New DS51 Issues

[S. starfish]

I just pulled my new DS51 out of the box last night and have been having some issues that I hope are user error. I have it set up as a slave with the EV controller with a Canon SX200 IS and Ikelite housing. When I have the camera set in manual mode (pre flash off) the strobe works flawlessly. However, when I use the camera in anything other than manual mode (pre flash on now) the strobe fires incorrectly when the controller is set to F, 0.5 and 1, so I get some nice dark images. It works properly on all other settings. Suggestions?

Edit: I have the strobe set to TTL.

 

[S. starfish]

I just did another quick test that I didn't think to do last night. When the camera is set to manual but the EV controller is set for pre-flash, the strobe seems to fire at the appropriate time with the controller set to F, 0.5 or 1. So it looks like for whatever reason those three power settings aren't compensating for pre flash, even though they should be. Still, fingers crossed for user error, I want to play with it in the ocean, not put it in a box and send it back.

 

[BrettF]

S. starfish,

We spoke on the phone today. Hopefully all your questions have been answered.

Regards,

 

[S. starfish]

Yup. You guys were awesome, Thanks.

 

[Ikelite Staff]

Following up so that everyone knows the answer to this problem...

Canon point and shoot digital cameras emit a pre-flash in automatic modes (Av, Tv, P, etc.) but not in the manual mode (M).

It sounds like the EV Controller is set to the no pre-flash setting. When the strobe is triggered at full or close to full power on the preflash, the DS51 will expend all of its energy on the preflash and not be able to recycle quickly enough to fire again for the main flash. Setting the EV Controller to preflash (see instructions) will adjust the timing so that your strobe fires on the camera's main flash.

Regards,
Jean / Ikelite
IKELITE Underwater Systems