Fix S90 housings have arrived

[Pete L 48]

Well i bit the bullet & have ordered an FIX housing & an S90 camera. Also bought an Inon S2000 strobe so am quite excited to see how this compact setup goes.

Cheers Pete.

[leepix 1]

Yes, set the Inon to Auto for External Auto mode. I believe that when selected sTTL over rides the magnet switch in that mode. Set the power level to match F stop, shoot, evaluate and go up or down from there. There are several ways beyond this to alter exposure depending on how you want to treat the foreground vs background and open water?

 

The small sensor cameras have tremendous depth of field, which Inon 100, macro or wide angle. If wide angle, yes, tons of DOF.

 

S90 defaults???????to f 8.0, not following you on that??

 

I have been playing around at ISO100 an have been shooting my 570 at ISO100.

 

I plan to play arounf with natural light B&W with much higher ISO with the S90.

@ crawdad and others. I am headed to WPB for some diving this week. I think I got my S90 and Inon system set right (following the consensus opinion) I am using S90 on manual flash and Inon on EA. The following questions are hanging out there:

 

Is there any advantage to using P mode?

 

In noticed that when in Av mode, the maximum aperture allowed is 8.0, I hope that will give me enough DOF? crawdad seems to think so, I guess I was just used to old Ike setup with let me use a higher f-stop?

 

When I using the S90 menu setting the Flash to manual and at minimum power, should I also use Slow Sync?

 

I saw that the S90 has a underwater setting as one of the options for White Balance, should I use that also?

 

With the Inon set to EA mode, I was told to put the magnet in in order to get ACC. The manual is confusing on that point. I am assuming that with the S90 set as above, it is still a preflash camera?

 

With the blue filter in front, the manual says I should make a + 1/4 EV adjustment. Can't I do that simply by using the EV compensation switch? Otherwise I have to adjust either ISO or aperture.

 

Is there something I am missing about the fiber optic cord, simply plug it into the flash block seems too easy?

 

The Inon Advanced Manual is truly an obtuse document which I can hardly understand and doesn't do much for my undestanding of EA mode. So I am relying on the collective pool dwellers here!

[crawdad 0]

Yes, install the magnet if you have your S90 flash set to manual or wish to be able to shift to Manual exposure mode on the mode dial. When you go to P and set the Inon D2000 to sTTL the magnet position is canceled and the flash will expect a preflash and the S90 will give it one, lol.

 

I tried P mode with the strobe in sTTL and had mixed results but mostly I just have to work with that mode some. I still prefer Av or Manual with the strobe in either EA or manual.

 

The underwater mode setting, nah. However for the cb yes the "fish" symbol works OK but if you shoot RAW it matters not at all.

 

Isn't f8.0 max f stop for the S90? You will have plenty of depth of field.

 

P mode is kind of slow shutter response vs Av or manual for whatever reason

 

P mode will also use more camera battery power.

 

I would not worry about compensating for the diffuser, just remember that the actual f stop setting on the strobe may or may not be the same as the camera for best exposure to suit your taste and conditions.

 

Shoot at ISO100 unless doing natural light in which case set as needed.

 

I just came back from WPB/Jupiter:

 

 

 

 

 

All shot with S90/FIX90 housing, dual Inon D2000, Inon 165AD fisheye lens, no cropping required, zoom at 35mm, Av mode, minus 1and 1/3 f stop, and EA strobe mode.

[leepix 1]

Yes, install the magnet if you have your S90 flash set to manual or wish to be able to shift to Manual exposure mode on the mode dial. When you go to P and set the Inon D2000 to sTTL the magnet position is canceled and the flash will expect a preflash and the S90 will give it one, lol.

 

I tried P mode with the strobe in sTTL and had mixed results but mostly I just have to work with that mode some. I still prefer Av or Manual with the strobe in either EA or manual.

 

The underwater mode setting, nah. However for the cb yes the "fish" symbol works OK but if you shoot RAW it matters not at all.

 

Isn't f8.0 max f stop for the S90? You will have plenty of depth of field.

 

P mode is kind of slow shutter response vs Av or manual for whatever reason

 

P mode will also use more camera battery power.

 

I would not worry about compensating for the diffuser, just remember that the actual f stop setting on the strobe may or may not be the same as the camera for best exposure to suit your taste and conditions.

 

Shoot at ISO100 unless doing natural light in which case set as needed.

 

I just came back from WPB/Jupiter:

 

All shot with S90/FIX90 housing, dual Inon D2000, Inon 165AD fisheye lens, no cropping required, zoom at 35mm, Av mode, minus 1and 1/3 f stop, and EA strobe mode.

 

I guess I left the wrong impression. I shot Av mode NOT P. I am also interested in using M mode as well. I shot EA on the strobe with the magnet in. Do I have to take it out to shoot sTTL. The next dives I want to try out sTTL.

 

The blue diffuser did NOT work on EA - no color but correct exposure but basically blue. I took it off.

 

Is there a better way of keeping f/o cable in the FIX screw in flash blocker/connector? Just pushing in seems to easy? OR maybe I should go with the flow?

 

The LED aim light is bright and scared the fish away. I used my DiveRite hand light since it is adjustable. Nice for alternate flashlight but it seemed to take the batteries down some. BTW I barely got two dives on the Canon battery.

 

Still playing with tray - I may have to break down and buy a Fisheye tray since others I have found are meant for only one base screw. Calling ULCS next but not seeing what I want there.

 

Inon 100 WAL went on and off easily. It should be noted that bumping the zoom lever "jumps" the focal length a notch at a time and it is not easy to get inbetween with the lever. Might be easier with the front ring? Anyway used one bump to goto 35mm which was enough to clear vignetting. Of course if there is enough empty space, one can compose inside the corner crops.

 

The AF does NOT like moving objects i.e. FISH! Even leading the critters did not help the AF locking on. Maybe I should try for the soupy background type fish photo? heehee

 

In the end what worked for me was S90 in Av mode, minus 2.0 or less EV, Inon in EA set to match mostly f 8.0 or f 5.6, but I played with f-stops some. Would have liked to adjust the exposure at strobe head as that is quicker than using rings. But that is left over from my old method with Ike strobes LOL.

 

I will upload some shots tomorrow.

 

P.S. I dove one day south of Lake Worth Inlet and two days north up off Juno Beach. Used Pura Vida Divers who I like, but also have been out on Jim Abernathy's "other" boat. I dive weekdays to avoid the crowds, retired folks can do that - LOL.

Edited April 28, 2010 by leepix

[crawdad 0]

Your questions.

 

If you intend to shoot sTTL in Av mode then yes you will have to remove the magnet. But, you can shoot sTTL in P and EA in Av modes with the magnet installed.

 

The blue or white diffusers will not work in EA mode unless you have the EA capable diffuser.

 

My Inon fiber optic cables snap in and have never come out, seem to work fine for me.

 

I have no auto focus problems with moving objects but I am shooting with wide angle lenses which have great depth of field and consequentially, no focus issues.

 

Trays are easy, this is a DIY faux UCLS:

 

 

Same tray with my Canon DC-12:

 

 

DIY adapter plate:

 

 

FIX90 on Ike tray:

 

 

FIX90 on old style Nikonos tray:

 

[leepix 1]

What about Manual and sTTL? Don't I lose TTL in Canon?

 

What you mean about EA capable diffusers? My Inon had holes for LED an I assume photocell.

 

I just talked to ULCS. In a few weeks they will have a tray specifically for Fisheye two socket housing. I don't have the metal working shop for your (very nice!) jury rig ~~

 

I am still debating whether or not to go with two handles as right side seems to interfere with gripping and trigger finger?

 

My goal is to get back to CFWA with 100 WAL installed.

[crawdad 0]

What about Manual and sTTL? Don't I lose TTL in Canon?

 

What you mean about EA capable diffusers? My Inon had holes for LED an I assume photocell.

 

I just talked to ULCS. In a few weeks they will have a tray specifically for Fisheye two socket housing. I don't have the metal working shop for your (very nice!) jury rig ~~

 

I am still debating whether or not to go with two handles as right side seems to interfere with gripping and trigger finger?

 

My goal is to get back to CFWA with 100 WAL installed.

 

 

I think you are asking different questions. I am not here to convince you to buy a camera. Canon, like all point and shoots except for those with a hot shoe, does not have any TTL capability with external strobes. NONE. This includes the S90, no TTL. You can, however, using the Inon D/S/Z strobes and certain others to SIMULATE effectively TTL. That is why it is called sTTL.

 

The S90 and Inon strobes will not give you sTTL with the camera in Manual mode. You can only use the sTTL capability in P/A and to some degree in Av modes.

 

External Auto mode will work in Av/Tv/Manual and to some degree in P but that (P mode) is just not a good operating combination in my opinion.

 

In my opinion manual mode on the strobe works best with Manual mode on the camera.

 

Installing the magnet will allow no preflash shooting when your camera is selected to manual flash mode in Av/Tv modes. Manual mode on your S90 the flash never emits a preflash. In A/P your S90 always emits a preflash and even if you have the flash set to manual for Av/Tv selecting the A/P modes over rides the manual flash setting.

 

With the magnet installed, camera set to manual flash for Av/Tv and default manual in Manual mode you can shoot in EA or manual modes on your D2000. Then, with the magnet still installed, you can switch to sTTL with the S90 in either A or P modes and then switch back on the fly.

 

There are several types of diffusers available for the Inon D/Z series strobes, some are EA capable, some are not, a hole for the LED light is not an indicator. EA capable diffusers have a small plastic insert in the sensor hole.

 

UCLS trays will fit with the FIX90 housing, don't over complicate a tray. Does double handles interfere with the trigger, I don't know, does not seem to effect me but I am not you, don't know what type of tray or equipment you will eventually purchase.

Edited May 1, 2010 by crawdad

[Brad 0]

I am torn between the G11 and S90 with fix housings. I love the wet lens ability of the S90, but have never replaced lenses underwater. This raises the question... How often in reality do people switch from fisheye to normal or even macro? I dive a rebreather, so long bottom time is a reality.

[crawdad 0]

I am torn between the G11 and S90 with fix housings. I love the wet lens ability of the S90, but have never replaced lenses underwater. This raises the question... How often in reality do people switch from fisheye to normal or even macro? I dive a rebreather, so long bottom time is a reality.

 

 

I do change lenses, usually going from wide angle to port alone. However, since you have a rebreather and you might go deep, did you know the G11 housing can be gotten in a "tech" version with depth capability to 300 feet. What you also get is stiffer buttons and controls due to stiffer springs but if you must go.