kazb 0 Posted June 3, 2010 Hi everyone Just got myself a Sea & Sea MDX-D300S housing and it comes with two fibre optic cable sockets for the internal flash. I have two YS-110alpha flashes and they have the DS-TTL function. I also have the synch cables and the TTL converter. Now I was wondering about how good the fibre optic cables sollution is - Is it so good that I can leave my synch cables and TTL converter at home when I go to Egypt next month and save the weight ? Or is the cable sollution still the best way to go. Macro and wide wise ? Anyone tried them out yet? Kenneth Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vettediver 0 Posted June 3, 2010 I tried fibre optic flash cords with my Nikon D 300 and Inon 240 strobes and have never looked back. The Nikon iTTL system functions perfectly and I have eliminated six potential flooding/failure points in the process- two camera bulkheads, two strobe cords, and two strobe bulkheads. An added bonus- fibre optic cables are much cheaper than electric cables, are field servicable / replaceable. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChrigelKarrer 52 Posted June 3, 2010 Modern optical triggered slave strobes work surprisingly well and today there are not so much (or no) situations where a cabled strobe would do the job better. The only solution may providing better results could be a housed system flash like the Canon Speedlite or Nikon Speedlight as they communicate much more with the camera. But this is a guess from me as i have no experience underwater with my Speedlight but as the housings for it are extremly expensive i go with my Ikelite DS-125. Unfortunatly my Ikelite D90 housing does not allow the internal strobe to pop up fully and this block the internal flash from firing so on my housing, a slave strobe is unfortunately not possible. . I am experimenting with my G11 in a Patima housing and my old Inon D-2000 strobe and i am very satisfied with the results! Chris Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jcclink 8 Posted June 3, 2010 (edited) Ditto on using fiber. Would suggest taking a spare set just in case one becomes damaged (handling accident, shark bite, etc). Mechanical is always more reliable than electronic. Just make sure that TTL works if you're using it. Edited June 3, 2010 by jcclink Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChrigelKarrer 52 Posted June 3, 2010 Just stumbled over this article about what's better: http://reefphoto.com/tt/index.php?action=kb&article=15 Chris Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deep6 7 Posted June 3, 2010 Ditto on using fiber. Would suggest taking a spare set just in case one becomes damaged (handling accident, shark bite, etc). Mechanical is always more reliable than electronic. Just make sure that TTL works if you're using it. I use dual fiber cables from a Nexus D80 to inon 240 strobes. Works great; sTTL or manual. I do carry an extra set of fiber cables and a double sync cord. I have never need the elec. cord back up. OK, so I am a worry wart. Bob Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kazb 0 Posted June 3, 2010 Sounds like I have to give it a try. Maybe I will bring a sync cable just to be sure Thanks Kenneth Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JackConnick 76 Posted June 4, 2010 If you shoot in blue water an electrical connection can be a lot faster as you don't wait for the camera strobe to recycle. You can achieve much of the same effect with f/o by NOT using TTL and also turning the camera to manual and turning the power down. Jack Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jcclink 8 Posted June 4, 2010 (edited) I'm using a D300 so this should apply to your 300S. Go into the menu & change the flash setting to MANUAL & power to !/100. This is sufficient to fire the strobes via fiber optics, & it minimizes camera battery drain. I still get over 700 shots on a battery using fiber. (I always shoot manual.) Also, you cannot shoot CL or CH continuous exposures using fiber optics, but can with sync cord. Camera flash doesn't recycle fast enough. You may get shots but strobes only fire on first one. Edited June 4, 2010 by jcclink Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nicool 30 Posted July 9, 2010 Hi jcclink Did you tired CL/CH modes having set the internal trobe to 1/100th of its power? In such conditions I would assume a very short recycle time... cheers Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nicool 30 Posted July 9, 2010 I also wonder what if you set your internal flash to master, but not to light. In that case, I guess you'll have TTL, but not much recycle time since your internal flash is not supposed to provide a lot of light. Though I don't know Nikon's TTL protocol, maybe 'SHOOT STRONG' means a strong pre-fash? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
