Ike Help! Proper settings for 5060 + Ike DS50

Hi

Just got a 5060 + Ike Housing. I already had a DS50. Bought the required sync cord 4103.51.

I have set the camera according to what I think are the right settings for Ike TTL. These are Flash: [Flash symbol] not the one that is [iN+symbol]; SLOW: SLOW 1.

99% of the time the strobe fires twice in quick succession. Exposure is "OK" but hit and miss compared to what I am used to. I previously used a Sony with the Ike Optical DS Sensor. On that sensor there was a small switch for preflash setting but I don't see any way now with this setup to control that.

My DS50 is about 4 years old. Is this a factor? Has the design changed?

Confused. Help gratefully received.

Your setup sounds correct and I assume you are using manual mode.

As a sanity check, see the following.

http://www.ikelite.com/web_pages/gide_o5060.html

And as a point of clarification, what do you mean by erratic results? In water? On land? Over/under exposed? No exposed?

You also need to set the camera to housing mode. I had the same problem until I found that little important set up piece.

Joe

OK well some progress to report today.

I reset to Manual (was Program) using the ike settings recommended (5.6/100). Still fires twice.

Then on the thought that shutter speed is important for sync I moved to Shutter priority using 1/100 fixed, let it pick the aperture. Now I can reliably get good exposures. On P I was getting under, over you name it. BUT it still fires twice. Tried AF, macro, close, far, all look good.

So I have a working solution, but why does it still fire twice? I'll be going through batteries like crazy. I even reversed the direction of the sync cord, no change.

I don't know what "housing" mode means, but I'd be glad to try it!

Any other ideas?

Thanks

Re "Still fires twice." It's supposed to. The first is a preflash to determine the amount of flash to use to take the picture.

And stay with manual. All other modes are a waste of time for underwater strobe lit pictures.

More reading for you on settings.

http://www.splashdowndivers.com/photo_gall...up_settings.htm

AHA

Thanks I wish I had known that. Prior 100 dives with the same strobe, it fired once. Was not expecting this. I had independently found the same web pages but don't recall seeing anywhere this behavior described.

First real trial of this setup is in 2 weeks on the GBR.

Report to follow.

Thanks so much.