Fisheye 1000DX Is it needed?

[scubabjs]

Hey guys,

I have a question that perhaps some of you can add some light to!!

I have a compact rig (2 years old) with a Inon D-2000 strobe, it works great, and the
focus light function is a really useful feature, and normally works pretty well for getting enough light on the subject for taking the shot, but it's not perfect. I am heading out on another trip and was debating getting a dedicated focus light.
That will also act as the dive light for night dives, since it's hard to hold both...

I sorta am following the idea of, all the "addons" to the rig will move to the
next camera so I am trying to buy high end gear, I have been looking hard at
the Fisheye 1000, but it's an high end option (another D-2000) I take still's not
video, should I perhaps just get a cheap-o focus light and forget the Fisheye?

I am questioning if I will get the value out of the Fisheye, since the strobe a pretty
good built in light. Comments?

Bjs

 

[Nemrod]

I think you could make do with a lot less light than that. If you upgrade cameras are you staying with a P&S or moving to something else? I would rather get a second D2000 and get a UK light or something in that range. Especially since, you, like me, have no interest in video clips why spend so much money on a light?

N

 

[Kilili]

The Fisheye is an expensive solution. I have one, but much prefer the Intova SuperNova, which is half the price. I've also had the Fisheye flood once, after 20-30 dives, for no reason I could determine, and had to go back to Japan for service. Also, the Fisheye has an annoying habit of self-dimming, apparently to conserve energy or if too hot. Really have never understood why, but it seems to happen at the most opportune times. It is one purchase I regret.

 

[bvanant]

In general, I think dedicated focus lights are good solutions. Very seldom is it appropriate to point your strobe directly at your subject (Get Martin Edge's 4th edition) so modeling lights on the strobe are generally not the best answer. The solutions to focus lights range from very cheap (Fantasea Nano to Expensive Fisheye). I have tried most of them and really like the Ivdeo light at $300 or so, only 500 lumens but lasts a long time. A bit more expensive but very light and very sexy is the L&M Sola 600 which is gorgeous. The FIX 500 is also great and uses AA batteries not a proprietary battery. Lots of folk around here in LA use fantasea 44 LED flashlights but for me they aren't quite bright enough.
In any case any of the dedicated focus lights should be fine. The one really NICE thing about the FIX lights is that they are fully adjustable; the only ones that I know about that are.

Bill

 

[scubabjs]

Nothing to read here... see below...

 

[scubabjs]

I think that the next upgrade will be the expensive one. The Canon 7D looks like an amazing camera, great stills, great video. Just the cost of entry is so amazingly high when you move away from the compact P&S.

I thank everybody for their viewpoints, I have been looking for lights in the 500 lumens, $300 range. The Fisheye 500, Big Blue 3x15, Intova SuperNova. I really like the variable power of the Fisheye, but all the reviews say, get the 1000 not the 500, night and day difference...

Sigh....

 

[supersand]

Another to consider is the Inon LE550-w I have a couple for video and they are surprisingly bright for size and price.

 

[Kilili]

After having my Fisheye 1000DX flood after 30-40 divings, and reading the review for the L&M Sola 600, it looks to me like the way to go.
Review: Light & Motion’s SOLA600 focus light :: Wetpixel.com

It's completely sealed, and has both red and white leds.

If you do night diving, the bigger lights attract so many worms in the water that it becomes impossible to photograph anything. You could try making red filters from plastic sheeting, and see how that works, but then you've lost the bright beam, which is nice to have at times. I'll try home-made filters in Nov and see whether it's effective.

 

[scubabjs]

Thanks for the input, I have read the reviews on the SOLA 600. Spoken with the guys at backscatter, and moved forward with the SOLA 600. Lets hope I made the proper choice.

Thanks Again

Bjs