Strobe for Minolta Dimage Xt

I'm looking for a compact strobe for my Minolta Dimage Xt that is small, as inexpensive as possible and would work very reliably for a beginner.

Does the Minolta Dimage Xt have a preflash which would mean I should buy something like the Ikelite Dx-50 with a sensor or an Inon unit also with a preflash sensor

Or

Does it not have a preflash and the Sea and Sea Ys25 would work just as well?

I'd like the system to reliably give me good pictures without much adjustment.

Art 99

I would go with something very small and inexpensive. If the camera does not have a manual mode, it will probably choose f2.8 every time - meaning you won't need much light.

Perhaps a small Epoque, Ikelite, Sea and Sea or Inon strobe. The Epoque would probably be the cheapest.

HTH

James

James

Thanks. On another forum I got the impression that a lot of folks were unhappy with Epoque but that still leaves three others.

My impression is that if the camera has a preflash and if the strobe supports the preflash that it might go to a lower f/# based on the power of the strobe's preflash. I'm going to try and find out if the Xt has a oreflash.

Thanks again,

Art99

I'm sure it does. If your theory is correct about the preflash mimicing strobes, then you should look at the Ike DS125 and Inon D180 and D2000. They are a LOT more than a "dumb" optical slave strobe though.

Cheers

James

James

I found an article on testing slave strobes by taking a photo of the camera with flash in a mirror. If the Strobe is sync'ed you see the image of the lit strobe.

I did this test with my Ikelite DS50 and Digital sensor set for preflash (the way I use it with my Olympus 3030). Bottomline-- it seems the Minolta Xt has a preflash! (In contrast my Casio Exlim Z-40 does NOT)

Minolta recommends a Se & Sea flash which does not replicate the preflash but ignores it and the synchronizes with the main flash?? I don't understand this.

Art99

Art

I just posted a message asking for some buying advice... Want to get the other half a new digital camera for Xmas, which she can use on land and when diving...want to spend around £500 ($950) in total (camera and housing).... Have tried doing lots of reading, but am getting quite confused!

What seems to stand out at the moment is the camera you mention above, the Casio Exilim Zoom EX-Z40, with the EWC-40 housing.... can you tell me what you think of it??

Thanks so much!

J

Art: Minolta is right. You obviously need the flash to fire when the camera is taking a picture, not JUST on the preflash, right? Some slave strobes do both flashes, and some do just the second flash (the one when the shutter is open).

If you have a DS50 with Ike's TTL controller, the strobe should fire 2 flashes. If you have Ike's Manual controller, then set it for preflash cameras, adjust the power level, and it should just fire on the main flash.

Ingha, how about starting a new post, separate from this one? Will be easier that way.

HTH

James

James

Without the preflash, how does the camera djust the exposure?? It seems that it is like a manual flash but without control of the aperture (on automaticv cameras like the Minolta XT)

I'm still puzzled?

Art99

ingha j

I am curious as well. I also have a Casio Exlim Z-40 which I love for land use because it has such a large LCD and fits in my pocket. I am toying with buy a case and trying it undrwater.

In that regard, I tested it with my Ikelite DS50 and digital sensor and have tentatively concluded that the Casio does NOT have a preflash. Thus my curiosity about how cameas like the Z-40 set exposure with a flash and NO preflash.

It's a great land camera and would make a nice UW camer if it could work with a strobe. (By the way, I use my manual focus underwater to cut down on shutter delay and the Casio has a manual focus!)

Perhaps someone else has some advice on the Z40 for both of us.

Art99

OK Guys.

I think I figured out how this stuff MIGHT work. I own three(3) didigial cameras- Olympus 3030 which has a preflash and which I use underwater with an Ikelite DS50 and digital sensor; the Minolta Xt which I have used underwater without an external flash (tests with my Ikelite setup indicate it has a preflash); and a Casio Z-40 which I use only on land(tests with my Ikelite setup indiates NO preflash).

All these cameras have no light sensors except thru the lens. I verified this by covering the lens and noting that the flash went off even when the subject was well illuminated. THUS the camera makes its decision to flash or not based on the ambient light only.

In the case of a non preflash camera it MAY set the exposure by monitoring the light while the shutter is open and closing the shutter or quenching the flash when the correct exposure is reached. I acutally doubt this since I have read that only SLRs hare true TTL. So I expect that in a non preflash camera, flash exposure is a guess!

In the case of a preflash camera it MAY set the exposure based on the sensor in the lens reading during preflash . If this is true, it is likely to be a more accurate exposure. If it is not true then probably the preflash is simply to make it easier for the autofocus to setup.

Has anyone taken apart a camera that could provide further insight??

Art99