Sync.cord without TTL?

[Phil]

I've been looking at 2 YS 110's .
One for a SEA&SEA DX5400,For a friend and one for myown Ikelite #6191 and Nikon Cp 5700.They both have a connection for a Sync.cord.However dispit being told by a supplier that both would support TTL,The DX5400 According to SEA&DEA'swebsite is not compatable with TTL.
So,What advantage has the sync cord got over optic cable or slave mode if there is no TTL?
Know I feel I should also double check my compatability on the Ikelite unit.
Is the Ikelite #6191 TTL compatable with the YS110 and if so what Sync cord do I need.
Phil

[simonmort]

Hi phil, had a look on the ikelite site and found the following bits for the nikon5700 for you,
Nikon Digital Camera Chart (Discontinued)
Nikon Coolpix 5700 Settings Guide

As for ttl you will only be able to use with ikelite strobes,

TTL SubStrobe models Ai, MV, 50, 100, 200, and 400 operate TTL when connected with #4103.51 sync cord.
As well as ikelite DS series strobes

The following ikelite link is for non ikelite strobe cables.
Non-Ikelite Strobe Use

With sync v optic/slave mode.

if you only use slave modes with no optic cable then other, underwater camera flashes could/will fire your strobes. so optical cables remove this risk.

As for using optical over sync cords, with optical, strobe will be using the cameras own flash, to gauge light output.In some cameras the macro modes will not allow for camera flash to fire!!.

so in this case the sync cord will still send a signal, allowing for strobes to fire.
Manual strobe adjustment isnt that bad, you would have to fire a shot, and adjust the strobe power.

hope this helps.
simon.

[Phil]

Hi Simon!
Thank for the reply.
Now I can't figure out if I should get the YS110 which has a TTL facility I can't use,or spend less money on a manual strobe.
A third option is to spend a bit more and get an Ikelite TTL.What do you reckon?
Phil

[Cussy]

Phil,
I was going to buy a setup based around the YS-110 as I think its an exellent strobe; a lot of power from a small unit. However, I couldn't afford a Sea & Sea, Subal or Nexus housing, so went for Ikelite strobes in order to get TTL from an Ike housing. I have to say I think the DS-125 is an excellent strobe, and I picked up two secondhand for about the same cost as one brand new from Cameras Underwater. They appear on eBay fairly regularly.

You have to be careful with the older strobes as many you'll only get manual and there have been very few DS-50's or 51's appearing on eBay.
HTH,
Rob

[Mark]

I use the YS110 with a fibre optic, it works really well. I don't have TTL either.

[Phil]

Thanks for the advise.
I think i'll go for the YS110 and I will keep an eye on ebay for a DS125.
I'm more interested in wide angle so I think these would suite my needs
Regards
Phil

[jackdiver]

The YS-110 is TTL when used with an optical cable.

I think sea and sea call it ds-TTL.

Basically, the strobe quenches exaclty when the camera internal flash does.

So it depends on how good your cameras iTTL is.

I've tried this with a Sony N1, and it works brilliantly on land. Unfortunetly in the water the N1 isn't as consistant, so I'd prefer to use the strobe manually.

My recomenation is a YS-110 and sea arm vii, I've used flexi arms with P & S and YS-27, and whilst fine in the water is very floppy on land, especially in the warm.

My 2 pence...