Oly SP-350, which strobe should I use?

[TheDavil]

I was in the same boat and had no idea which way was up...

So I called Reef Photo and talked to Richard. He listened to what I needed and what my price range was, and recommended the Inon D-2000. So now I've got a D-2000 on the way, with ULCS tray/handle/arms/etc.

A+ service - he was thorough without giving a confusing amount of information. He explained a lot about how the strobe works which made complete sense at the time, but I've slept since then and have forgotten just enough to turn it back into "push the button and a really bright light flashes for a short amount of time". I'm sure everything will become clearer as I experiment with it...

So anyway, short story long, my suggestion would be to give them a call.

David

 

[Video rookie]

Ikelite housing and DS-125 here for our SP-350

 

[jlyle]

Ditto, here.

 

[friscuba]

Amazon.com: Olympus UFL 1 - Underwater flash - 14 (m): Camera & Photo
Olympus just came out with a new underwater flash unit that looks like the traditional underwater flash which will fit on the SP series housings and is TTL straight off the hotshoe. If I hadn't already gone a different route, this is the way I'd go. It's running about 225-240 online.

 

[under water]

Already ordered it and it comes with an offbrand fiber optic cable, I will see how well it works, and order a Sea & Sea later if I need to.

That cable from the guy in HK works fine. It's just a normal HiFi optical cable with one of the ends bare. Works great with my Canon SP700IS
Strobe fires every time and in sync with the shutter if set to the second setting.

 

[WOODMAN]

For the money, this sounds pretty good. But I have to say that I splurged and got two D125's for my c5050 in its Ikelite housing. Price-mama mia! But quality never comes cheap, I guess.... Woody

 

[gary-ramey]

Amazon.com: Olympus UFL 1 - Underwater flash - 14 (m): Camera & Photo
Olympus just came out with a new underwater flash unit that looks like the traditional underwater flash which will fit on the SP series housings and is TTL straight off the hotshoe. If I hadn't already gone a different route, this is the way I'd go. It's running about 225-240 online.

Actually the ttl on this strobe is via the fiber optic connection, not the hotshoe. The photo in your link shows it on a small mounting arm that is attached to the hotshoe. I called Olympus and had them test this with my camera as well as the SP350. It works fine. The only drawback is the recycle time isn't blazing (not that important unless you're a DSLR user) and the guide number of 14 makes it a little underpowered for anything outside of macro, IMO. It does work in tandem with a housed FL20 which would give decent coverage for a P&S. The strobe is made by Sea&Sea so the design is sound.