Strobes for D2X - A poll...

I shoot a D2X in a Nexus housing, using my old YS300's and 60's. I have just returned from a trip where I was reduced to shooting ALL, including W/A, with just the 60's, because of problems with writing to the card and me not experimenting enough with disconnecting pins etc etc as per Alex's recent thread (I should read this site more often!)

I'm sure I can get the 300's working again, however the experience got me thinking that its maybe time for some new kit. Basically I would love to be in a position where I can reduce the amount of kit I carry on a trip - a single set of strobes for both w/a and macro. I love using the YS300's with their coverage and power but their weight and size is something else. Is there a happy medium? I've looked at Inon strobes but a GN20 for the latest models seems a little low...

What are people currently using with the D2X in ANY housing - pros and cons? And what would you all LIKE to see in a "single strobe for every scenario" set up? Maybe we can get some manufacturers to listen!!!! I am NOT technically minded and have always been thoroughly confused my the many different combinations of TTL etc etc - in any case I shoot manual almost exclusively anyway. But a TTL option is always useful - anything likely to work with a Nexus D2X?

Matt

I shoot DS 125s and 50s. I was once (in my film days) talked into getting a pair of SS 90s. The idea was they could be used for both macro and wide angle. I didn't find they worked as well as my 50s for either macro or wide angle. I sold them after very little use. This was before Ike made a diffuser for the 50s. I have recently shot some wide angle with the DS50s, diffuser, and the 12-24. Worked surprisingly well. A more powerful strobe is an advantage in clear, bright tropical waters. I see a digital version of the 200 is coming soon. The 200 was a great strobe for tropical wide angle. I have to admit though I was very happy the day I could substitute the 125 for my 200s. I didn't like carrying and swimming around the weight of the 200s. I'm interested in how the new 80s stand up. They might do "everything". Though with the cost of a D2X many would prefer to have different strobe types to maximize each type of shot.

Well, I can't legitimately participate in this poll because I still haven't even got my new D2X or housing in the water. That's partly because I've yet to get any of the strobes that I now have here to work on the table, though I've just started. (It looks like I'll have to disconnect some pins, but I want to make sure I know what I'm doing first).

Anway, my intention is to be able to use the D2X (in Subal housing) with (not at the same time):

- S&S 90DXs (these were supposed to be back-ups to the SS200s, but since the SS200s spent more time in the shop in Ohio or in transit than they did on my rig, the 90Dxs became primary strobes, sort of by default);

- Inon 2000w (new, sans manual, I haven't got a clue how these work yet)

- Ikelite SS200s (in manual mode, as a last layer of back-up?)

I'll be happy to share what I like and don't like about using these strobes with the D2X... once I get something actually working!

Frogfish

I have used the same pair of Subtronic Alphas for many years. i bought them when I was shooting film with a Nikon F100 and they were my strobes for all my D100 and this year with my D2X.

So I've never bought strobes specifically for digital or the D2X. And I use my Subtronics for all my photography.

I have never used a strobe that produce such nice light. And I just can't consider changing. They are heavy, and they are not 100% reliable, plus they don't have removeable batteries for flying, and they are expensive to fix. But the light they knock out is fantastic.

I think if Inon produced something with a bit more ooomph, I might consider it. I like the DS125 when I have used them, but personally wouldn't get 'em.

Alex

I've was always happy enough with my heavy Ikelite SS200s,.... when they worked that is. Ike has always been good about fixing my storbes, but reliability - or failing that, redoubled redundancy - counts for a lot more when you live somewhere where you can't just fedex the stuff off overnight and get it back in a few days without paying huge duty (and/or bribes) to the local customs folks, assuming you get your gear back at all.

Living in Indonesia, my biggest problem is arranging to always have at least one pair of strobes that actually work, plus paying for trips to Hong Kong or Singapore to send off or pick up strobes being sent off or returned from servicing, one factor that has kept me from looking too closely at the Subtronics (or Hartenbergers) - I can't afford two or three pairs. I know people who are happy with the D125s, but my frustrations with my SS200s over the past five years have just been too much. Hence the Inon D2000w's and YS-90DX, which should be light enough that I canbring both sets with me on a trip. Provided, of course, that I can ever figure out how the Inons actually work.

I don't think I would have been happy with strobes like the Inons (or the Sea&Sea 90DX strobes) back when I was shooting with a film camera and housing, the old Velvia 50, or even Provia 100. It took a lot of light to flood a macro subject at an effective aperture of f/64, or to light up a decent piece of a wall or wreck on wide angle Provia at even medium apertures. With digital, I don't seem to need as much oomph as before, it doesn't seem tthat much much power to paint in a bit of the color I want. Of course, it helped that the Fuji S2 worked nearly as well at ISO200 as ISO100. I know I'm going to want to shoot at ISO100 more with the D2X, so that's one stop lost.

Your own magic filters, Alex, have finally given me a way to take some pictures I'm happy with even when all of my strobes are on the fritz, or else in transit from their respective bi-annual vacations to the lands of their manufacturers.

But I do envy the light I see in some of your pictures.

Frogfish

I have used Ikelite SS200's for a long time too. I am very pleased with their angle of coverage, output power and light temperature. Unlike Robert, I never had to send them back to Indiana, but I did have to send my Ikelite 100a a couple of times. Downside is that they are big and heavy.

Luiz

I use a pair of Subtronic Mega Colors with the D2X.

Things I love about them:

- ultra fast recharge time

- high capacity, so there is no recycle time on low power useage

- lot's of manual settings

- neutral underwater

- 2 hour recharge time

- as Alex said, lovely light quality

- wide angle coverage

- they utilse high quality, triple o-ring sealed, synch cables that give far more piece of mind than lesser brands

- TTL with Nikon and Canon film cameras

Things I dislike:

- no changeable battery pack (yes you can run out of juice on a days shoot even on low power settings - typically I'm getting 300 shots at power settings of around 1/4-1/8)

- a sealed strobe could also be a problem on planes

- they weigh a ton on land

- they are bulky

- they have no iTTL

- you need a snoot to narrow the beam for macro shooting

- even the chargers are heavy!

My ultimate strobes:

- the capacity, performance, beam angle and build quality of Hartenberger 625's condensed to the size and weight of Inon Z220's, with iTTL thrown in and run on AA batteries, plus all the things I love and none of the things I hate as listed above.

In the meantime I can dream.....

Steve

one thing I forgot to add that I love about the Subtronic is the optional "battery power remaining indicator" - this item I consider essential, and I've found it pretty accurate as well....

thanks

I'm using two Inon Z220s. Hadn't given it much thought until this thread, but these things have been on 100's of dives and never missed a beat. I'd still like to try the Subtronics as I'm looking for a bit more power on the W/A shots. But the Inon's overall have been great. And they are small, light and I've done 3 successive dives on one set of 4 AA's.

Rand

I use 2 DS125 with D2X and am pretty happy with the choice. My only complain is that I pretty much have to use 1/2 or full power most of the time, especially for wide angle. Ideally, I would like to have a strobe that I can comfortably use for 2 or even 3 dives without recharging. With dSLR, on a really good dive, you can shoot 100 odd pictures so it starts to push the Ikelite to the limit as far as the battery is concerned.

My wish list, DS200, if for nothing else, I should be able to get more shots out of it before recharging than DS125 (assuming that I won't need to be at full power as often as I would with DS125).

The Ikelite SS200 is an absolute industry workhorse and a phenomenal strobe. Very high power, excellent coverage, and great color temperature. They are light on land and actually buoyant underwater. I get 2 or even 3 dives per battery charge on mine. I can't wait to hear more about the DS200.

And no, I did not get a free pair or anything, I bought some old used SS200's from Brandon Cole and they are still going strong...

Cheers

James

I use a pair of Subtronic Mega Colors with the D2X.

 

Things I love about them:

- ultra fast recharge time

- high capacity, so there is no recycle time on low power useage

- lot's of manual settings

- neutral underwater

- 2 hour recharge time

- as Alex said, lovely light quality

- wide angle coverage

- they utilse high quality, triple o-ring sealed, synch cables that give far more piece of mind than lesser brands

-  TTL with Nikon and Canon film cameras

 

Things I dislike:

- no changeable battery pack (yes you can run out of juice on a days shoot even on low power settings - typically I'm getting 300 shots at power settings of around 1/4-1/8)

- a sealed strobe could also be a problem on planes

- they weigh a ton on land

- they are bulky

- they have no iTTL

- you need a snoot to narrow the beam for macro shooting

- even the chargers are heavy!

 

 

Steve

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I can only agree with Steve to 100% even if I only use the baby brother Gamma Plus. When I look back to my old WA picture where I used the S&S YS-120 they look colourless. And I also remember that I used to spend more time in PS to correct things compared to now when I use my Subtronic.

Sure... it's bulky and heavy but WOW... they thump out a lot of nice light.

Peter

I didn't need to hear that Peter....i use the 120s as well and am sort of bitching about them at the moment....

I must be in the minority. I couldn't wait to trade my SS 200s in for a set of DS125s. I think the 125 does 90% of what the 200 did in a much lighter package. Don't get me wrong; the 200 is a great strobe. But unless I buy a dive resort and live at it year round I would never give up my 125s for a heavier strobe.

I have found Sea & Sea strobes to be reliable workhorses, completely free of synch cord and charging troubles.

I have a a pair of YS350's ( GN32) which are strictly left for local diving due to their weight & bulk. They are just like the sun. ( I have spare cells that are always on rotation. )

In the field I use a pair YS120's for wide angle, and recently replaced my YS90DX's with Inon Z220's for macro work.

I recently used a pair of DS125's for the first time and must admit to enjoying the warmer tones of the images. I seriously considered getting a pair ...................... I found them to be a little heavy - but manageable. I am a little reluctant to put another type of battery into my mix of cells and chargers.

It will be great to see the real world performance of the latest offerings from Sea & Sea ( YS110 ) & Ikelite (DS200)

My 2 cents.