Ike iTTL-conv. for my DS50 or InonZ240?????

Hi Guys!

Still waiting for a trustworthy TTL solution for my Nikon D200 in a Nexus housing, I can't descide which way to go.

I had almost ordered the S&S iTTL-converter and a couble of Inon Z240 strobes, when I found the horroble readings about how it had begun eating up several Nexus housings, due to galvanic corrosion.

Just a few weeks ago, I discovered, that Ike has comming up with their new iTTL-converter, nicely connected to a cable with a Nikonons plug at the other end.

Having three DS50 Ikelite strobes with serial numbers from 70008+ in my cupboard, I've been thinking about buying the new converter (Ikelite item number 4302), supplíed by the needed cable (Ikelite item number 4103.52, blue band).

My concerns are now: Can I really be sure that my DS50 strobes will work properly for macro-photo with the Ikelite iTTL-converter .... looks like some people here have problems with DS50 even if they have some with a 70k+ serial number???

Still thinking about the Inon Z240, I guess a couble of these would be powerfull enough for wideangle photo too, which would be a big advantage when going by plane, compared to my old and bulky Ikelite SS200 which I am forced to includ in my luggage so far, together with my DS50 that I use for macro work.

My housing only has the possiblity for the mounting of one light-cable port, which might makes it impossible to connect more than one iTTL-working Inon Z240....... and furhtermore: How reliable is this kind of strobeconnection????

Any suggestions what to go for, or should I simply wait for another solution comming up??

Best regards and thank you very much in advance from Kim Meineche!

I believe the Ikelite iTTL converter only has a connector for Ikelite strobes.

Cheers

James

I believe the Ikelite iTTL converter only has a connector for Ikelite strobes.

 

Cheers

James

Hi James!

Exactly.... and this is the reason why I still would have to bring my two SS200 with me on the plane, if I go for the Ikelite iTTL-converter for my DS50's!

Cheers

Kim

Kim,

You asked about the Z240's but you didn't mention that you were willing to part w/ TTL to use them. Just trying to help.

Best of luck w/ your decision.

Cheers

James

Kim,

 

You asked about the Z240's but you didn't mention that you were willing to part w/ TTL to use them. Just trying to help.

 

Best of luck w/ your decision.

 

Cheers

James

Thank You James and sorry for the way I wrote my last posting! I really appreciate your help!

I always do my wideangle work with the strobes in manual mode and do not expect iTTL to work proberly here anyway.... but getting a couble of lightweighted strobes, that is powerfull enough for WA and furthermore could work properly in iTTL-mode for macro, together with my D200 in my Nexushousing, thats what I really want.

Even the Ikelite iTTL-converter could work with my DS50's, I will still need my SS200 to get something powerfull enough for WA.... no problem when going by car, but really a minus when going by plane.

I might just have to wait and see what shows up in the future....... I really don't know if the fiber optic cables are reliable enough??? I saw at www.nexusamerica.com that the Nexus D80 can be ordred with fiberoptic ports instead of the Nikonos bulk heads, which migth makes it possible for me to mount a second fiber optic port in my housing.... but the question is still: How reliable is this strobe connection and furthermore..... how much power will it take from the cameras battery?

Best regards again from Kim Meineche!

The Ikelite iTTL adapter is to be used ONLY with Ikelite strobes, it's power is supplied by the strobes own power source.

Hi Kim,

You mention that your D200is housed by Nexus and you are thinking of utilizing the Inon Z240 strobe?

Why wouldn't you get the Z-240 mkII and use the Nexus/Inon fibre optic port and then use Inon S-TTL

for your macro work? You would then have the two Z-240 strobes for light weight and wide angle work as well...Seems straight forward enough?

IMHO

Bruce

FYI, I recently received my Nexus 200 housing after a very long wait and didn't want to be without TTL flash for some applications. I have a pair of Z240's and after playing with them above water with the 'optical TTL', am quite happy with the results. The fiber cable and connection seems quite robust as well. However, i'm also going to try the sea & sea converter (have a friend picking me one up in Singapore now as it happens) and if I can get that to work will use that as a primary system with the optical as a backup. The only thing I don't like with the optical system is the extra juice taken from the battery, the flash bouncing inside the housing and once the housing is sealed, there's no way to raise/lower the flash. Not so much a problem shooting macro but for mid range lenses which I'd also like to use TTL for, I want the control to go from TTL to manual without moving knobs on two strobes or having the internal flash still fire.

Just a few thoughts.

Andy

Hi Andy,

And please forgive me if it appears the we are trying to 'kidnap' this thread.

Anyway, I was thinking of utilising the Inon flash tape to neutralise the flash bounce issue inside the housing.

I also have a spare D70 that I use for topside work and I know from experience that I still get quite a few flashes per charge out of the standard battery. So, I am assuming that this won't be a serious issue unless you want to do 4/5 dives a day and at least 100 pics per dive and don't want to open the housing in between dives...

Lastly, for God's sake man, DO NOT fire up that S&S converter until you have isolated the camera from the housing! At minimum you will have to use a plastic/delrin tripod screw. I have also wrapped the base in electrical tape so that there won't be any contact there. It is something to do with S&S's polarity being different from all the other manufacturers... HEED THE WARNING!!!

I have now got my unit working, but I am honestly nearly too shit scared to use it!! Sorry for the spelling..LOL.

HTH,

Bruce

Hi Kim,

You mention that your D200is housed by Nexus and you are thinking of utilizing the Inon Z240 strobe?

Why wouldn't you get the Z-240 mkII and use the Nexus/Inon fibre optic port and then use Inon S-TTL

for your macro work? You would then have the two Z-240 strobes for light weight and wide angle work as well...Seems straight forward enough?

IMHO

Bruce

Hi Bruce!

So far it has only been possible for me to find limited information about the reliability of the optical fiber connection, but as I read from you, it seems to work properly!

Actually I didn't knew that there are to types of Z-240, but if/when I buy Z-240's I'll go for the mkII for sure!

Installing ports for the optical fibers on my first generation D200 Nexus housing, means that I will have to replace the existing Nikonos bulkhead connections with the ports for the optical fibers...... but what about reflections in the domeport (FP170) from the internal flash, when doing WA (10.5mm and 16mm)?????? Perhaps it can be prevented by mounting a sleeve of black neoprene between the port and the lens??

Best regards and thank you from Kim Meineche! :-)

Hi Kim,

The local distributor for Nexus housings actually drills holes into your housing directly in front of the cameras flash. I don't know if the retrofit bulk-heads are available yet, although, they are used on the new D80 housings.

As for the internal flash, I was going to use Inon's "Clear Flash" (I think) system. This is a yape that is stuck onto the outside of housings or flash units and it only allows infra red signals, from your flash, through to the fibre optic. This cancels out all other light from being bounced around inside the housing...

HTH,

Bruce

Hi Kim,

The local distributor for Nexus housings actually drills holes into your housing directly in front of the cameras flash. I don't know if the retrofit bulk-heads are available yet, although, they are used on the new D80 housings.

Hi Bruce!

I could easily drill those holes myself if necessary, but I think it is not possible on the oldstyle housing, since there is already some kind of screw/blindplug installed, just beneath the focuslight hotshoe??? Another question is if all the needed parts to install the ports are availible from nexus/dealer??

As for the internal flash, I was going to use Inon's "Clear Flash" (I think) system. This is a yape that is stuck onto the outside of housings or flash units and it only allows infra red signals, from your flash, through to the fibre optic. This cancels out all other light from being bounced around inside the housing...

HTH,

Bruce

Are we speaking about two different things here?? The reflections I talk about are those who might appears when the Nikon D200 flash fires, in the nexus housing, to trig the Inons through the fiber optic ports.

Best regards from Kim Meineche! :-)

Hi Kim,

Those screw/blind plugs that you have in your housing are actually the holes for the fibre optic port. Inon didn't have the parts in time, so they shipped the housings with a plug. All you have to do is take the plug out and fit the Fibre optic port and you're all set...

Flash bouncing around inside your housing will be eliminated by the Inon clear flash system 'tape'...

HTH,

Bruce

Hi Kim,

Those screw/blind plugs that you have in your housing are actually the holes for the fibre optic port. Inon didn't have the parts in time, so they shipped the housings with a plug. All you have to do is take the plug out and fit the Fibre optic port and you're all set...

Flash bouncing around inside your housing will be eliminated by the Inon clear flash system 'tape'...

HTH,

Bruce

Hi Bruce!

Hopefully the idea with the tape is working proberly, but about the srew/blindplugs, my housing only has one screw/blindplug..... placed in the middle of the top (See pictures of 1st. generation housings)...... think it is not possible to mount two ports then or is it reaally possible to get a fiber optic port for two cables????

All the best..... Kim! :-)

Bruce,

thanks for the warning re. the S&S converter. I know where you're coming from with this. I have a bunch of nylon bolts being delivered and am insulating the tray with PTFE tape (I work in the aerospace industry so it's plentiful). So long as there's no continuity from camera ground to housing it should be fine.

Have you tried the 'clear flash' tape yet? I'm interested to see how well it works and how well the tape lasts as you'll need to remove it each time shooting top side (if like me it's your only body).

FYI, I posted my impressions of the system after a first pool session the other night in the 'housings' forum.

Kim, FYI, it is possible to buy a dual optical cable from Inon and probably a few other manufacturers.

Andy

I use 2 Z240 strobes on a Nexus D80 rig. It only has one fiber optic port. It's a little tight, you can put two cables in the one port (a little flating and teflon tape). Only one trip so far - 10 days of diving in the Bayan Bay area. The strobes were perfect for close and macro - sTTL right on.

Not neede with this rig, but you can use zinc plates to minumize corrosion.