Question Sea & Sea YS-D3 Duo vs. Backscatter Hybrid Flash HF1

[thamardraper]

I am a (very) amateur photographer - home is Southern California, and I do about 50% of my dives here and 50% in warmer (clearer) water. I have some old Sea Dragon strobes that occasionally don’t work - so I think they are on their way out… so I am looking for replacements.
I have a TG6 which I am very happy with and take a mixture of not very wide angle and macro. I’ve dabbled in video but prob need a GoPro to make it worthwhile.

I am looking at the Sea & Sea YS-D3 Duo vs. Backscatter Hybrid Flash HF1 - the Sea & Sea are less expensive and lighter (good for travel), but I kind of like the Backscatter Hybrid and the option of video lights where strobes are not convenient, or if I want to take videos. But the extra weight and extra cost is not optimal.
Anybody out there used both or reviewed both? I would love to know your thoughts.

 

[PatW]

The YS-D3 does have the ability to operate as flood lights. I have only used them as impromptu focus lights. I sometimes use the flood mode to pinpoint the area of the strobe. There is an advantage to using a lighter strobe. I used to use the big Ikelite strobes. They are bigger and heavier than the YS-D3. I rarely altered the placement of the Ike strobes because they were big and unwieldly. I adjust the strobe placement of the YS-D3 far more often.