Subal SB80DX Strobe Housing

When using the D100 in the D10 Subal Housing and the Nikon SB80DX flash in the Subal SB80DX housing I have experienced some problems with DTTL. Has anyone else had any trouble with the DTTL not working properly?

Something is wrong with my system (seems like a wiring issue). Sometimes it works, sometimes it does not. When I have it all put together, I look at the flash unit and it will say "DTTL" and if I keep staring at it will change from "DTTL" to "TTL" on its own (it flickers back and forth as it pleases). If I wiggle the cord or strobe around, it does not seem to have any affect. I am certain that I have the 5 pin wiring set up properly in the camera housing (as opposed to 3 pin/manual). I have pushed the cord in (both ends) to make sure it is all the way in and secure (don't want to force it).

I am trying to get it serviced. Apparently Subal is providing some new parts that need to be replaced. Currently waiting for the parts to show up. Just wondering if others have had any issues like this?

Mathis - Email me at jimbo_limited@mindspring.com. I can tell you what's wrong with your Strobecase (and it's NOT you).

For the time being, try leaving the locking lever on the SB80DX open - just wrap some tape around the base to secure it. It will probably work okay in DTTL then.

Jim

Jim

Have you tried using two SB80DX's together in DTTL. Will that work under water?

I guess we could put one on slave mode?

Paul

I guess we could put one on slave mode?

Paul - Unless I'm mistaken, you couldn't use an SB80DX in slave mode. First of all, the slave sensor is covered by the housing, but even if it wasn't the preflashes would trip the slave. I'm pretty sure that's the case.

I had those problems with my Subal SB80DX housing as well,

the exact symptoms you described. I eventually discovered

that it is due to a faulty mechanical tolerance on their hotshoe

mount, which provides intermittent contact with the strobe

connector pins. I was able to jury-rig a mediocre solution by

putting some tape on the inner part of the hotshoe rails,

thereby forcing the strobe a bit lower onto the mount.

This was prone to failure however, but it did let me get a bit

more use out of the strobe, which I liked using. And, since

both of my YS90DX strobes were giving me lots of headaches

due to faulty power switches, I ended up using the SB80DX

for most of my macro shooting.

After returning from my two-month trip (95 dives in SE Asia)

which featured numerous problems with both the Subal SB80DX

housing and the Subal D100 housing (not to mention the

Light and Motion Sunray mod light and the Sea and Sea YS90DX),

I submitted the unit to Backscatter for warranty repair of the

hotshoe issue. This was back in early July. Apparently Subal

only recently admitted the problem, and I am still waiting for my

housing to be fixed and returned.

I must say I have been quit dissatisfied with my Subal purchases

to date.

I must say I have been quit dissatisfied with my Subal purchases to date.

After giving up on the Subal Strobecase that I bought in April or May of this year, I returned mine for a refund. I have a dive trip coming up next week, and I wanted to get the Aquatica SB80DX housing, but it hasn't started shipping yet, so - very reluctantly - I bought another Subal last week, assuming that with the passage of 6-7 months, they would have corrected the problems that plagued me on the last dive trip.

NOT!!!

I set up the new strobecase last night and had the same problems that I had before. NO TTL. Then I resorted to my fix for the previous Strobecase, which was leaving the locking lever open on the SB80DX and just taping the strobe to the hotshoe, and it worked.

The Three Stooges are alive and well and are working as engineers in the Subal factory. Elvis may be there too, serenading them as they turn out quality products.

Call me P*SSED.

:angryfire:

HELP!

So I've got one of these SB80DX Subal housings coming this week, and I leave for Hawaii next Saturday (and I'm hoping to use this with my Nexus D100 housing).

I've read everything I can find on the problems described here, and I only somewhat understand the workaround. The other problem is I'm not sure I can identify if my Subal flash housing will have the problem (is there something specific I should look for?).

When I get my unit how should I test to see if it has the problem, and if it does, what should I do (to make it at least slightly useful)?

Thanks,

- Matt

Dear all

I've ordered a Sb80DX housing from Sealux. I hear from users that it is great with none of the apparent problems of SUBAL and at less cost. Also I know that JOHNAH is doing a housing. I will do a preview for this strobe housing when I comeback from Sangalaki in January.

Look at www.sealux.de

Regards

Paul NG