Noob needs strobe suggestion?

[Queenofgeek]

I need a bit of strobe advice and I'm hoping ya'all can help me out.

I plan to get a housing for my Canon 40D SLR one day (Model: ike.6870.50)

For now, I'm using my Canon 950IS (point and shoot) in housing unit Canon WP-DC15

I'd like to buy a beginner Ikelite strobe package (this week) that will work with my point and shoot, but will also work with my SLR when and if I decide to splurge on the $1500 housing unit for it.

I'm a new diver and know pretty much nothing about underwater photography or these lighting units ... I do know that I need better lighting though. I prefer not to get too complicated right off the bat, but I also want a decent setup that I can possibly build upon.

Price is and isn't an issue

Thanks!

Shannon

 

[DivePhotoGuide]

Remember that photography is all about light. You have have the best camera, but without good lighting your images will still not look right. If you want to capture vivid color and textures, you need good lighting. Unlike any other piece of equipment your strobes can move from system to system. You're best off getting 2 strobes as well. Start with whatever your budget can allow, keeping in mind that water absorbs light very quickly and the stronger the strobes the more shooting options you'll have. Also, the less you'll spend in the long run, as you will want to upgrade if you get small strobes now.

 

[Queenofgeek]

Thanks, DivePhotoGuide ... do you happen to have a particular strobe setup in mind? I've looked at the different packages and my head is just spinning. Would love for someone to say: Buy this

 

[DivePhotoGuide]

If you're looking at Ikelite, think about the DS160's. They should keep you happy for sometime.

 

[ABQdiver]

Shannon,

The problem (as you will find out) that not all gear plays nice with each other. I choose the Ikelite system because of it's price point and good reputation.

If you're looking for additional lighting that will work with your present UW camera and housing then you will need an additional sync cord and optical pickup that you will not need if you go with the DSLR housing.

The best approach with a DSLR housing is to use the cameras TTL capabilities for flash. You'll get "much better" pictures with much less stress and bother while you're diving. (heck, one less task load is a GOOD thing)

For good and professional advice I would give Reef Photo a jingle. They know their stuff inside and out and will give the best suggestions to help you on your qwest!

 

[bvanant]

If you are going to be serious about getting a housing for the 40D then I would strongly recommend getting the best strobe(s) you can. A lot depends on what type of photos you want to take. If you are doing mostly macro with a tiny bit of wideangle, then you don't need very big strobes and you might think about a single strobe. Single strobe lighting for macro is both fun to work on and can give you incredible images. If you do lots of wideangle stuff then you need big, powerful strobes, since as Jason points out water absorbs light quite well. Other issues are how much you travel. If you travel a lot then strobes that use AA batteries (like the Inon z240) are more simple to travel with than strobes with dedicated chargers since you can use the AA chargers for your other stuff as well. So the short answer is it depends, but I think you should not get really low budget strobes at first if you are serious about moving to the 40D housing, you will end up selling them.

 

[cybercord]

You mention a key word "New Diver". That help in many factors, nothing to do with your equiptment. Being a new diver and having allot of equiptment that is NEW also, will cause 2 issues. 1: Slow your progress of improving your dive habits and learning dive practices;2: You will try to take nice pictures and that will take time also, but you will not be able to focus to improve either. I suggest a course of action. Buy the best gear you want, become very aquainted with it on land. Buy a simpe cheap strobe, say like a SL 960 Digital Version and learn how to use the HW in manual mode. 2: Take a Peak Performance class to help you learn to stay neutral in the water. Y

You say nothing of your experience with a camera. Taking pictures in the water is very different than land. Nothing stays still. What I know after 30yrs of photography only helps take pictures UW, but it is still a big learning curve while diving to take GOOD pictures. A great camera will only be as good as the photographer. Take a look at this link at cybercord.com diiving in St lucia that I shot with a Canon 630 and a Sl analog strobe with a small guide lite for focusing. Good luck and remeber to take as many pictures as you can UW.