Sea & Sea YS-D1?

[Steve P]

Anyone get a chance to try out this new strobe yet? I'm looking for a strobe to compliment new Olympus Pen camera & housing.

I used Nikonos system from mid-80's all the way to 2005 but am finally going digital. Was considering Oly. UFL-2 or Sea & Sea YS-01, but the YS-D1 looks to be a nice, albeit new, option.

 

[t-mac]

Can't help you, but I'm curious too so I'm posting to push this back up to the top.

 

[Hollywoodivers]

We just got these strobes in ...and I only have 3 left.. Much Brighter than inon z-240 and only a little bigger. Guide number 32 ! I am impressed !

 

[scubasprout]

Besides the much smaller size, how does it compare to the YS250 Pro?

 

[mjh]

The D1 does look to be a very promising strobe. Like others we have sold all of ours with more to come next week. Sea&Sea has aimed this light directly at the Inon Z240. Yes it has a guide number of 32 equal to that of the YS250 in a package 1/3 the size!

The D1 has a single flash tube vs. three in the YS110a and the circular in the YS250. The YSD1 without the diffuser has a beam angle of about 80 degrees. You put on the first diffuser and the Guide Number goes to 24 (equal to the Z240) and beam angle of about 100 degrees, again equal to the Z240 without a diffuser. The Z240 drops .5 stop when you and the Inon diffuser. The second diffuser gives you a beam angle of 120 degrees and Guide Number of about 20. In addition it’s duel TTL system looks very functional. The YS250 without the diffuser has a beam angle of 105 degrees.

So the strategy would seem to be to provide a strobe about the size of the Z240, with a guide number significantly higher without the diffuser and a little stronger than the Z240 when both have diffusers on. Makes sense. FYI the YS110a now is discontinued.

Hope that helps.

 

[terson]

The D1 does look to be a very promising strobe.
In addition it’s duel TTL system looks very functional. FYI the YS110a now is discontinued.
Hope that helps.

Thanks MJH for your help.
Have you guys at Optical Ocean had a chance to test the new TTL systems of the D1? I'm 'really' interested in getting a couple for my Olympus Pen set-up but I remember that there were a few niggles with S&S's D-TTL system when it first came out and I'm hoping that there won't be any bugs hidden in the new set-up?
I'm thinking that the 80degree beam will be really handy for macro when the power is wound right down with just a blip of light?
Sea and Sea are making a very bold move by discontinuing the 110a so soon, waaay before the D1 has been accepted and proven in the field. . .
IMHO. . .

Bruce

 

[mjh]

Bruce, we have not had a chance to dive them yet as many were pre-sold prior to arrival and the rest went in the first couple of days. Hopefully we will get out with them next week True about the D1 needing to be field tested but reality is when diving on a reef or wreck with variable topography how many of us will be able to tell the difference of 80 degrees vs. 100 degrees??? It will be interesting to find out. Once the D1 was announced the writing was on the wall for the 110a, hard to rationalize not spending the extra $100 or so to go from a 22 guide number to a 32, in a smaller strobe. As to TTL another thing to play with, most of us in the shop shoot in Manual but maybe this system will change that, lol.

 

[DSR-3]

I noticed that Scott from Bluewater Photo had a pair on his rig in Anilao last week, so I hope to read what he has to say about them soon. They do look like a nice package.

 

[Steve P]

Thanks for the info, mjh. As I understand the D1 will essentially replace the YS110a and is aimed at Inon Z240 buyers. Though I'm not familiar with either, based on what I've read, the D1 also seems comparable to the Olympus UFL-2. Both priced the same, have similar guide number range, TTL / Slave modes and variable flash power in manual mode.

Since I just purchased the Olympus Pen PM1 it seems the Oly strobe would be a good match. Do you know if Sea & Sea fabricates these? Couple of downsides with the Oly. strobe are 5 second recycle time & only having capacity for 2 batteries. I think the D1 will hold 4 batteries and recycle time on the strobe is < 2 seconds. The D1 looks pretty nice, but I'd love to get some reviews before I purchase one. This will have to happen fairly soon as I'm heading to Chuuk & Palau in July

 

[coralgirl]

Will the 32GN power able to light wide angle photo with 1 (just d1) strobe?