Strobe Thoughts: Inon S-2000 or Ikelite DS-161?

[SF Diver MT]

I am stuck trying to decide between two strobes to go with my Canon S-90 and Ikelite housing.

The Inon S-2000 setup would run me $791 for my housing and the Ikelite DS-161 would total $1,190 from Backscatter. Based on the underwater strobe comparison posted on Digital Diver the two strobes look fairly similar.

Inon S-2000:
GN: 20 (Air)
Color Temp: 5500 ° Kelvin
Coverage 95° H x 105° V/ (with diffuser 105/105).
Flashes per charge: 450
Recycle Time: 1.5 seconds
Size: 3.27 x 2.52 x 4.17 in
Weight: 0.65 lb. (Air)
Rated to: 328 ft.
Manual Settings: 12
No movie or focus light.

Ikelite DS-161:
GN: 24 (Air)
Energy: 160 watt-sec.
Color Temp: 4500 ° Kelvin
Coverage 100° H x 100° V
Flashes per charge: 225 (Proprietary Battery).
Recycle Time: 1.5 seconds
Size: 3.78 x 3.78 x 7.05 in
Weight: 2.87 lb. (Air)
Manual Settings: 10
Both a movie and focus light.

Thus, the Inon is lighter and will be easier to transport but lacks a focus light (which I have heard is not necessary) and has no movie light. I will start shooting macro but want to have the ability to shoot wide angle in the future.

I would rather purchase the cheaper Inon and save $400 but am worried about outgrowing the Inon and then someday having to purchase a larger light to capture wide angle shots. Does anyone have any advice or can provide any feedback on shooting with either of these strobes? If so, is one strobe sufficient or do most UW photographers out there always shoot with two?

I am also considering an Ikelite W-20 Wide-Angle Conversion lens for wide angle shots. Has anyone used this lens and can provide feedback? I don't want to purchase one of these strobes and then end up having to post to the "what's the piece of equipment that you have most regretted" thread.

Thanks!

 

[Puffer Fish]

I happen to use YS110's, but like the Inon strobe a lot.

My strobes have a focus light, and unless I have to, do not use it. If you like scaring fish, just leave the lights on. They are nice however, for aligning where the strobes are pointed, but there are other ways to do that. Night diving, the focus lights can be nice, but even then, I tend to turn them off.

Regarding a video light....would suggest one of the bigblue lights. I have the 170 lumen, and it has a very nice wide, soft beam. At just over $100 if you are just using it to add color, it works very well. If you want to actually light up the world, then you will need a much stronger light than either the Ike or the small Bigblue (at a much higher cost). They come with the ball for attaching to arms, have a version that turns off for strobe pictures, or one that is just on.

I've used one strobe a lot, I own two, but more for the issue of if one breaks on a trip. Different look, different expectations.

The ikelite w-20... just posted an image taken last week with it:

The Ike wide angle seems to work better than other wet lens, because it works well with some lens to lens distance, many don't like this condition.

One other consideration, is the color temperature. If you like adjusting all your images, then it is not a worry, but the Inon is a better match to the camera.

By the way, you do know Inon makes strobes with focus lights, don't you?

I would see no reason you would ever outgrow the inon strobe...but if you do, please send it to me.

 

[TightLines]

From my limited understanding it seems that the Inon D2000 might fit your bill. It should be cheaper than the DS-161 and will come with a focus light (Inon calls it a modeling light).

 

[Nemrod]

Just get the Inon D2000, it is much smaller than the Ikelite submarine and can do everything but hardwired sync and if and when you/I move to a dSLR or whatever, almost all camera/housings now utilize optical sync ports.

N

 

[Latitude 59]

Have DS-161/Canon 7D. 1st 3 wk. trip shot macro and loved results. Bulky/heavy above water but never notice UW as perfectly balanced with ULCS arms/stix floats. Plenty of power, doesn't need focus light. Video light was brilliant. Next trip will be WA with second strobe. Got the big monster as didn't want to be underpowered later on. No regrets so far.

 

[HerraduraDivers]

SF-Diver_MT,
the S90 has NO hotshoe (one of the diferences to the G11) for attaching a cable connection so you can't uses the Ikelite DS-161 directly. In case you have to use the Ikelite slave controller what are additional expenses and points of failures. Electrical cable connections make only sense when you can use full TTL with it, otherwise a optical slave strobe (like the D/S2000) is more reliable and the work fine.

Chris

 

[muzikbiz22]

I would like to chime in here and ask someone to clarify what is being said here, and in few other posts on Scubaboard. It seems that it is being implied that if you get the Ikelite housing for the S90, that you CAN'T use an optical cable with a strobe that uses STTL or TTL, and that one would NEED to use the Ikelite EV Controller ?

 

[Puffer Fish]

If you can use an optical cable, then you can use sTTL (if the strobe has that capability).

The case is not the easiest to externally mount a fitting for the fiber optic cable (the port is in the way), but you can.

The issue with the Ike DS-161 is that the strobe needs that controller to work. It converts the flash to an electrical trigger.

As you have to use optical triggering, it is simplier to use an Inon or S&S strobe to start with.

I use a pair of YS110's, optically triggered, but they are rather large. If I did not already own them, would be getting Inon strobes.

I would like to chime in here and ask someone to clarify what is being said here, and in few other posts on Scubaboard. It seems that it is being implied that if you get the Ikelite housing for the S90, that you CAN'T use an optical cable with a strobe that uses STTL or TTL, and that one would NEED to use the Ikelite EV Controller ?

 

[muzikbiz22]

Puffer Fish, thanks for clarifying, and that's what I thought ! I'm getting the Ikelite housing (S90) shortly, and I think I'm going to go with the Sea & Sea YS-01 strobe. Haven't decided on which WA or Fisheye lens to go with yet. So many options (and opinions) there ! By the way, you mentioned on the picture above, that you used the Ikelite W-20 wide angle lens. Great pic ! How are you liking that WA lens ?

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

The case is not the easiest to externally mount a fitting for the fiber optic cable (the port is in the way), but you can.

The issue with the Ike DS-161 is that the strobe needs that controller to work. It converts the flash to an electrical trigger.

As you have to use optical triggering, it is simplier to use an Inon or S&S strobe to start with.

The two underlined statements above seem to be in opposition.

If you have an Ike DS 161 w/ Controller, on a tray, all you need to do is put duct tape over the diffuser of any housing, screw it onto the tray and it works. Same for DS 160, DS 200, SS 200... (well, Slave Sensor instead of Manual Controller for SS 200)