Strobe Questions

I am heading to Belize in April and would like to purchase a strobe for the trip. Currently, I have a Canon SX1 in an ikelite housing. At some point (later this year), I am going to get a DSLR. At some point after that, I will get a housing for it. My question is, what strobe options are available now (using the ikelite housing) that wouldn't force me to use ikelite housings in the future with the DSLR? I know I could get one of the DS strobes and TTL sync cord now for my housing. In the future, would the DS work with anything other than an ikelite housing? Can I get any other brand strobe now to work with the ikelite housing and to work with whatever I buy in the future? Sorry for the abundance of questions. I've tried to read up as much as I can on manual mode, TTL, etc. Just when I think I understand something, I read something else that makes be believe otherwise. I'd like to future-proof myself as much as possible. Thanks for the help,

Randy

Almost all strobes will function in manual mode with Ikelite housings if you have a sync cord with the ikelite fitting on one end. Ikelite strobes with ikelite housings will give you ttl capabilities, but if you switch to another housing brand you will need a ttl adapter if you want ttl (not cheap). You will also need to switch your sync cords if you change housing manufacturers. Ikelite strobes are great, and if you have a nikon SLR you will be able to purchase the ikelite ttl adapter for ttl in a non ikelite housing for at least half of what other manufacturers charge.

I recommend buying the best U/W system you can afford right off the bat, because it is very expensive to change gear every few months when you become more enthusiastic about U/W Photography. i.e. a starter camera and housing with strobes could cost a few thousand dollars while something like a 5d mk II or 7d slr system might run you 5-10 thousand and you wont have a box with thousands of dollars worth of "beginner" photography equipment in your garage.

I recommend buying the best U/W system you can afford right off the bat, because it is very expensive to change gear every few months when you become more enthusiastic about U/W Photography. i.e. a starter camera and housing with strobes could cost a few thousand dollars while something like a 5d mk II or 7d slr system might run you 5-10 thousand and you wont have a box with thousands of dollars worth of "beginner" photography equipment in your garage.

That is sort where I am at now. The SX1 seemed like a great idea when I bought it for underwater use until I wanted wide angle capabilities. I also thought the HD video would be great for underwater use but, again, the lack of wide angle is a limitation. The flat port on the ikelite housing makes the wide angle limitation even worse. I figure if I can get a strobe now that will work with a DSLR later, one equipment purchase will not necessitate another.

Thanks for the help.

If you are ultimately going to upgrade but stick with Ikelite, an Ikelite strobe seems sensible if it works with your system. If you're not sure, then I'd recommend an Inon strobe as, despite the world's most baffling instruction manuals (yes, you get two with each strobe) they can cope with optical and electronic cables and give TTL emulation with a variety of systems.

Tim

Thanks Tim, that is the type of advice I was looking for.

A more specific question...

Using my ikelite housing, would the inon z-240 operate in S-TTL mode without any cord? As far as I understand, the ikelite housing and an ikelite strobe, when used with the ikelite cord, would operate in TTL Mode. If I used the Inon strobe, with the ikelite cord, the strobe would only operate in manual mode. I am wondering if I could use the inon with no cord since the housing is clear. Are the optical cords only for housings that are not clear? Obviously there is only one cord plug on the housing so I imagine I am stuck using ikelite cords. Sorry for the stupid questions. Thanks for the help.

You can get Ikelite synch sockets for Aquatica and Subal housings that I know of. So an Ikelite strobe can be used with other companies SLR housings. I use Ikelite strobes with two Subal housings.

You can get Ikelite synch sockets for Aquatica and Subal housings that I know of. So an Ikelite strobe can be used with other companies SLR housings. I use Ikelite strobes with two Subal housings.

Hopefully I understand this correctly...The TTL function of a Canon camera will only work with an ikelite housing and an ikelite strobe. If I combine an ikelite strobe to a non-ikelite housing, I can only use it in manual mode, since the ikelite housing contains the TTL circuitry. If I use a non-ikelite strobe on an ikelite housing, I can only use ikelite cable to trigger the strobe with the strobes in manual mode. If I buy an inon strobe now and use it with my ikelite housing, I would have to either A) use the ikelite cord, which would provide me with manual control of the strobe or B) use the inon optical cable/cap to make the inon work in S-TTL mode. Then if I bought the Aquatica housing for the 7D down the road, I could get the housing with the optical strobe connectors.

I am in Europe right now and don't have the SX-1 and housing in front of me to look but I am 99% sure that the on-camera strobe will function inside the housing. Ikelite's site says that the wide lens port is what stops you from using the built-in flash. So, assuming I can use the built-in inside the housing, I should be able to use the inon cable/cap attached to the outside of the ikelite housing and get the inon strobe to operate in S-TTL mode.

Sorry if I am confusing myself more than I am helping. It would help if I were home with my camera and housing in front of me. Thanks for the help.