Strobe recomendations for Subal 10D housing

Im looking for strobe recomendations..

I have a Subal Housing for my 10D and am looking to add strobes.

Thanks

Phil

Hi Phil,

What kind of shooting do you plan to be doing? Wideangle? Macro?

Cheers

James

Phil,

I have a Subal C10 as well, I use S&S YS120's, works great from pygmy seahorses to reef scenics.

Stu

Hi Stu,

Not to hijack the thread, but what is it you like about the YS120's? I distinctly remember this strobe being a PITA. It takes EIGHT AA batteries, and it only has 2 power settings, Full and 1/2. Half power (eve w/ the diffuser) is just too bright sometimes, especially for sharks.

I'd like to see Sea and Sea upgrade this strobe with more power settings, and some kind of battery pack. Managing 16 batteries, plus another 16 on the charger is just too much.

Cheers

James

I believe in leaving things as simple as possible. I usually leave the strobe at half power, then change Fstop or shutter speed on the camera. Way faster than reaching up to change strobe power. If I need more (like a CFWA shot) then I set it to full, less power then diffuser. AA batteries are much less of a pain than a pack, if you somehow kill a pack with a flood, you're toast, with my 120's, I can revert to alkalines if I have to. When you're somewhere remote with no access to a FEDEX facility, your photography is over, sure you can bring a spare pack, but I hate mono-taskers if I can avoid it. I use AA's in my strobes, flashlight, 550ex, 430ex, PSD7, CP battery pack...I use the 2 of the Ansmann chargers from Woody Mayhew and if 1 dies, I can still charge a full set of 16 overnight. I think battery packs are a PITA.

I work with the tools I have on hand, the 120's recycle very quickly, have been EXTREMELY reliable, easily accessible controls even with cold water gloves (Inons suck at this). I've been using mine since 1998 and the only work done to them have been a replacement of battery contacts because of a minor flood...though the strobe kept working for the rest of my dive trip. They easily have 500 dives on them each and fire everytime I press the shutter. I did a 120min dive in the Philippines, mandarins were mating hot and heavy, I shot over 300 images on that one dive, the 120's never faltered, not 1 dark frame, even with the camera doing a 3-4 shot burst. A buddy with the same system but with different strobes (SS200's) ran out of power on his packs well before I did and had tons of dark frames. He's since sold his strobes and now uses YS120's. I have anther dive buddy with 3 brand new DS125s and 4 batteries and cords he's had too many problems to count...sorry Ike.

Would I want them updated? Sure, why not, will I get updated strobes? Maybe 1 of the new 110's when they come out, for a back up.... will I replace my 120's...NO.

My 2 cents.

Stu