater" mode...............

hth,

b

umparrothead... correct me if I'm wrong, but the YS-27DX doesn't do TTL, right? Don't you have to manual adjust the power dial unlike the YS-110 which has DS-TTL ability.

regarding the 'washed out image every time', I think he meant to the checking methods that James suggested, to flash against a mirror, the washed out is a sign that the flash fired in perfect synchronization with the camera.

umparrothead... correct me if I'm wrong, but the YS-27DX doesn't do TTL, right? Don't you have to manual adjust the power dial unlike the YS-110 which has DS-TTL ability.

The strobe does not do TTL, there is a manual power adjustment, which isn't an issue, as my camera couldn't "talk" to that type of system anyway.

Regarding the "washed out", yes, I meant that in the test shots the camera was in perfect sync with the strobe.

On the issue of matching scene modes with power settings for apertures, I checked out some of my older pictures, taken in various environments (beach, indoors, underwater, etc.) and found that the aperture usually tended to coincide with what setting it was on. As stated, the aperture is very large (7-8) at the beach and for portraits, but much smaller in the water (2-4).

Does that directly relate to the power requirements on a strobe for specific photos? (smaller aperture, less light and vice versa?)

Thanks all.