Two strobes unnecessary?

[Larry C]

That's very helpful Nemrod, thanks! I'm actually more interested in macro photography but I thought the Bigeye would be pretty useful to have. I guess the best thing to do is get one and try it out myself. I'd be happy to post the results. Btw, how long should my strobe arms be for it to be effective for this setup?

Apparently the Bigeye is out of stock (opticaloceansales) til March 1st so I guess I'll have to wait til then - and maybe another 3 weeks for it to get here.

If you're mostly into macro, one strobe should do fine. Check Gilligan's recent pics.
G-10+single YS-27. Will work fine for macro, fish portraits and naturally lit reef shots. For wide angle reefscape with a lot of stuff nearby, two works a lot better. For CFWA, with a small subject close to the camera and reef/sunball, etc. in the distance, one should work dandy.

 

[under water]

This picture uses two strobes - notice there are still shadows, but relatively even lighting.

Two strobes.. The bigger one (DS125) behind the fan coral and one (DS-51) pointed at the flamingo tongue.
Both using TTL.

Bottom line.. One will work.. two works better.

This next one uses just one strobe (DS-51)

All pix here taken with INON UWL-100 & G9

 

[Warmwater Wank]

M Sniper--Equipment, like viz, can often be over-rated. Making the most of what ya got (and feeling confident in what you have) can achieve a lot more than having it all and not being practiced with it. Not to say you shouldn't consider two strobes, especially if WA is a strong urge. However, a single external strobe and a decent way to move and position it that is quick, secure and versatile can work for just about everything short of WA.

Here are some recent pics done w/ a single YS110A strobe using a G-10. The macro stuff was done w/ the new 52mm SubSee +5 lens. I've really come to appreciate how this relatively simple setup lets me do what I want without being burdensome. All shots were taken in Raja Ampat last December...sob. Wish I were back there... // ww

 

[MdkSniper]

Nice pics and thanks for the information.

I've always wanted to get into WA photographer. I'm going to GBR in June for a month then possibly Cocos Island or Galapagos for two weeks in August. So I was figuring a two strobe set-up would be nice for diving in those places.

 

[Warmwater Wank]

Yep, go 2 strobes for WA. My point being you can go a long ways with a single strobe--up until you want "the big picture" that WA gives. You'll give up some convenience and ease of use (like being able to wedge your camera setup into tighter spaces) but you can't get around the balanced light of a two strobe setup. Besides, those S-2000s aren't that big and bulky.

Depending on how much you want to do macro I'd take a serious look at ReefNet's SubSee macro lens system. A person on our Raja trip had an Inon macro setup at the start and by the end switched over to SubSee (they bought my adapter and someone else's lens since we were headed home and they were going to keep diving). The SubSee swing-away adapter means you aren't taking lenses on and off and the new larger diameter lenses are sweet. Of course if you go w/ the Inon WA lens there goes that approach. Oh well, diving does involve lot's of decisions eh? // ww

 

[VictorZ]

Nemrod,

Are the arms on your photos Optical Ocean/Fantasea ones? Do you like them? ULCS are 60%+ more expensive than these, are they that much better? Do the clams hold well?

Thanks

 

[Nemrod]

Nemrod,

Are the arms on your photos Optical Ocean/Fantasea ones? Do you like them? ULCS are 60%+ more expensive than these, are they that much better? Do the clams hold well?

Thanks

Yes they are from Optical Ocean Sales.

Well, I was using another brand from a well known company but yes, the ones I just bought came from Jack. They work just fine, heck, they are so cheap, why worry. They work fine in the pool and the clamps best I can tell are just like all of the clamps, I cannot tell them apart, must all come from the same China box factory. A round ball with a O ring around it is a round ball with an O ring around it, works fine, clamps work fine.

N

 

[ghnouer]

M Sniper--Equipment, like viz, can often be over-rated. Making the most of what ya got (and feeling confident in what you have) can achieve a lot more than having it all and not being practiced with it. Not to say you shouldn't consider two strobes, especially if WA is a strong urge. However, a single external strobe and a decent way to move and position it that is quick, secure and versatile can work for just about everything short of WA.

Here are some recent pics done w/ a single YS110A strobe using a G-10. The macro stuff was done w/ the new 52mm SubSee +5 lens. I've really come to appreciate how this relatively simple setup lets me do what I want without being burdensome. All shots were taken in Raja Ampat last December...sob. Wish I were back there... // ww

Beautiful pictures!!!!!!

I d like to see some pictures of your set up. (subsee adaptor and lense with G9)

Thanks.

GHN

 

[Warmwater Wank]

GHN--Well, I take pics with the setup not of it. It's not available at the moment to grab a pic of so I don't have any except this one of the dual gate adapter, held by some chump. You'll have to imagine it attached to the front of a Canon housing w/ a SubSee lens on either side instead of showing these channelled images of dive spirits.

The one on the left is Keri Wilk, the guy who got me hooked on SubSee. (His family runs ReefNet but from what I hear they are pretty normal. ) The other person is our dive guide Made from the same liveaboard trip I met Keri on. The setup has worked out great. Adds some obvious bulk but it balances well and sure gives me great flexibility for macro. // ww

 

[chrishet]

WW...I am new to UW Photography and am getting my first rig soon...but I must say that is very cool! I have pinged ReefNet for more info...