DS-50 & TTL sensor - How to test?

Hi all,

 

I've just got hold of a DS-50 & TTL sensor. First time I've used an external strobe so I tried a few test shots on land. TTL sensor was pointed at blocked camera flash but the results were not quite as I expected. I searched around this forum and tried the following way to test TTL operation.

 

1. Point strobe at lens. Strobe fires short burst.

2. Point strobe away from lens. Cover lens. Strobe does full dump.

 

In step one, the resulting pictures came out completely black, or very underexposed. I think the strobe light flashed afterwards indicating a full dump???

 

Step two sort of worked, but I don't think the strobe did a full dump each time.

 

I then did some test shots, the strobe ready light came straight back on each time (no full dump), but the results were variable - probably due to my strobe aiming. With close subjects (about 20cm <1ft) the strobe fired but the picture was VERY underexposed. Slightly further away the strobe fired but the picture seems to be blown out. In each case the camera used the same f-stop / shutter speed so I think the variable was the strobe.

 

Any ideas on a reliable way to test this setup?

 

General tips on strobe use would also be very welcome!!!

 

Regards,

Paul.

 

P.S. I tested this with my C-830L in housing (D-360L in the USA I think!), and a C-5060 (waiting for an Ike housing).

 

P.P.S Sensor is set to pre-flash. I checked

Following URL describes use of the TTL Sensor, but the D-360 Olympus should be used with our Manual Controller:

 

http://www.ikelite.com/web_pages/qdigital.html

Many thanks for the link. I'll retest tomorrow in detail with the 5060 and my wifes' mju(stylus)-300. Any news on the 5060 housing, I thought it was due in Jan?

 

Out of interest, what would be a reliable way to test TTL exposure?

 

On a roll with questions, why Manual controller for D-360L - I thought this was a basic Point & shoot with no manual controls on the camera. On my C-830L I have no influence over shutter or aperture, other than selecting macro mode. Doesn't matter too much as I'm retiring this setup once I get my 5060 wet - just interested!

 

[Edited - My mistake, the C-830L is (I think!) equivalent to the D-330L over there, though they all look the same! The 8(3)30L has no control over shutter, aperture, or exposure compensation - will this work with TTL sensor at all?]

http://www.ikelite.com/web_pages/dig_definitions.html tries to explain TTL trouble with the smaller strobes built into the cameras. The TTL Sensor should do well with the5060, but our new circuitry for real Olympus hard wired TTL will prove to be wonderful with the 5060.