Optical Cables

I am considering switching from electrical (Nikonos type) sync cords to optical cables. I'll be connecting a housed DSLR to Inon Z-240 strobes. Will I need to use Inon cables only? are the connectors all the same? Does the quality vary from brand, to brand? Thanks for the advice in advance.

I'm just curious how you're going to convert from Nikonos to optical? Do you have both on your housing?

I recently did this with my Canon 40D in a Subal housing with Z240s. Depending on what brand of camera and housing you are using such a conversion can be easy or very difficult. What camera and housing are you using? Do you want to trigger the strobes using the camera's built in flash or will you be using something like the Inon Optical Converter to turn the electric signals from the camera into optical signals to the strobe?

Wow, wasn't aware of this Inon converter. Looks like it should be possible to use my old D-180s with Canon 5d in Aquatica housing (it has Nikonos bulkheads). Good news. Thanks!

Just thinking aloud...

Would the INON Optical converter be compatible with the Sea & Sea TTL converter III, i.e. for each to be physically 'connectable' and then able to send an optical TTL command to a Z-240?

Just thinking aloud...

 

Would the INON Optical converter be compatible with the Sea & Sea TTL converter III, i.e. for each to be physically 'connectable' and then able to send an optical TTL command to a Z-240?

No sadly. Seems to me that an optical output on a TTL converter shouldn't be that difficult to do though.

are the connectors all the same? Does the quality vary from brand, to brand? Thanks for the advice in advance.

Just my 2 cents of course but I usually buy fiber cable in bulk and then replace the cable that comes with the Inon D connector. I've done some subjective tests (shining a light through one end and testing visible output) and found the bulk cable just better at overall light transmission. Additionally the bulk cable is cheap, thicker and you can cut it to length allowing for service loops on adjustable arms. The cables are also straight versus coiled. To me, the coiled cables that come from the manufacturers requires too much tension when the arms are out. This puts stress on the cable at the point it enters the coupling. Inevitably in the ones I've had, they end up in a 90 degree bend and light transmission drops off or ends if the conductor breaks. There are many web sources for bulk fiber optic cable and it is usually under a buck a foot for the good stuff.

My solution to 'bent' cables is to use over long INON cables, i.e. the slave cables and 'coil' the last few inches and secure these coils with very small cable ties. I then pass the loop I've created over the ULCS clamp handle and this takes any pressure from the extended cable.

Could you provide the addresses for some of the websites that sell the fibre optical cable that you mentioned in your post.

Thanks in Advance.

Vettediver

http://www.fiberopticproducts.com/Jacketed.htm

The top, solid core is the one you want. .55 a foot. I usually buy like 20-30 ft and have spare cable. I snake the cable through the TLC arms and put small coils at the joint to allow for expansion.