Need Strobe Reccomendation for Oly C-series Cam

[dlwalke]

I have been planning on getting a strobe for some time. Many many months ago, when I was investigating this, I think I might have decided that an Inon D2000 might be the one to get. FWIW, I have an Olympus C5060WZ. I don't remember now what made me think that the D2000 was a good one for me, and am just wondering now (as I am going to order a strobe of one sort or another in the next few days) if that still seems like the right choice. I enjoy photography, but am not so into it that I want to do much fussing around with settings and so on. So simpler is better, if there is much variability in that regard with respect to strobes. There is also a D-2000S for about $100 less that "has all the power and performance of the D-2000 strobe, but without a Focus Light or External Auto Mode". If I go with this line, should I pay the x-tra $$ for the one D2000 (no S). Or are both of these overkill for my purposes? Words like "hotshoe" and "TTL" and almost but not quite greek to me, although I just read a little blurb halfway through writing this (I went to Inons websie) that says if you use it in pre-flash mode, you just set it and forget it. Can it really be this easy?

Any suggestions or advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Dave

 

[lostinlobsterville]

Hi I have the same camera and the reason that I picked up this camera is it is a good starter camera and the housing the PT-020 wil also house the C-8080wz. If I ever want to upgrade.

 

[AndyT]

Hi I have the same camera and the reason that I picked up this camera is it is a good starter camera and the housing the PT-020 wil also house the C-8080wz. If I ever want to upgrade.

Nope !!! The PT-020 will only house the 5060, the PT-027 will house the 5060 & 7070.

 

[gert7to3]

Here are a couple of sites to peruse for strobes.

http://www.digideep.com/english/underwater/photo/strobe

http://www.digitaldiver.net/strobes.php

 

[Gilligan]

I would strongly suggest you buy a strobe with a focus light. It is an invaluable addition.

I have the older Inon D-180 with the focus light. I can't begin to tell you the number of shots that I used the focus light on. The diffuser attachment includes a small red lens to convert the focus light to a red light, which comes in very handy for night dives so as not to freak out the subject with a bright light. The extra cost of the D-2000 with the focus light is worth every penny of it.

The Sea & Sea YS-110 also has a focus light.

If you purchase the Inon strobe with the fiber optic kit I suggest you modify it so that you can still use the cameras strobe for situations where the external strobe just won't fit. More on that here.

 

[WOODMAN]

My Ikelite D125's also have the "modeling" light feature, and I also am wondering how I ever did without them. They can even function as a dive light, but you do have to be careful of their power when getting close to a skittish subject.

 

[dlwalke]

Thanks for the advice. One question. What is so invaluable about a focus light? I'm not sure I even know what it does (which I guess is shorthand for I am not sure what it does).

 

[Gilligan]

Thanks for the advice. One question. What is so invaluable about a focus light? I'm not sure I even know what it does (which I guess is shorthand for I am not sure what it does).

The focus light will help you in aiming the strobe at the target. It will also light up a target in the event it is in a dark area and the camera lens is unable to focus. At night it will do the same only you will need it for every shot unless you want to carry an extra dive light just for that purpose in addition to carrying your large dive light. The focus light can also have the red filter on it. The convenience of having it built into the strobe is well worth it. The Inon focus light can be turned on for 10 second intervals or left on until you turn it off. Either way it goes off automatically when the strobe fires so as not to be in the photo, also a valuable feature.