as the title indicates, I have a hard time getting my Sony RX100-II and S&S 110alfa to shoot using TTL-mode on the strobe. There is a pre-flash on both AS&M program (probably P as well) on the camera. As far as I can tell from searching the net, and discussing with friends, ti should be possible. Whatever setting I try, I either get a full dump and over exposed photo, or no flash.
What setting should I use, or do I chase something that actually won't work? Using manual mode on the strobe is no problem.
Yours,
Peter HP
Huh? I do not think the rx100 mk2 has pre flash...
Switch to manual...
Page 82 in the manual. Also, according to some guides at uwphotographyguide.com, using TTL is recommended in some situations, and Im not sure TTL is possible without pre-flash. With my previous camera, Canon G12, there were a pre-flasg in AS (P?) mode but not with M. I could use TTL shooting in AS but not in M. Most time I use M and strobe in manual but I would like to be able to use the TTL option too. How to use TTL in M mode is another question......
Peter
The RX100 has TTL flash in all modes with pre-flash on all the time
Try pre-flash mode without TTL on the strobe to see if it works
Also make sure red eye reduction is turned off.
Thank you very much for your suggestions.
The RX100 has TTL flash in all modes with pre-flash on all the time
Try pre-flash mode without TTL on the strobe to see if it works
It all works nicely with the strobe in manual for all camera modes (ASM, haven't tried P). I just switch the strobe to Manual 1 (camera with pre-flash) and adjust the light on the strobe. When you say "Try pre-flash mode....." I get the feeling there is a way to shut off the pre-flash, is there?
Also make sure red eye reduction is turned off.
I had to double check, yes it's turned off.
What other settings may I be missing??
Peter
There is no way to eliminate the preflash the internal flash always works in ttl. Make sure you have latest firmware for the strobe
From S&S homepage I found that the strobe was updated and the new version ha Ver 1.1 stated on the side of the strobe. My strobe hasn't so I guess its the original version. I doubt there is a way to update my strobe. Is this the reason why TTL doesn't work?
Peter
Call sea and sea
Peter
Is your shutter speed higher than 1/250th? That may be a reason for the TTL not to work if a full dump is required. Check if your TTL lamp on the YS100alpha turns on green, if not there is a full dump. The RX100II can flash synch at very high speed. I use an RX100II and a YS-90DX with Mathias Heinrich Digital Adapter 2 and I still struggle understanding how's everything is working with TTL-flash. I was used to shoot with manual flash in M mode. One last thing flash compensation on the RX100II can be used to reduce the intensity of the strobe. You may consider playing with that before cranking up your ISO or using larger apertures to reduce the intensity of the flash if you want to use higher shutter speed.
Peter
Is your shutter speed higher than 1/250th? That may be a reason for the TTL not to work if a full dump is required. Check if your TTL lamp on the YS100alpha turns on green, if not there is a full dump. The RX100II can flash synch at very high speed. I use an RX100II and a YS-90DX with Mathias Heinrich Digital Adapter 2 and I still struggle understanding how's everything is working with TTL-flash. I was used to shoot with manual flash in M mode. One last thing flash compensation on the RX100II can be used to reduce the intensity of the strobe. You may consider playing with that before cranking up your ISO or using larger apertures to reduce the intensity of the flash if you want to use higher shutter speed.
DS-TTL is an optical system and is not limited to a specific shutter speed
The RX100 has a leaf shutter and can work up to 1/2000 without problems with a compatible strobe
The circuitry of DS-TTL and RX100 leaf shutter allow indeed very fast synch but the YS60 requires at least 1/500th of a second (2ms) to dump it's full charge (according to Digital dapter II manual) I've seen a graphic of a full dump of a YS90DX and it is as long as 4000us (1/250th). I don't know about the YS110alpha it may be a bit better. So there could be a problem if the RX100II evaluates that it should fire it's internal strobe for such a long time and the shutter speed is really fast (1/250th or faster). If a fraction of the charge is required it could be OK and the system could synch well over 1/250th.
I don't know if the YS110alpha use a recorded-TTL or a normal-TTL approach. The Digital Adapter 2 now use a recorded-TTL approach by default to reduced positive feedback (It can be programmed to normal-TTL if needed). With recorded-TTL the inner flash fire first then once it is off the external strobe fire for the same amount of time, this reduce the possibilty of positive feedback but reduce the maximum synch speed by a factor two.
I should be able to water test my setup next week and check if this is really a concern or not.
The YS-110a has ds-ttl and the full dump consideration is not that important if you are shooting at 1/2000 you probably are looking at macro and not full power. Maybe a sunburst shot is an exception. When I got my first RX100 I moved away from sea and sea to Inon that never give you any problems.
maybe check out your optical cables? try a few dry land shots without the cables. just place the strobes in front of the camera so the slave sensor can see the onboard flash.
is the behaviour 100% consistent? or are you seeing intermittent behaviour? i have some YS110 and YS110a and for me their optical slave trigger works about 95% of the time. A couple times a dive I would get either too much or not enough light. I have also seen intermittent fialires using wires sync cables, but not ws often. But the optical trigger also fail 100% of the time in 1 certain condition: bright light, sandy bottom at about 15 feet in the caribbean - they always way over expose. I now only use them with wired sync cables, no fibre optical anymore....
The YS110a takes around 5100us to perform a full dump. But I would be surprised if that has anything to do with the issue since the majority of its power has been dumped in a much much shorter time (less than 400us ish?).
provide some insight into the discharge curve of a speedlight. Interesting reading, but I do not think it will help in this situation
I give upp on this and stay happy with shooting manual. That's what I do most of the time.
I have a feeling there is something not quite right with the strobe. I've experimented with all settings, putting the strobe and camera(s) head-to-head etc. I've never had any problems with the fibre-optic cord. I don't get any green light on the strobe in any situation. No dump or full dump is what I get. I've tested with a Canon G12 and the RX100Mk2. I have a vague memory reading somewhere that S&S TTL can be a bit irregular in its behaviour on older strobes.
Case closed cold. Thanks a lot for all time and suggestions. This was my first thread for help here and I'll definitely come back!
