Help with New UW Digital Setup

[Cabo]

I have to dial in the power on my strobe. You have 1->7 for power and there are times when I see in the LCD that I had it either blown out or a bit dark. I'm getting decent about the setting now. My complaint about power is on wide-angle shots. I'm happy with the power on normal 3-5' subject pics where the flash doesn't have to cover a very wide area. Broad wall shots is where the 25 just doesn't quite have enough.

The S400 last year was around $360 and the case was $120. I don't remember where I ordered the camera from. maybe E-cost? My new S500 was $418 from buydig.com The case came from bhphotovideo.com.
The strobe setup came from ScubaToys.com. They had everything in stock and had the best price. ScubaToys is great. The strobe/fiber optic cable/mounting arm/base was around $500(as much as the camera/case). All together I was at about $1000 for the S400 setup, which was a hard sell for me to get clearance from my wife.

I just checked on ScubaToys.com and the YS-25DX they have is $525 and is not full automatic.(so it's just like mine) I'm not sure how the Auto versions will work. I see Sea&Sea still list the 90DX as well as 90DX Auto.

 

[fishpick]

Cabo,
Your picture of the whole set-up is perfect... I'm working on putting exactly that into my hands... already have the camera and love it! Would it be too much trouble to list the part numbers of the gear?
For instance I know I need these 2 things:
WP-DC800 - case
YS-25DX - strobe
but what about the numbers for the fiber optic cable, the built in strobe shield, the base and the strobe arm... or is any of that included... also the carry on box is AWESOME... please share more about that.
I have spent hours looking at your photos... now I want to go take them!
Thanks in advance!

 

[Cabo]

ScubaToys YS25DX strobe package comes with everything I think (verify this). This is where I got mine and it contained the base, arm, fiber optic cord and the flash head. $525.

http://www.scubatoys.com/store/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=YS25DX

I don't know the base plate/arm part numbers since I got it with the above package.

BHPhotoVideo.com has the WP-DC800 for $169.95. That's a bit more than I paid last year, but not much.


I don't remember the Pelican Case number but I'll look tonight. It was the smallest I could get that everything would fit into.

Good luck

 

[Dee]

Cabo....you can't expect any strobe to be effective past 3-5ft, no matter how strong it is. With WA shots, you can light a point of interest in the near front but that all you can expect the strobe to do. All you'll do is highlight backscatter.

 

[Shader]

I have been looking at stuff at Underwater Photography.com which has the newer Sea and Sea Strobes(Auto) and all the components. They are probably not the cheapest but you can look at all the newer items and accesories.

http://www.underwaterphotography.com/Store/App/F.asp

Cabo thanx again for sharing your setup and advice.

 

[Kong]

Edited to be from Cabo.. My home computer logs me in as Kong.. Sorry

Fishpick. The case I use is the Pelican 1450.

Dee.. Thanks for the info.. Maybe I'm not so bummed about my 25DX after all. I know there is no way that I will get clearance from the boss/wife to replace my strobe with the 90 anyway.

Shader. Thanks for the link. I'll add it to my favs. Remember that my advice is worth only slightly more than what I get paid for it...Squat! That's why I use the S400.. Point-n-shoot..

 

[fishpick]

Thanks for the great info so quickly... Now I have a couple of followup questions.
Looking at the YS25DX package vs YS90DX (auto?) http://www.scubatoys.com/store/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=YS25DX or http://www.scubatoys.com/store/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=YS90DX

I am really a point and click kinda of guy (hence the love for the s400)... Am I understanding correctly that the 90 will "know" how strong to make the strobe and the 25 I have to dail in for each shot?
Also, if any strobe only reaches out 3-5 feet, what's the benefit of a bigger strobe... meaning what does it give me other than a larger Visa bill at the end of the month.