Question want to step up from TG6 , but bit confused!

[arew+4]

One more thing to consider before you drop a bunch of money on video lights. Do you enjoy editing video? I thought I might, turns out I don't. I have a smallish video light the backscatter MW4300, I mainly use it as supplemental light to soften shadows opposite the my strobe for photo, and as primary light on night dives. The multiple levels of brightness, narrow and wide beams, plus the red light make it very versatile.

 

[Barmaglot]

The AA battery aspect of the Retras is a concern for sure , which is also one of the reason for increase in size and weight. There would be bit of expenses included in the purchase of numerous batteries and the charger as well.

Retra strobes up to and including 4th gen (Pure, Prime+, Pro Max) are powered by AA cells. 5th gen (Maxi) use 21700 type Li-Ion batteries, which are individually larger, but you only need two of them instead of eight AAs.

Also after Inon's most sought after Z330 being discontinued, i suppose there is nothing much left in compact strobe bracket except for Retras. But they come with a $$$$ tag. And if one wants to keep it low then it has to be compromised with the size, BS, Marelux etc.

Retras, regardless of model, are somewhat larger than Z-330s. It's not a huge difference, but it's noticeable. Sea & Sea YS-D3 series is also somewhat more compact than Retras. Another option, if you want to cheap out, is SeaFrogs SF-01 - the feature set is quite basic (no TTL or HSS), but it's got good power, uses two 18650 Li-Ion cells, size and weight is similar to YS-D2/D3, and you can get a pair for well under $800.

Retra Maxis, if you have the budget for them, are a good choice - I've been using a pair of Retra Pros since they came out, and I'm quite happy with them. That said, I'm curious to see a real-world comparison between the straight bulb in them, and the circular bulb in previous gen models.

 

[thesaltyfins]

One more thing to consider before you drop a bunch of money on video lights

Are you referring this to Retra Maxi or Hybrid Flash in general? . Till now i have not edited any of the videos taken with bare TG 6 , so enjoyment / know how of editing is still unknown. Also difference between Retra flash prime and retra maxi at this point is minimum. Cost wise

Secondly the uw photo and video equipment market in India is at a very nascent stage. So getting anything of yr choice means importing. So every import means added shipping as well as customs. So any purchase has to be well planned.

I am very much open to good preowned stuff but that too involves importing so wait to get lucky if someone's upgrading and you are aware of it.

Feel free to voice yr take on Hybrid flash strobe vs just a strobe.

Thanks

 

[thesaltyfins]

Sea & Sea YS-D3 series is also somewhat more compact than Retras.

I would stay away from Sea&Sea at this point till they don't prove themselves again to better at after sales.

For sure Retras are high end products, but here more than the budget since i am spending for the 1st time , better be at something that will last for some time to come.

My concern was the size as against their Prime+, but have pretty much cleared that doubt for me.

Even i am waiting for some 1st hand uw review on the Maxis. Anyway they are on preorder now with deliveries only post May 2025.

Thanks

 

[bvanant]

A lot depends on what you want to shoot. If it is mostly macro then there is no need for big strobes, if it is mostly wide angle then strobes need to be a bit larger. For me the micro 4/3 are the best option, good IQ lots of lenses, and a bunch of housings and since the lenses are smaller physically, the ports are as well.

Bill

 

[arew+4]

Are you referring this to Retra Maxi or Hybrid Flash in general? . Till now i have not edited any of the videos taken with bare TG 6 , so enjoyment / know how of editing is still unknown. Also difference between Retra flash prime and retra maxi at this point is minimum. Cost wise

Secondly the uw photo and video equipment market in India is at a very nascent stage. So getting anything of yr choice means importing. So every import means added shipping as well as customs. So any purchase has to be well planned.

I am very much open to good preowned stuff but that too involves importing so wait to get lucky if someone's upgrading and you are aware of it.

Feel free to voice yr take on Hybrid flash strobe vs just a strobe.

Thanks

If the backscatter hybrid was available when I bought the MW4300 I would have had a hard time not buying it instead. Flexibility is priceless, and the weight savings is another thing to consider. I would have two strobes and a video light if the mood struck me. My d200 has a wide coverage, and the modeling light is bright enough for macro video. But having all that strobe available would make me want a wide angle lens, and shooting wide/ultra Wide would make me want a faster sensor, before you know it I'm buying an extra ticket for all my gear and I'm taking less trips because I have to pay for all the gear. LOL.

If a Caribbean dive trip is in your future maybe you can get a layover in NYC or Miami and pick up some gear on the way.

 

[rmorgan]

I’m using Retras and like the light very much. I had Inons, and found the light somewhat uneven by comparison. Note that Retra now offers rechargeable batterie$$$$.

 

[Barmaglot]

I’m using Retras and like the light very much. I had Inons, and found the light somewhat uneven by comparison. Note that Retra now offers rechargeable batterie$$$$.

No they don't. They announced a Li-Ion battery pack that would plug in place of AA cells, but ended up canceling it before release due to low customer interest. The new Retra Maxi uses 2x21700 Li-Ion cells, but has no provision for AAs.

 

[DavidFL]

I have a TG-5 and TG-6 and used them exclusively for stills and video for several years. When I decided to upgrade about 3 years ago, with a similar emphasis on a system with a bigger sensor and full manual control, I ended up buying a used Sony RX100M7 with a used Fantasea housing. After a few dives in SE Florida that convinced me the camera was a keeper, I invested in a full Nauticam tray, housing, and wet lenses, and Inon Z330 Type 2 strobes. After three years and five long haul international trips with that gear I'm satisfied with those choices. My surface camera is a Canon R5 mirrorless full-frame, and despite the obvious differences when I compare raw images, I'm glad I didn't go with housing the bigger camera. I end up flying with two hardside checked bags that are usually at or above being overweight and I don't see how I could manage the housing and ports associated with the larger camera without giving up something. I also have two big video lights, and they work fine, but as another poster mentioned I found I don't enjoy video editing to match what nearly every other underwater video shooter produces, so the big video lights have stayed dry for a while.

 

[Nemrod]

Inon is getting close to releasing the new ZXXX. From what little has been leaked or available it still has the T shaped twin tubes, it looks to still use AA batteries, still has the dome lens and uses the accessories from the Z330. Will it be a Z380 or a X420? Will it have HSS, will it be comparable in price plus inflation to the Z330?

If I were buying a compact to replace my aged but still amazing FIXS90 (which supplements my Nauticam NA6400) it would be the Canon G7 in a Nauticam housing. I would get the little mini-dome for general use, the WWL-1C or similar wide angle/fisheye and a CMC1 or CMC2 and twin Inon S220 strobes.