Olympus 8010 Pnt-n-Sht w/ PT-048... Will external strobe work right?

[-=Striker=-]

Hey guys, been a while since I've made a post but figured someone may be able to provide some insight.

I'm looking into getting an external strobe for my Point n Shoot camera. Reason being, I'm working on my Master's Thesis and part of my research involves taking underwater photos of artificial nesting sites on artificial reefs. I'm going to be using image analysis software later to analyze the photos for egg biomass/counts so I'm going to need some pretty clean and clear photos.

I have a little Olympus tough 8010 with the Olympus PT-048 housing and it takes reasonable pictures. Not going for photo contests, but they're relatively clear. However the issue I have, as is the usual case I suppose, is that the quality of the pictures are somewhat washed out due to lack of appropriate lighting. I'm going to be working in an average of 6-8 m depth and i'm suspecting i'll have some lighting issues at that depth w/o a proper strobe.

My main question is whether or not anyone knows if there's something reasonable I can use?

Olympus lists the UFL-1 external strobe as an "accessory" with that housing, however I don't think the camera has the optical output for proper wired syncing (can't remember what that's called off the top of my head, sorry). Would I still be OK using that (I.E. will a photoreceptor on the strobe itself activate off the dissipated flash on the housing at the right time) or am I screwed hoping for any sort of automated and appropriately timed strobe with that camera?

TLDR - Can I use a strobe properly with an Olympus 8010 w/ PT-048 housing or do i need to buy a whole new setup.

Thanks!
~Striker

 

[ScubaSteve1962]

yes you can use the Olympus UFL-1 Underwater Flash with UltraLite Bracket Bundle $459.00 this can be found on amazon, you'll also need this cable Olympus PTCB-EO2 Underwater Fiber Optic Cable

 

[-=Striker=-]

How does the cable work than? Is it something that mounts in front of the diffusor? There's not port whereas i can see on the housing to use with a fiberoptic output and i'm not entirely sure the camera supports TTL (i think that's what it's called)

 

[ScubaSteve1962]

It mounts to an adapter that slides over the flash on the housing, it may have came with your housing, and the strobe. the flash on the camera activates the strobe try this site they say they have it in stock Olympus PTCB-EO2 Underwater Fiber Optic Cable PFCA-01 Fiber Optic Cable Adapter I have the same camera and housing, with the ufl-1 bracket and cable. It works great.

 

[-=Striker=-]

I'll be damned... that's what that thing was... I do have the Adapter plate that slips over the diffusor.

Awesome, I can start seriously looking into a rig now than

I guess the next major question than may be whether or not that strobe is really a reasonable one to go with. I assume majority of external strobes work via fiber-optic control so is there anything wrong with going with a different brand or is it best to stick to proprietary hardware so everything "talks" to each other properly?

 

[ScubaSteve1962]

I have the ufl 1 I think Ikelite makes some that will work. others should work also.

 

[-=Striker=-]

Awesome!

Thanks for all the great info

 

[JackConnick]

I sell all of the above and IMHO the Oly UFL1 is underpowered and overpriced. It is a rebranded YS17 Sea & Sea strobe with a GN of 12 and a very old design - Sea & sea dicontinued it a few years ago.

The Sea & Sea YS-02 is only $319, has a 100x100 degree beam angle with a GN of 18-20, with more adjustability and a faster recycle time. We include it as an option with our Single Modular Lighting package with everything you need; strobe, arms, handle & tray for only $478. It will work very well with your setup and is powerful enough to work with a better camera in the future.

Jack

 

[ScubaSteve1962]

BTW if you decide not to go with the bracket, you will need an arm to attach the strobe to the housing. Forgot to put that in my other post.
Underwater Short Arm PTSA-02
Underwater Long Arm PTSA-03

 

[-=Striker=-]

I'll probably end up going with a full rack setup. I had a buddy who was borrowing his dad's strobe and rack and he let me play around with it. didn't have the sync cord or any of that so wasn't quite getting it to work right but i liked the feel of a full rack. Sometimes holding the little housing is a bit difficult to get a good solid pictures (esp. w/ 5 mm gloves on ha!)

I'll have to look into some racks/strobe setups.

Are the mounts for strobe relatively universal or is it again, this strobe HAS to go with this rack and such. Again it seems like majority of this stuff can be pieced together for whomevers personal choice but again just checking.

Thanks for the heads up Jack! I like that Sea-&-Sea YS-02 and from what i've read with the UFL-1, everyone says the same. Just go with the proper Sea-&-Sea and call it a day and it'll be better in the long run