Strobe Recommendation

[f3nikon]

OK f3, please bear with me 'cause I don't know a lot about this stuff. The best I could find is the A630 and housing for $400.

I went back and read your first post. I guess what I don't understand is why I need a strobe with the SD800 and don't need one with the A630. I thought I would need a strobe either way since the internal flash would be inadequet so it would be an extra $240 on top of the housing and strobe for the camera.

Do you mind explaining a little further?

JR

No problem, U/W you will be shooting at very close distances, your SD800 in auto mode cannot control the flash output fast enough to prevent overexposure. The A630/640 has manual mode control so its flash output can be adjusted lower, for close up use.

Second problem on the SD800 in auto is that since the internal flash output cannot be lowered you use up your battery much faster when using the flash and since you have to fire the external strobe with the SD800's internal flash it to will go dead before your external flash.

The A630/640 uses 4 AA batteries plus manual control of the flash and aperture, so you can use the camera's internal flash until you decide to buy an external strobe. Down the line you will need an external strobe for most U/W shooting.

"since the internal flash would be inadequet"

This is a MYTH that the strobe peddlers what you to think. Because as I stated before, when shooting U/W the camera to subject distance has to be very close, so close that even the camera's internal flash can easily OVER expose the image. The key is controlling the flash output. Good Luck

 

[cmnative]

If I may butt in here.........
I just purchased a Canon A720is with the WD16 housing. The problem I see already is the lower right hand corner of all pictures taken shows a darkened area. It is from the housing nose that protrudes out far enough to create a shade/shadow with the internal flash. I see a need for an external strobe....there appears to be adequate light output from the internal flash, but the light is not even. I have read this somewhere before on this site, but haven't found it again to reinforce my findings. I have to believe at greater depths or overcast days, the shadowing effect would be stronger.

 

[f3nikon]

If I may butt in here.........
I just purchased a Canon A720is with the WD16 housing. The problem I see already is the lower right hand corner of all pictures taken shows a darkened area. It is from the housing nose that protrudes out far enough to create a shade/shadow with the internal flash. I see a need for an external strobe....there appears to be adequate light output from the internal flash, but the light is not even. I have read this somewhere before on this site, but haven't found it again to reinforce my findings. I have to believe at greater depths or overcast days, the shadowing effect would be stronger.

You will find it here:

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/strobes-lighting/201454-strobe-questions.html

It is not a problem if you use the diffuser that comes with the A630/640 Canon housing. Which is why I got this type of Canon housing.

 

[jbb]

Hi Joe;

You can just use the internal flash, and get great shots,a s long as you get close to the subject. You must be a good diver to do this.
Alternatively you could get a flash that has a metering of it's own, like an epoque 230ES. This is a very strong flash and cheap too, and can be fired using a fiber cable that you stick over the place where the flash sits on your housing. Works for sure, but may require manual adjsutment on the strobe output; which is possible with this strobe.

Karel

G9-Ikelite housing-230ES/150DSalpha.

I agree. I got some great shots with my old canon S400 and canon housing but they were mostly macro and no flash shots. I would get used to using your camera in this way and try adjusting the white balance. You do need to get used to the added skills of diving and dealing with a camera underwater. I only added an underwater strobe after getting a g7 and canon case that has manual controlls and really made it necessary to light any sort of marine life underwater.

 

[Ryan]

The only strobes that can be paired with this camera without causing undue frustration are the Inon D-2000 and Ikelite AF35. Pick whcih ever one fits your budget, but realize the Inon strobe has more future utility. S-TTL is amazing, and I regularly use it with a Nikon D80, Nikon D200, and Canon Rebel XTi in housings that have a provision for firing strobes optically.

 

[Dannybot]

If I may butt in here.........
I just purchased a Canon A720is with the WD16 housing. The problem I see already is the lower right hand corner of all pictures taken shows a darkened area. It is from the housing nose that protrudes out far enough to create a shade/shadow with the internal flash. I see a need for an external strobe....there appears to be adequate light output from the internal flash, but the light is not even. I have read this somewhere before on this site, but haven't found it again to reinforce my findings. I have to believe at greater depths or overcast days, the shadowing effect would be stronger.

I have found that the anemic flash on my Olympus fe230 is better in low light situations. I attribute this to the fact that the flash does not ahve to put out as much light to overcome the ambient light.

The flash has a short range, but the external strobes only double the range of hte internal one. The biggest advantage is the backscatter you get with the onboard flash. Offsteeing the flash will reduce this.

I have gotten some really good shots with only the internal flash, and a lot on not so good shots, you just need to experiment with the flash settings and scene mode for best results, then decide down the road if you really need an external flash.