I have done a serach on these forums but couldn't find what I was looking for.
I want to know why I can't get my SS200 strobe to fire, without the internal flash on the camera . The strobe will only fire when the internal flash fires???????? Is this normal ???the only reason this bothers me is that I have to change the cameras batteries between dives .The strobe is connected to the housing via a sync cord.Also would I be able to use the manual controller with this set up ??
TIA
cheers
Nunz
I do not know your camera or your strobe for that matter, but it seems to me that your camera has to have a "slave" mode to do his. This allows the camera to send a sync signal thru the hotshoe to the strobe without firing the internal flash. The Olympus 5050 had this mode, but I remember a number of other cameras being discussed that did not.
Check your camera manual to see if the mode exists in the menus, and give that a try.
I used to own this setup, but used an SB102 flash - very similar.
You need to go into the camera menue for Speedlite Options and set "Internal and External Active."
Then use the button on the back of the camera to turn off the internal flash. What you should see on the back screen is a lightning bolt next to a lightning bolt in a circle.
I hope this helps, let us know if you can get it to work. That strobe is also VERY big for that camera. Shoot at your highest f-stop and make sure your ISO is set at 100.
James
Thanks for the info guys
James, I know that the this strobe is over kill for this camera, but I could not go pass it at the time, the price was just so good.If and when I upgrade to DSLR I already have a strobe.
cheers
Nunz
HI
James the only way I get the two lighting bolts in the LCD screen is if I set the internal flash off .If I do it the way you have suggested I only get one flash symbol, then if I turn the internal flash off, well neither of the flashes/strobe fire. I have set the internal to off and get the 2 symbols but the internal still fires .However it dose not give (internal flash)enough to light up the subject. Strange but true, so I’m wondering if this is just the way it should be for the strobe (external) to fire.
Cheers
Nunz
You need to download and install the latest firmware for your camera. It will stop the internal camera flash from firing like that. It's a mistake that Nikon made and later fixed with the updated firmware.
HTH
James
I have exactly the same set-up (Coolpix 5000, SS200) and I have exactly the same problems. My strobe is a few years old but I sent it back to Ikelite for the upgrade so I am assuming that is not the problem.
Nunz, did you get yours sorted, if so could you let me know how?
James, which firmware version are you referring to 1.7 or 1.8? The Nikon site doesn't say anything about strobe problems in its explanation of V1.8.
Regards
Doug
Following guide from Ikelite web site indicates camera will fire a preflash regardless, and describes recommended settings:
Finally it's all making sense. Thanks for pointing me to your 5000 guide page, I hadn't picked that page up when looking at your site. I've just done a couple of dry land tests and it seems that it works best with the strobe set on TTL rather than one of the other power settings.
Is there no way of turning off the 5000 preflash to conserve battery power? I also wonder about heat build up in the housing after a few shots.
One of the things that threw me to start with was the small female centre split pin on the sync cord was not contacting properly when plugged in to the housing bulkhead so strobe would not fire at all. I very gently pressed it together with a pair of pointy nosed pliers and it seems to have fixed it. Is there any way of preventing the pin seperating again?
Once again thanks for your help.
Doug
CP5000 preflash idiosyncrasy is that it does not affect exposure and can not be turned off. Pins and receptacles of sync cord usully do not cause trouble. The center split pin of charger socket for smart charger is the one that usually needs to be spread slightly.............
