Advise on compact strobe + grip (TG-7 & PT-059)

[GustavSan]

Hi,

I just bought the TG-7 and the PT-059 housing for my upcoming dive & snorkeling trip in Sabah.

I am looking for a compact strobe/grip setup but can't really decide as there are many choices in different price levels.

Is the Sea And Sea Flash YS-01 Solis a good starting point for me? What plate + arm/grip should I consider to use with it? I was hoping to keep size to a minimum as I need to travel light.

Any better alternatives I should look into? I think I have budget for the YS-01 Solis but not sure if I want to spend much more than that.

 

[tursiops]

What kind of pictures do you want to take? Macro? Reef Scenes" Wrecks? Fish?
Do you think you might move to two strobes or a strobe and a video light, or just one strobe (that is, do you need a one-sided or a two sided tray)?
Ae you inerested in a "locline" type of flexible arm for your strobe, or do you want arms/balls/clamps?

 

[tursiops]

For strobes, the S&S would not be my first choice, but rather the INON S-220.
See these articles:

Which underwater light should I get for my Olympus Tough TG-7 or TG-6? | Mozaik UW

If you're following my articles you know that I always put lights first before everything else. Since everyone is now using the Olympus TG-7, it would be

www.housingcamera.com

Best Strobe for Underwater - The Ultimate Strobe Guide (Updated!) | Mozaik UW

If you landed here, it means that you are ready for the next step in underwater photography, and boy what a huge step it is! For those who still don't

www.housingcamera.com

Sea & Sea YS-01 Vs Inon S-2000 - Underwater Strobe Comparison | Mozaik UW

Both strobes are very popular. What are the main pros and cons between them and which is better value for money?

www.housingcamera.com

However, if you are only interested in macro, then the Backscatter MF-2 is extremely nice. It is just not very powerful.

 

[GustavSan]

Thanks a bunch. I am going to check out those articles.

As for your counter-questions , my first reply would be Reef Scenes 100%....but I know that most of the sites I will visit probably not have the best reef conditions. Most dive sites in Malaysia cannot be compared to dive sites in Sulawesi or Ambon, at least not the ones I will visit this year. That said, though I am not particularly interested in marco shots, I do like seeing them afterwards as a reminder of what great critters I saw. It might also simply be the best way to get some crisp pictures with my setup, as I know that the TG-7 should do great with macro.

Is there any solution that caters to the both? .

As for arms and such. I think I'd prefer a flexible arm, but mainly as this would mean less loose parts to travel around with in my mind. I would not mind starting out with 1 strobe, but with the option the expand at a later stage should I really get the hang of it.

 

[dreifish]

Try the Inon S-220s if you want something compact yet still decent for wide angle. Next step up would be the Sea & Sea YS-D3 in my view. After that, price and size increases significantly for improvements that are usually only relevant to niche scenarios.

Inon S-220: A SERIOUSLY impressive (tiny) wide angle strobe

I've finally gotten around to testing the INON S-220, and the results really surprised me. Despite its size, it's a really capable wide angle strobe that can (almost) keep up with the likes of the Sea & Sea YS-D3 and even best (coming close to the Marelux Apollo 3) it when it comes to continu...

waterpixels.net

 

[David Haas]

Small Inon strobe(s) is all most people will ever need especially with a compact.

I shot for years (since 2016) with two small Inon S2000 strobes on a lightweight dual tray and flex arms. Both long (12") arms and sometimes the short arms as shown.

Flare them out and get close (1.5' to maybe 4.5' with any wide angle lensmounted) and they work fine.

Recent years I've become extremely lazy shooting only one Inon S2000 (or an Inon S220) mounted in the cold shoe of my Fantasea FG7X II housing.

Two photos of me with those set ups taken by Janna Michele Bighouse at our local quarry where practice before any trip ensures we come home with some nice pictures! (Thanks Michele!)

Just a few ideas of choices to keep it simple.

Search for my name for samples shooting either of these set ups

David Haas