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Wetpixel :: Underwater Photography Forums > Gear Lust > Film Cameras/Housings
sharky1961
Hello I bought in January a Nikon F4 camera in an Aquatica Housing with a sea&sea ys-120 strobe. Until now I made some beautiful pictures with this combination. Today I was testing the camera and I was observing when setting the camera to A(perture priority) mode and using a strobe the shutterspeed stays just on 1/60 sec although the syncspeed of the camera lays between 1/60-1/250 sec. the shutterspeed didn't change when changing the aperture. Wen using no strobe the shutterspeed will change. questions: 1 is this normal or is my camera defect? 2. If this is normal does it meen that I can just shooting at 1/60 sec if I use a strobe?
fdog
Assuming you're shooting TTL. And a hot shoe connection with the camera in the housing.

Set for A, the lowest shutter speed for this set up is 1/60 because of front curtain sync. Perhaps where you're testing it's dark enough to require 1/60 or less, even with the lens wide open?

Getting sync speeds less than 1/60 requires rear curtain sync, which is set from a Nikon Speedlight (not set from the camera).

So if it's kind of darkish (for the ISO setting), it will bottom out at 1/60.

If I'm totally off base, and it's bright enough, check continuity for the SP (Speedlight Present) terminal from the hot shoe to the strobe. If the wire's broken somewhere, or a bulkhead pin is bent, the camera will dump out of TTL mode, because it thinks there is no TTL capable strobe attached.

All the best, James
sharky1961
Hello James,
thanks for your reply. Yes the strobe is set to ttl, the syncord is ok I have tested a sea&sea, Ikelite ds125, and a subtronic mega strobe they all gave a shutterspeed of 1/60 sec wenn shooting A mode. Even wenn using the Nikon SB-25 strobe it is 1/60 sec. I can shoot in a bright area next to a lamp it still is 1/60 sec, just wen I change to manual and shutterpriority mode it is set to 1/250 sec. wen set to P mode it is also 1/60 sec. Does the camera just fool me and will it use a faster shutterspeed and is just indikating that 1/60 is the slowest shutter speed or am I hooked at the 1/60 sec ?

Rob
sharky1961
James was right I ttested the camera today in sunny conditions and the shutterspeed went up to high and lowered as I went to higher f-stop.
sorry

Rob
fdog
Rob, glad to help out. Your F4 in the Aquatica housing is a great tool...enjoy!

All the best, James
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