Hello everyone,

I'm about to buy two new flashes for my underwater setup (Sony A7CII in a Nauticam housing, Sony 28-60 with WWL-1, Sony 90mm F2.8 Macro) and I'm not quite sure which product to choose. I'm considering AOI flashes combined with the new Backscatter TTL flash trigger.

Two AOI UIS-P1s would be an option, but I'm wondering if two AOI UCS-Q1i flashes might be a possible alternative. Both are in stock at my dealer and can be obtained quickly.

Easy operation, even with dry gloves and a focus light, is important to me.

I primarily dive in freshwater, often in rather poor visibility conditions. I go to the ocean no more than once a year. I make an average of between 40 and 60 dives a year, all with a camera. Roughly half of them are wide-angle and half macro.

I've had two old INONs (a Z240 and a D-2000) for many years, plus I have an HF-2 from Backscatter for macro use only.

I thought I'd ask the question here again; the feedback is always interesting and sometimes brings up new ideas and thoughts that I hadn't even considered before.

With that in mind, thank you very much for your thoughts,

Tino

Hi Tino

I had the Inon 2xx series for years: 220s then the various iterations of the 240s. I switched to Retras in 2020 and really like them for the build quality, colour, evenness of lighting and the ease of using the various accessories. And like the Inon, they use AA batteries. Yeah, they are expensive but I think after several hundred dives with them without the slightest problem, well worth the money.

Hi @Tino Dietsche

I'm a happy owner of 2 new retra max II... the old pro was good... but the new one... wouah...

OK it's expensive but :) and in CH you will pay less taxes as in EU.

I have been using on loan, pool only thus far, the Marelux Apollo S. The build quality is excellent, very compact for the power output (GN36) and they have a nice 110 degree angle without diffusers, more with installed. They use flat top high current 18650 cells and just go and go and recycle fast. And the price is competitive. Might be a consideration.

Hi Tino. I shoot an A7c in a Nauticam housing. I’ve been good with my old Inon 240s, but I’ve been wanting to get new strobes to shoot high speed sync. For the set-up you have, you can do that with Backscatter flashes - the MF-2 and HF-1. You might consider the HF-1 if you’re interested in shooting high speed sync. I have a UW Technics trigger, so I may go with the Retra Maxi which you can buy with or without a 6k lumen video light.

I just upgraded from Z240 to Retras, the big thing I noticed was backscatter control was much better with the reduction rings installed compared to the Z240. Regarding the AOI strobes you mention macro will be fine with either I think, but I expect they may be a little under powered for wide angle particularly with a full frame camera. Does AOI offer reduction rings? I think I would want that for macro work.

Regarding the Retras, seems they only offer the Pro Max II and the Maxi is on pre-order. I got a pair of the Pure model before they discontinued. They are quite an expensive option, though they are very well made and the light and the control of the light is excellent.