Strobes above water

[Nocturne2]

Hi
Is it possible/useful to use Ikelite strobes above water, for lighting purposes outside of diving (e.g. photos around the house, etc)

Thanks!
-Eric

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

I have used my SS200 to light photos of interior and exterior home damage due a wind storm. With my system using the Slave Sensor, it works better with the camera in the housing, but a clean, dry port window does not adversely affect my dry photos.

 

[PatW]

I have used my ikelite strobe with my Canon G11 out of water. I do it with a routine "check out" photo before diving to be sure that everything is hooked up properly. The ike strobe does are really good job out of the water.

 

[herman]

I have used my Inon at a wedding....he was a diver so he understood besides what you want for free. The one thing to keep in mind is to go easy on it, it will overheat without the water to cool it if you shoot a lot.

 

[bvanant]

Of course you can use the strobe above water, but as Herman has said be a bit careful of firing away. There are two issues; how to sync the strobe to the camera, typically you need a housing to do it. The second is that all of the stuff that Ike does to make the strobe waterproof makes it keep heat inside so firing lots of shots quickly can really heat up the innards. The engineers that make the strobes, design them typically for use in water which as you of course remember from open water takes away heat a lot more better (the technical term) than air. I actually shoot my Z240s a bit in the studio since they are great as remote strobes triggered from a studio strobe. A lot smaller than typical studio heads and packs.

Bill

 

[mummyreturns]

When buying a strobe, for above water you pretty much get what you pay for in terms of features, power, coverage and speed. It's important to consider what subject matter and shooting conditions you will be diving in. Wide angle photography requires much more powerful strobes, really 2 strobes, for success. You have to light a wide swath of reef or larger subjects. For macro and fish portraits, you can get by with much less. In turbid conditions the same applies.

 

[Nocturne2]

Thanks for the info, everybody!

how to sync the strobe to the camera, typically you need a housing to do it.

Why? Is there a way it can be avoided?

The one thing to keep in mind is to go easy on it, it will overheat without the water to cool it if you shoot a lot.

Are there any guidelines on how many shots on land in a given interval I could get away with?

Thanks!
-Nocturne

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

Have you ever used any Ike strobe?

 

[ptyx]

They work.
Unless it's for studio work, your arms will cry for mercy pretty fast too.

 

[Nocturne2]

Have you ever used any Ike strobe?

No, I have not yet. Though that's what I'm considering. So any info you have will help.
Thanks!