azscubadude
Contributor
I'm a seasoned wildlife photographer and decided to get back into underwater photography. I used to do a lot of underwater film photography so you get an idea of how long it has been (and my age). As a single traveler it's getting harder and harder lugging around all the gear needed to get to the Caribbean (not counting the airline restrictions).
I purchased a Canon G12 and Ikelite housing with a DS-161 strobe for the strobe and video combo since the G12 has HD video. I would like to add a second strobe and am torn between adding another DS-161 or stepping down to a DS-51 because of the weight.
I am looking a bit ahead because although I have a Canon Mark III and 7D I don't really want to go that route because of the added weight in traveling. If I did add a DSLR housing it would probably be the 7D as I already have all the best lenses needed for underwater photography and the 7D has HD video where the Mark III doesn't. Although I don't think that would happen, I learned a long time ago to never say never.
I want to stay with the Ikelite strobes because of the TTL advantage they offer.
So, my options are (for my current G12 setup)...
1. Add a second DS-161 to my kit.
- Pro.. top of the line and leaves open the idea of adding a 7D housing in the future. Also already have the charger and will have two battery packs if I decide to use only one strobe.
- Con.. weight, might be overkill for the G12 and not considering adding the 7D at this time where the two 161's would be great.
2. Add a single DS-51 along with the DS-161 and have a mixed combo.
- Pro.. weight and proper lighting although not as powerful on one side.
- Con.. not sure if the mixed combo will give me what I'm looking for.
3. Add two DS-51 strobes.
- Pro.. weight, packing and cost (can purchase two DS-51's for less than another DS-161). Can leave the DS-161 at home and the two DS-51 are lighter than the single DS-161.
- Con.. not really sure if there is a con other than power of the DS-161. But using a single high powered strobe vs two lower powered strobes seems to give a bit of an advantage in proper lighting to the dual DS-51's.
I've been kicking this around for quite some time and can't seem to come up with enough of an advantage with the above options to sway me in one direction or the other so any thoughts would be very much appreciated.
Thanks.
I purchased a Canon G12 and Ikelite housing with a DS-161 strobe for the strobe and video combo since the G12 has HD video. I would like to add a second strobe and am torn between adding another DS-161 or stepping down to a DS-51 because of the weight.
I am looking a bit ahead because although I have a Canon Mark III and 7D I don't really want to go that route because of the added weight in traveling. If I did add a DSLR housing it would probably be the 7D as I already have all the best lenses needed for underwater photography and the 7D has HD video where the Mark III doesn't. Although I don't think that would happen, I learned a long time ago to never say never.
I want to stay with the Ikelite strobes because of the TTL advantage they offer.
So, my options are (for my current G12 setup)...
1. Add a second DS-161 to my kit.
- Pro.. top of the line and leaves open the idea of adding a 7D housing in the future. Also already have the charger and will have two battery packs if I decide to use only one strobe.
- Con.. weight, might be overkill for the G12 and not considering adding the 7D at this time where the two 161's would be great.
2. Add a single DS-51 along with the DS-161 and have a mixed combo.
- Pro.. weight and proper lighting although not as powerful on one side.
- Con.. not sure if the mixed combo will give me what I'm looking for.
3. Add two DS-51 strobes.
- Pro.. weight, packing and cost (can purchase two DS-51's for less than another DS-161). Can leave the DS-161 at home and the two DS-51 are lighter than the single DS-161.
- Con.. not really sure if there is a con other than power of the DS-161. But using a single high powered strobe vs two lower powered strobes seems to give a bit of an advantage in proper lighting to the dual DS-51's.
I've been kicking this around for quite some time and can't seem to come up with enough of an advantage with the above options to sway me in one direction or the other so any thoughts would be very much appreciated.
Thanks.
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