Canon WP-DC21 / G 9 / fiber optic strobe triggering.

[cicopo]

I have just made an adaptor to allow me to fire dual Sea & Sea strobes via fiber optic cables when using the G 9 in Canon's housing and thought others might use my idea to help them find a way for them to accomplish something similar as needed. Let me first warn you that I am a bit fussy, and was working with materials that I use all the time as part of my day job, which is Corvette restoration. The good news is that everything I used is readily available & not expensive, and easy to work with, but don't cut corners in any of the steps before casting it, you will need to get it off of the housing without excessive force.
Now one thing I have concluded without fully verifying is to assume that the pre focus assist light isn't very important, and in my use is it blocked off. I have made my assumption based on where it is placed within the Canon housing, plus the fact that if the Canon diffuser were used it would also block it's light output. Photos and step by step instructions are here.
Picasa Web Albums - Larry - Canon G 9 / W...

[pakman]

impressive cicopo! And yes, the focus assist light is pretty much useless u/w.

I would have suggested going 1 step further and extended the mold around the front of the port so you could attach a 67mm ring for an Inon macro lens

[cicopo]

Don't worry, I have that under control if needed. The gravel guard washes off with lacquer thinner & I can easily add more fiberglass to the front plus whatever is needed for the mount. Before deciding on the Canon housing I carefully checked all previous underwater photos I have taken to see what length I shot them at, and seldom was I very wide, or using macro mode.

[richard25]

Hey Larry (cicopo), i must say: my hat is off to you..., im trying to figure it out, which flash to buy to my wp-dc21 for the g9, and that solves it, what kind of glue did you use to paste the fiber??

[cicopo]

The glue is called "resin" and is the proper product which is used for any fiberglass work. It can usually be bought in both the auto parts store or marine supply houses, plus in many hardware stores & even places like Wal Mart in the body repair aisle of the automotive section. You can usually buy it separately or in a kit with some matting, and it's not very expensive.

[richard25]

Hi Larry, thanks for answer, i found a kit with the mat, the resin and something like glue, and i got another question what is the body filler that you use, is there any comercial material similar to a car body filler??

[cicopo]

Car type body filler will work perfectly or in small quantities you can also use any of the modern body filler style glaze putties which sand easily but cost a lot more than conventional filler. Any readily available auto body filler will work perfectly and I wouldn't spend more than necessary on it since it's a cosmetic use rather than for strength.
If you run into something that needs a quick answer just use the PM function to alert me and I will send an answer as quickly as possible.

[richard25]

I found a epoxy glue called PC-11, i guess this is not the right stuff, i live in venezuela and is very dificult to find any material, in fact i found the fiber in a "kit" but in the store they said that they were the last shippment, because right now we have a lot of problem with the government and they said that you could build a bomb with those materials ***?? jejeje, so i hope i get it right jejejejej, i am also planning to create a difuser for the flash (because i lost it in a dive...) and i will try to make the "skeleton" with fiberglass and the inside, that i just finished testing, i am making it with the material of a folder that is almost plastic (very opaque, almost white, and non colored), i ll try to make a website so you could see the pics after im finished, the flash that im using is the sealife, but i'll be in USA in december and in bonaire on september so i will have to keep taking pictures with this one before i buy the next one,

Thanks for answer all my questions!!