dhaas

I"ll only say this......I follow for informational fun new strobes and realize there's lots of choices these days. RETRA, Sea and Sea D3, the new Backscatter HF-1, Ikelite DS230, SEACAM and many more..... But for long term reliability and simplicity I agree with DreiFish the Inon S220 is way underrated (and undervalued.) Small size and Envelop AAs batteries make them an easy traveling and diving unit. The simple clear battery door and YELLOW o-ring you can see is sealed are other advantages too. Just one old guy's opinion 🙂 DH

In Phil's photo I am the young guy on the far right underwater 🙂 I few month prior to that class I had torn my right Achilles tendon but was determined to be "dive ready" and I was 🙂 This was one of a very few (2?) "underwater photography courses" David Doubilet ever ran and he shared with us insights in image making that I still recall......I like to tell folks he taught to "see" or at least try LOL..... And Phil's right, I was a large system guy for many years! All in fun 🙂 DH PS - The Nurse shark and Manta shots were from Maldive's trips and only dropped in as I was babbling about my choice of compact systems....... Sorry for any confusion !!!!!

Pooley, I host a few trips now and then with my partner from Southern California, Evan of www.seasickproductions.com After many, MANY years of organizing trips and selling underwater photo gear (Aquatica, Ikelite and Fantasea) all I wanted to do in my "senior years" was take easy going fun people diving 🙂 I still host UW shooters with large systems, small rig shooters (Olympus TG6 /7 is super popular anywhere macro critters are) plus Smart Phones and GoPro folks. Everyone's welcome 🙂 Here's the trip and I was Group 2 of this 3rd group..... https://www.seasickproductions.com/bali-61824 Basically it was Tulamben for all my dives. Evan has an incredible ward winning video on the www.seasickproductions.com home page all shot right out front where we dived 🙂 We had access to a boat for 1/2 days and alternated between that and shore guided dives. All the sites we did were barely 5-10 minuted away via their little trucks. Guides haul everything for the shore dives including bringing your tank into and out of the water after you wade in with just your mask and fins. Big camera systems too (they're experienced with them.) Bali is bargain and you can find all manner of accommodations in Tulamben. DH

PS - I sold my Canon G7X II camera for an insane $$$$ as soon as I returned home. It seems "young Vloggers" think the Canon G7X II (debuted in 2017 for around $650 USD) and the Canon G7X III (debuted in 2019 around $749 USD) are simply the coolest thing going. They shoot what I think are totally unflattering full flash portraits of themselves and friends, but hey, whatever you like is fine with me! The G7X III added 4K video and couple other features but not Phase detection AF like Sony's RX100 V / VA / VII models. It seems these Vloggers WOWWED by these little cameras have driven prices up for cameras that are even discontinued. I don't have a trip coming up for a bit so can sit and wait until used prices come back down and have done so buying and selling several over the past 2-5 years. I still own two Fantasea FG7X II housings and Air Lenses so I'm set for whatever my next move is going forward. I also sold my Inon S220 strobe to a fellow compact shooter who wanted a 2nd Inon S220. So now I'm totally "strobeless". I may only shoot WA ambient light B&W (or color) in my remaining days diving. It's been 55 years blowing bubbles and I'm fine with my decision........ Being totally lazy on traveling light and obsessed with my "less is more" philosophy your choices should satisfy you and you alone. As long as you're enjoying the underwater world I hope all travel and shoot whatever you desire too. I plan on that approach 🙂 DH

To answer Chip here is all I hauled to Bali 🙂 The Fantasea wide angle "Air Lens" pops on and off my Fantasea FG7X II housing restoring my Canon G7X II cameras native widest 24mm focal length. As I've posted many times I know people say 24mm isn't wide enough LOL...... It has been for me since 2016 when I switched totally to compact shooting 🙂 DH

I wrote a long text which disappeared before posting (????) Here's a quick summary..... Basically be prepared to break it up as others said. Be open to selling strobes, cords, or whatever might be usable on various systems. Be realistic how much you've used an item. Clearly state it works NOW, but it's USED. Too many buyers want pristine new condition for dirt cheap. Not fair to the seller in my opinion. Selling is also emotional because of what you PAID for something. You have to factor how much use you got and many won't bring themselves to do that 😞 I've recently used www.mpb.com who sends you a quote and Fedex shipping label on their dime. Be realistic on the condition and you'll get quick fair wholesale $$$$ in your pocket for the next trip. Being in this game a long time I only want what I'll realistically use in my remaining days traveling and diving but that's me....... I've seen way too many folks always "getting ready, buying for an upgrade path, etc." and hardly go diving and shooting. Doesn't make much sense to me....... One favorite mantra is: "If I haven't worn it or used in a year (or sooner) I'm unlikely to, EVER...... Ditch it and put some $$$$ in your pocket and head out on the next adventure 🙂 Good luck! David Haas

NO LONGER AVAILABLE.......

I can't recall the exact site but you may be correct. Our cruise director mentioned those table corals coming back very well and the mantas loved them for cleaner fish popping up 🙂

Inon S220 Strobe(s) - 2 available with spare o-rings, Inon Silicone Grease New model with mount forward, cord attachment towards the rear making for easier configuration. GN 22 is understated and beam angle of 140 degrees horizontal by 100 degrees vertical provide great coverage with no diffuser. * One strobe - $325.00 shipped * BOTH strobes - $600.00 shipped. US shipping only in 2 business days from confirmed PayPal or Zelle payment. No returns. Contact Directly: [email protected] 330-329-5981 EST zip code 44224

Blue Force One has been our preferred choice for 3 trips now and they deliver! DH

Disembarked Blue Force One in Maldives Feb. 13th after 10 days diving. Fabulous dives with some deep plus currents but great fun 🙂 My simple camera rig continues to surprise me....... I did many dives with no wide angle "Air Lens". My simple Fantasea F Series Air Lens restores my Canon G7X II compact camera's 24mm focal length. Without it essentially 24mm X 1.25 flat port refraction = 30mm focal length. Being able to shoot moderate 30mm focal length was an advantage on drift dives or other challenging situations. Clear water helped and the Inon S220 with GN 22 provided plenty of power for my 1" sensor 20.1 Megapixel files. Next trip to Bali in May I may refine the simplicity even further!

Headed back to Maldives Feb. 3-13 🙂 Taking my easy traveling Canon G7X II compact, Fantasea housing and one Inon S220 mounted in the cold shoe. Best part is the whole thing floats so I won't lose it no matter what! DH

For those contemplating a compact camera set up here's a thread I posted over on Scubaboard........Too many pics and such to duplicate so I thought this would be easier for anyone interested. https://scubaboard.com/community/threads/anyone-gone-from-an-apsc-advanced-compact-to-a-point-and-shoot.641886/page-2 And the text is here: Olympus TG6 /7 - Macro and microscope mode for macro is great even with the small sensor and basically two f-stop choices. Certain strobes like AOI Q1 RC and Backscatter MF-2 can do RC controlled flash which is super accurate automatically. Can capture decent WA shots in good light. Easy set up with several videos out there help minimize menu confusion. Sony RX100 V, VA, even VI / VII - 20 megapixel 1" sensor with great autofocus, all TTL flash (no manual flash choice to conserve battery power) but most small strobes pair well for very good flash control. Macro challenging even with diopters but good wide angle lens options make this choice a good one. Menus can be "challenging" but larger 1" sensor than Olympus TG-6-7 makes for better wide angle and medium fish shots in sharpness. Most models have great 4K video too. Canon G7X (original if shooting JPEG as first G7X had really slow RAW processing improved on G7X II and III.) All original G7X, G7X II and G7X III have a 20 megapixel 1" sensor and fast 24-100mm f 1.8 - 2.8 lens producing nice images in macro, fish and wide angle. Some folks complain AF (autofocus) being contrast versus Sony's dual pixel AF is a little slower. In real world shooting it's not as big a deal as some make it out to be. Flash control choice of AUTO (TTL) which pairs great with any S-TTL (Slave TTL automatic flash) plus can do manual flash at low power to conserve battery if one chooses to set flash units manually. Easiest menus to learn and use. Also has best white balance for ambient light shooting color balance. Most housings have 67mm threads for adding SUPER macro lenses or a variety of wide angle options from low cost to expensive depending on housing. I am biased as a lazy traveling warm water diver. I sold all my remaining SLR gear in 2016 and switched to compact shooting since then. Recently I even leave behind tray, arms, etc. and only shoot one strobe (currently Inon S220) mounted on my Fantasea housing's cold shoe. Coverage is fine for me and set up and diving with a small rig is a breeze but that's my taste after diving 55 years. David Haas Compact Camera User 🙂

Fabulous !!!!!

SOLD...........

Sale on this one didn't happen so still available. Great shape Inon S2000 shown with a 1" Ball Mount, spare o-ring and grease - $265.00 shipped domestic US. Shipping in 2 business days from confirmed payment, no returns. Zelle payment preferred but could do PayPal Friends and Family to avoid extra % charges. Email directly: [email protected] or text call Eastern Time Zone, Ohio 330-329-5981

Have Spot and Flood Beam.......

Pair of barely used Light and Motion SOLA 1200 lights. Charge and run and includes box, manual and charger for each. Light Pair - $300.00 shipping included domestic US. Shipping in 2 business days from confirmed payment. Zelle preferred. No returns. Email: [email protected] Ohio phone / text: 330-329-5981

WUS, That is a trip down memory lane when many of us figured how to get more than 36 frames per dive! LOL..... Your small Sony set up is certainly easier to dive with and as you say image quality is great. Yes, the limit on the Fantasea housing with a fixed port they chose to make it short limiting the Sony RX100 VI / VII to the 24-66mm focal lengths. This was a compromise but very few users would likely need to zoom to 200mm shooting tele-macro is a very small group of people. This also allowed the 67mm wide angle lenses even ones designed optimally at 28mm setting. As mentioned I am all about small size and ease of traveling with gear. Keep shooting and sharing ideas! David Haas

sold.........

Three available. I've tested all and they work. One, great shape shown with a 1" Ball Mount, spare o-ring and grease - $265.00 shipped domestic US. Second, a pair of Inon S2000 strobes. I tested these and they operate fine on S-TTL and Manual. These two have slight yellowing on the little diffuser (possibly rapid firing or?) but they work and light output is fine. $200.00 for BOTH shipped. Shipping in 2 business days from confirmed payment, no returns. Zelle payment preferred but could do PayPal Friends and Family to avoid extra % charges. Email directly: [email protected] or text call Eastern Time Zone, Ohio 330-329-5981