Canon TTL Update

Hi folks,

I got an email back from Aquatica re: the progress of their ICU. It sounds like things are still ongoing in terms of development. The upcoming version will be adjustable for different uses (ie wide angle vs macro). It sounds like macro TTL has been functioning better than wide angle.

I thought this was interesting as because of the adjustability it may be able to be used with some sucess on other camera systems eg inside your subal/seacam housing with the 1D Mk2. Pure speculation, however.

BTW, the above system clearly doesn't sound like it's emulating eTTL, just trying to get a decent flash exposure with a degree of trial and error.

What would be needed with a system like this would be a version of the Ike manual controller that has a setting for TTL (ie that bypasses the manual controller) so that you can shoot TTL when its working, but revert to manual for situation where it doesn't. This would be desirable even if someone did develop a truly accurate eTTL system (which presumably will happen sometime in the future). I wouldn't think it would be very hard at all to do this. Ike/any other engineers?

Other than this, it sounds like the only other options are Mathias's chip, wait for the proposed Ike eTTL system, or house a speedlite in a Subal housing or similar.

We were speculationg on the Inon system on the 10D hosuing a few months ago, but I haven't heard any more about it recently.

It's interesting that the more expensive manufacturers that support Canon (Subal, Seacam) don't seem to have anything in the pipeline in this regard (unless someone knows differently).

Hi folks,

 

I got an email back from Aquatica re: the progress of their ICU. It sounds like things are still ongoing in terms of development.

Having had one student with an Aquatica for a Digital Rebel in my recent Key Largo class I can confirm the E-TTL is not a slam-dunk just yet. Best wishes to Ikelite and Aquatica as they continue their quest for reliable E-TTL for Canon and I-TTL for Nikon. It was interesting to note how quickly the photos became greatly improved once there was no further reliance on inaccurate TTL; but rather exposures were based on strobe-to-subject distance, the in-camera light meter, review of the LCD screen, and her evolving experience.

Hi folks,

 

I got an email back from Aquatica re: the progress of their ICU. It sounds like things are still ongoing in terms of development.

 

Having had one student with an Aquatica for a Digital Rebel in my recent Key Largo class I can confirm the E-TTL is not a slam-dunk just yet. Best wishes to Ikelite and Aquatica as they continue their quest for reliable E-TTL for Canon and I-TTL for Nikon. It was interesting to note how quickly the photos became greatly improved once there was no further reliance on inaccurate TTL; but rather exposures were based on strobe-to-subject distance, the in-camera light meter, review of the LCD screen, and her evolving experience.

I have found that the simple fact of now having a histogram to review while shooting has greatly improved my percentages with the Rebel. I wonder if I will rely on the TTL when I get the ICU for my Aquatica.

No one *needs* TTL, but it's a nice helper in certain situations. If it works and if I can disable it from time to time....

Hi,

just got the confirmation that the Heinrichs converter is definitively working true E-TTL for 300D with YS60/90/120 strobes (tested by himself and additionally by someone else). The Inon Z220 has just been tested and also works 100%, including focus and target light!

I am pretty impatient about Heinrichs finalizing the 10D correction table adaption for the chip. It was nice to read as my first Inon Z220 is on it's way.

regards,

Julian

forgotten: "true E-TTL" in means of converting for common preflashes.

I am confused (normal situation I guess). I thought that Matthias's converter relied on seeing the pre-flash from the on-camera strobe. How does that work if you can't put the flash up or if your housing (Subal) is made of some non-transparent stuff.

BVA

no one *needs* TTL, but it's a nice helper in certain situations.

I disagree - it is needed. Photographers coming over film think that they do and won't buy cameras unless they offer it. So for marketing reasons the manufacturers need to offer TTL!

I am a classic example of stupidily wanting TTL. I felt had to have TTL on digital even though the community on Wetpixel told me I really didn't need it. I got my Nikon D100 housing in 2002, and by January 2003 had housed an SB80DX and was happily shooting dTTL underwater (for macro and fish photog). This continued right through 2003 until my last dive of a trip to Egypt in October. My SB80DX had run out of batteries so I was "forced" to use one of my Subtronics (that I was using on manual for WA) to shoot macro on some seahorses we had found. I remember being quite worried that I would miss the shot having to use manual on this rare (in the Red Sea) subject.

It took about 20 seconds with the seahorses before I realised how easy manual strobe control is with digital (despite being told so many times). So far, in 2004, I have downloaded 10,000 images from my D100 andnot one of them was taken with the SB80DX! In fact I didn't even take it with me on my recent trip to the Red Sea.

Sorry for the long story - but I am hoping that it may save someone from being as dumb as I was! Oh and this is the seahorse that started it all!!

Hello,

@bvanant

Matthias's "digital adapter" works as you describe. It is designed for compact digital cameras.

The E-TTL converter is a different and new product. It is a conversion circuit and does not work optically like the “digital adapter”. It will be placed in the housing and receives the 6 lines from the camera’s flash shoe. Output is standard Nikon electrical TTL protocol. Basically 3 lines are required for just the TTL control. Pin 4 and 5 can be optionally used to trigger focus light or/and target laser in case of an Inon Z220 for example.

Therefore a standard Nikonos bulkhead will be fine.

Link to Matthias description:

http://www.muenster.de/~matthias/blitz/ettle.htm

@Alex

Most probably I will receive my housing before the converter is updated to work with the 10D.

Based on your previous statement (especially the manual flash macro stuff was important) I did not hesitate anymore to order a new amphibic strobe without having the confirmation that it will work TTL in the future. Thank you very much as I really enjoyed not to wait anymore for promising industry TTL announcements.

But without the digital experience with manual flash underwater so far, I still sleep better with a good chance of TTL with Matthias’s solution for the future. So the stupidity still got me to a certain amount (film shooter TTL target fixation is a hard disease as you have mentioned). :roll:

regards,

Julian

It is also funny that only digital-non-manual-flash-experienced-future-housing-buyers cry for TTL (including me as one of the loudest) :-)

Must be some reason for this :-)

I may have mentioned a desire for eTTL once or twice myself...

I'm in the unusual situation of having done all my underwater shooting to date with eTTL support due to my brave choice to dive with the 10D in the EWA-Marine. It's hard to reconcile paying $1000's for a real housing and then losing this feature, particularly as it's just a historical anomaly - I have no doubt that in one years time buying a Canon TTL housing will be possible, and in a few years I'd be suprised if this wasn't a standard feature.

eTTL would be nice, and I was hoping that housings would be available by now, but I'm willing to be realistic and admit defeat. I'd definitely prefer to be in the water shooting manual as opposed to sitting around waiting for eTTL and not shooting at all.

I accept that many people are happy with manual strobe exposure. I think Stephen Frink has done quite a bit of photography underwater, and Alex may just be clever, so they may not be typical examples

It's good that Aquatica is putting some effort into developing Canon TTL support, but ultimately as they don't support my camera it's not worthwhile changing cameras for the sake of an unproven flash control system.

I've decided to buy the just released Ikelite 10D housing, figuring that it's probable that the promised eTTL system will eventuate in the not too distant future.

Hi Rob,

have you ever thought of continue using your system gun with a 10D housing? It's not an exlusive EwaMarine feature

Which strobe do you have? 420EX or 550EX ?

Julian

Yes, I have considered this.

I have a 420EX which I've had for a long time. If I was buying a flash now (especially with a view to housing it) it'd definitely be the 550EX.

Housing a speedlite (eg in the Subal housing) doesn't seem to be a popular option, although it sounds good on paper. If anyone has positive experiences doing this, please let us know.

420EX works fine underwater for macro, and provides some extra light for wide angle. Used on camera as per the Ewa-Marine system, it's also very good for adding backscatter to your photos.

Hi Rob,

I have as well the 420EX. Originally bought with a film EOS.

UW I have used an old EZ gun with the Seacam Miniflash housing.

It works pretty well, especially for macro. Of course a big amphibic strobe will be better. Therefore my first of two Inon Z220 arrived :-)

One problem when housing the 420EX in a tube: If you turn the strobe head (and you have to for a tube housing) the reflector zooms to 50mm equiv. focal length as you might know. It's fixed in this position.

The 550EX has a manual mode for the zoom reflector and you can fix it at 24mm for example (or 17mm with diffusor).

If the ETTL stuff doesn't work out finally I will have my Seacam Miniflash housing modified for the 420EX and a S6 bulkhead. The flash has a vertical position without the zoom problem in there.

By the way, Sealux and Bruder offer flash housings without the 420EX/tube problem.

forgot to mention, it's this type of past hosuings with a 430EZ flash.

if it is of interest to someone:

the manual for the conversion unit is downloadable (also in english ).

Gives a good impression how the unit will be installed.

http://www.muenster.de/~matthias/blitz/manual.pdf

Very interesting.

External potentiometer so you can switch to manual would be the go.

Any test photos available? I don't believe these things work until I see the pictures.

Anyone know if any housing manufacturers are thinking of adding this as an OEM item?