After spending a week last year in Anilao without a snoot, I realize how important a tool it is. I currently run a compact with YS-01s, but will be upgrading to a m43 in the next year or two. I'm planning a trip to Lembeh for this coming September.

I was planning on buying a MF-3, but the Atom Flash just appeared. It seems to have the same qualities as the MF-3, may be powerful enough for wide angle , and also has a relatively small form factor. I'm looking to buy before the backscatter black friday sale ends. I have a couple questions.

1. I would rather buy and travel with two strobes (Atom Flash x2), than buy and travel with three strobes (MF-3 + higher power strobes (YS-D3 Duo x2 was recommended by Bluewater)). I want to do both wide angle and macro on a trip, so could anyone guess if the Atom Flash x2 be enough for a m43 with a fisheye lens? Unfortunately, there are no reviews out there for the Atom Flash since it's so new.

2. Since I don't have snoot experience yet, would the bigger size of an Atom Flash be a detriment compared to the smaller MF-3?

3. As we all know, the MF-1 had significant issues and this is the first generation of the Atom Flash. Should I hold off on even thinking about an Atom Flash because it just came out?

There is very real value in having a Spare strobe. Backup, loaner, flexibility, etc.

Getting 2 Atoms and an MF-3 seems like a great combo to me.

The MF strobes will not replace a full powered strobe like the Atom, HF-1, or similar high-powered strobes. The MF strobes are strictly Macro and Snooting machines.

The thought was to have the MF-3 for snooting and 2 high power strobes for wide angle and faster cycling, but since the Atom Flash can also snoot with the same qualities as the MF-3 (super bright focus light, aperture cards, and even has a red focus light), I would just snoot with it instead. That would save me from buying a third strobe since the Atom Flash can handle wide angle too? Having 3 strobes isn't a bad thing, but it's just more to transport and more money.

If I went with the MF-3, then having two more potent strobes would be preferred to have a GN28 strobe.

I'm probably going with an MF-3 just because the Atom Flash is still a pretty big unknown at this point. I'll just buy more powerful strobes when I finally upgrade.