Inon Z240 issue

Hey all, maybe someone here has an idea what's going on. I currently use a Nikon D2x in a Subal housing. I removed all the pins from the hotshoe except for trigger (and ground of course). It's plugged into the 3 pin connector in the subal.

If I connect a Z240, it doesnt seem to work right. Im using manual mode, but I cant seem to adjust the power output. It's always the same. I know there is a magnet there, and im fairly certain it's in the right position (but I tried every position regardless). I tried this with both Craig Jones and Tony Wu, and both were baffled by what's going on.

At first I thought the Z240 needed more than just trigger even in manual mode, but Ryan (reefphoto) says there's lots of people out there using just the trigger pin. Unfortunately I can't try it, as I cant find the pins anymore

Anyone have any insights in what could be going on? It works just fine with my YS110s.

If any of the dials on the Z240 are in between clicks then they will fire on full. Maybe your problem is related to this - i.e. something inside is misaligned?

Alex

I dunno. I tried it a year ago with Craig in Indonesia. Used his strobes and couldnt get it to work. Then in Eastern Fields Tony did it for me, and he's used to them. Same result. Something fishy is going on. I want to buy Z240's but this is annoying..

Hello,

Are u sure the magnet switch is pushed in? If not, it will allways fire on the same output in my setup (subal d300 and 2x inon z240).

Robin

So to be sure of what you're saying, you've tried numerous Z240 strobes and none have worked on your housing? Or just the ones you have?

I've tried it with a few D2X Subals and all of them worked with hotshoe manual mode, without pulling the pins, Z240 Type II and III. Well one actually had the pins out cos he read the old wetpixel thread from like 2002 or something. :

If your housing won't work with any Z240 strobes, then you should first test your Z240 if it's working manually with optical sensor.

They're not my strobes. I tried first with Craig's strobes. We followed the manual, but no go. Then on the eastern fields trip Tony helped me to try someone's Z240s. He's used to them and knew exactly what to do. Exact same problem. Always a full-ish dump. We definitely moved the magnets, and tried it either way.

I also tried my camera on a D3x/Subal hotshoe and that worked fine. He had all pins still, so thats why i was thinking maybe the hotshoe needs to have more pins connected.

Do you have volt-ohmmeter? If so, do a continuity test between each pin on the shoe and corresponding pin on the bulkhead, and places in between where you have access to bare wire.

Im not sure it's a physical problem though, or at least, im skeptical. My YS90DX's and YS110s work fine. Have for years.

Im thinking about just buying a pair and trying things out. But im not looking forward to ending up with 2 strobes I cant use.

Another possibility is that the housing was modified per this:

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showt...amp;mode=linear

This may not be needed or may interfere with the Z240 but not the others.

My camera's are not modified I wonder if modern subal housings provide the discussed modification by default. Resistor on 2 pins. My subal housing is something like 5 years old.

My camera's are not modified I wonder if modern subal housings provide the discussed modification by default. Resistor on 2 pins. My subal housing is something like 5 years old.

Ha ha - fixed!

Already mod'd? Read this thread:

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=7791

So you're saying thats it? My D2x housings are so old they arent compatible as-is with the Z240s and need a modification?

So you're saying thats it? My D2x housings are so old they arent compatible as-is with the Z240s and need a modification?

I do not know this about your housing. There have been issues in the past per these threads that have required modification.

My D2X Subal (wired as stated in link above) works fine with the Z240s.

Alex

I probably just need to bite the bullet and get a Z240 and spend some time with it instead of 30 minutes on a busy liveaboard. Im fairly convinced we hooked things up like we should, but you never know. If I can do it in peace and quiet I can make sure. Im very interested in switching to the Z240s from my YS110s. The recycle time is just killing me.

Shouldn't Subal have a solution by now? Have you tried calling them?

None of the Subal housings ship with a resistor on any pin. They all use the user configurable circuitboard, allowing the customer to move between the 5 & 3 pin sockets.

I probably just need to bite the bullet and get a Z240 and spend some time with it instead of 30 minutes on a busy liveaboard. Im fairly convinced we hooked things up like we should, but you never know. If I can do it in peace and quiet I can make sure. Im very interested in switching to the Z240s from my YS110s. The recycle time is just killing me.

Hey Cor, you can try it with one of my Z240s. I have 2 type IIs and one type III. Just let me know, Delft is not far from Amsterdam.

cheers, udo

But St Croix is Wish I had thought of that 2 weeks ago! Thanks for the offer though.