YS-250 not working

I´m having a problem with Sea&Sea YS-250 strobe with MDX-40D housing . The strobe doesn´t work when connected via sync cord N (5 pin) , without TTL converter. When I access the camera external flash menu , it says the flash is not compatible or is turned off. Can someone help me ?

Can someone help me ?

I have the same rig, I'm guessing it's something simple. Does it work when you switch to test on the strobe? Once your sure it's not the strobe or battery, look at the connections. Are you sure the sync cord is completely engaged correctly in the housing? It's a little hard to get it hooked up. I didn't have to change anything on the camera. I just turned on the strobe after hooking up the hot shoe connector, strobe set on manual and it fired when I hit the shutter.

Steve

Thanks , Steve

Yes , it works when I switch to test . I´ll try again to ensure the connections are OK .

The camera probably does not recognize the strobe so you have to put some tape covering these conectors (from ikelite´s site):

and shoot the strobe on manual (without the converter you have to anyway).

Hey Dave, the MDX 40D from Sea & Sea has two different sync connectors. One for the converter (red with 6 pins) if your shooting TTL and one for without the converter(black with 5 pins). When I hook up my YS250's I use the Y sync cord attached to the manual Black connector and it works just fine. No need to cover any thing. It is possible to "attach" the sync cord without making a connection, which could have happened or I guess Flavio could have a bad connector on the new cord? It's pretty easy to get all excited and miss something when your putting the new gear together for the first time.

Steve

I´m having a problem with Sea&Sea YS-250 strobe with MDX-40D housing . The strobe doesn´t work when connected via sync cord N (5 pin) , without TTL converter.

Are you saying the 40D won't trigger the YS-250? ah nevermind, remind me to read the FULL thread before posting...

When I access the camera external flash menu , it says the flash is not compatible or is turned off. Can someone help me ?

I reckon that would be correct since you've set up the strobe for manual control and the 40D is not going to see it as an "e-TTL compatible" strobe (actually I don't think it would even show up with the TTL Converter connected - maybe you can confirm this with your TTL Converter)... . Unless you are using an e-TTL compatible strobes (i.e. Canon Speedlites), I think you will always get that error message as the only controls you would have now is to just turn on/off the external strobe through the 40D "Flash Control" menu. You should be getting that "incompatible flash or flash's power is turned off " warning when trying to select the Ext. Flash Func. Setting menu option. [this is what I get with my Inon Z-240's connected by a 5pin Cord to my MDX-40D]

BTW, which TTL converter are using for the 40D+YS-250? The new one that is supposedly made specifically for the YS-250's?

Hi Pakman, Communication is a fascinating thing. I'm reading his post to mean he doesn't have a converter.

Steve

ah, I blame the bad shiraz I drank last nite. For some reason I thought he said he had the converter... silly me...

, I blame the bad shiraz

Hi Guys,

Is 'external flash' menu and 'manual flash' menu the same thing in the newer Canon cameras?

I know from my Nikons that in 'external flash' the Nikon camera will go looking for a connected Nikon Speedlight. If the menu is set to 'manual' the Nikon will fire the shutter whichever strobe is connected as long as the i-TTL wire is suppressed.

I think this is what the Pakman was trying to say?

Try setting your camera to 'manual flash' and see if that works...

Lucky for me that I chose Nikon...

Bruce...

Hey Flavio, I duplicated the problem. Don't know if it's your exact situation but I'd bet you a Margarita! I hooked up one of my 250"s to check out a new sync cord and the strobe wouldn't fire. I checked everything and still no good. It turns out the sync cord connection to the strobe is the problem. You can "attach" the fitting and screw it down but unless you press it all the way home the pins don't make the connection. You have to line up the fitting so the key is in exactly the right place then push it in until you feel the o-ring slide home. It feels different than my old Nikonos connection so it fooled me.

The camera setting is very simple; In the Menu, go to the 5th screen ( where you were looking before) The Flash Control is at the bottom. If you select that the first item on the next screen is Flash Control, this must be Enabled or the 250 won't fire ( nor will any other). The rest of the items on the list, Built in Flash, External Flash function etc. don't have any effect or are incompatable with 250. (The Canon software is looking for a Canon Speedlight). You don't need it to shoot manual. Just make sure the Flash Control is enabled and your good to go. I don't know what the settings will be when they come out with the TTL converter.

Sea & Sea's implementaion of the Nikonos connector can fool you, I was able to attach the connector to the strobe so that camera saw the strobe but the pins weren't engaged far enough to fire the strobe. You are not the only one who is going to have this problem. Once you know what it feels like it's easy to avoid, but I'm going to hit the test switch every time I setup just to make sure. Thanks for bringing it to our attention, Now then where do we go for the Margarita's? I think Bruce is buying after that crack about Nikons. I would note that the problem is in the Nikon designed connector and had nothing to do with your new 40D.

Steve

I would buy, but I'm allergic to salt...

Corona's might be a little better...

Hooroo,

Bruce... B)