Help on Strobe Purchase

Hi All,

I need some help with the choice of a Strobe or Strobes for my Nikon D80. U/W housing is ordered and the Sigma 10-20mm and the Nikon 60mm are also on the way. So, now I need to decide on Strobe/Strobes.

So, what am I looking for?

* I want a "one system fits all" type of setup, ie I don't want a set for macro and a set for WA.

* I want to have the ability to use TTL, it seems to start to come around. ( I do not have an Ikelite housing, so no Ikelite Strobes.)

* I do not mind them being reasonably sized for traveling.

So, now we are getting to my questions to the more experienced guys out there.

* What kind of overall Guidenumbers are actually needed for Wideangle?

* Is it better to have 2 Strobes like the INON Z-240 or one big Subtronic, 116°. ( Money wise it ends up roughly in the same neighbourhood.)

What are your thoughts on the topics above?

Cheers

Ps! Based on previous postings, regarding troubles with Subtronic. I live in Munich, Germany, ( a 2 hour drive to Subtronic ). That should be helpful, if I would end up with those troubles

* Is it better to have 2 Strobes like the INON Z-240 or one big Subtronic, 116°. ( Money wise it ends up roughly in the same neighbourhood.)* I do not mind them being reasonably sized for traveling.

What are your thoughts on the topics above?

Cheers

Ps! Based on previous postings, regarding troubles with Subtronic. I live in Munich, Germany, ( a 2 hour drive to Subtronic ). That should be helpful, if I would end up with those troubles

I have both. I'd reccomend two Inons to one Subtronic. I like the light in the subtronics better for wideangle. However the Inons are great in all other regards.

Espen

What housing are you buying?

If you get the S&S housing then you can also get their I-TTL mkII convertor with a couple of their strobes and have TTL/manual to choose from...

The new S&S 250 strobes are due out around March, I think, and then you would have strobes strong enough for macro and wide angle, with some power left over...

The S&S convertor has been reported through this forum as 'reliable' with the SUBAL housing, so again you could get the S&S strobes or the INON 240's...

As for the Nexus housing, at this time the umpire is still deciding as to whether there is a reliable TTL unit that can be fitted...

HTH,

Bruce

i would second Espen's recommendation of two Inons over one Subtronic. It just gives you more creative leeway over your photos and if one goes down, you always have the other one...

Hi Guys,

Thanks for your quick answers, keep them coming!

Bruce:

Thanks for the advice. I have been thinking about it as well, but I find that the Sea&Sea adapter is too expensive ( especially based on the reported problems). I would then rather cough up the money for the built in TTL of the Subtronics. If I would already have the Strobe/Strobes it might have been a different thought.

Espen&Mike:

Does the 2 Inon's deliver enough firepower for the wideangle of a Sigma 10-20mm?

What does your experience say? Color can of course be an issue

It is of course possible to calculate on the guide numbers, but they "sometimes" seems to be measured in a bit of a positive way Anyway, converting the combined GN of 2 INON Z240 (GN=24) to water would give a GN(water) of 15.2 and a subtronic Maxi has 16. A question of the correct aiming of the strobes etc. Then there is of course the energy in Ws as well. Hmm, experience seems to be better, atleast easier!!!!!

e_viking

Does the 2 Inon's deliver enough firepower for the wideangle of a Sigma 10-20mm?

What does your experience say? Color can of course be an issue

Positioned in the correct manner, two Inon Z240 will definetely deliver enough coverage/light for the wide end of the Sigma 10-20 - they are surprisingly powerful for their size.

I asked the same question a while back when I was in the process of getting new strobes, and I found out that quite a few very good UW-photographers use them even with the Nikkor 10,5FE, which is a lot wider than the rectilinear Sigma lens. Just as an example of their coverage: here is a 4 metre manta ray which I shot from a distance of approximately 0.75-1 metre at a depth of 26 metres. Visibilty app. 12 metres.

Nikkor 10.5, aperture 5.6, shutter 1/125, ISO100, strobes at 1/2-3/4 power.

cheers

@Christian

Thanks for the Inputs. That helps me in taking the right decision, or atleast feeling good with it. I will start with a Sigma 10-20mm, but knowing myself I will probably end up with a Fisheye as well sonner or later

Have you dual INON Z240 users ever felt limited by the firepower?

E_viking

Ps! Keep the comments/inputs coming.

@Christian

Thanks for the Inputs. That helps me in taking the right decision, or atleast feeling good with it. I will start with a Sigma 10-20mm, but knowing myself I will probably end up with a Fisheye as well sonner or later

 

Have you dual INON Z240 users ever felt limited by the firepower?

 

E_viking

 

Ps! Keep the comments/inputs coming.

I haven't tried the Subtronic you reffer to, and I'm in no doubt that it is a very poweful unit, but judging from the specs and theorethical speculation, I don't think that one of the mentioned Subtronic strobes will deliver more light than two Inon Z240:s?

/christian

@Christian,

I am afraid that it is the case. The Maxi has a Guide number of 16 UW and the NOVA has 20. That can then be multiplied with sqrt(5)=2.24 to get an air Guide Number. That would give us 16*2.24=36 and 20*2.24=44.8.

To combine 2 equal strobes the equation is GN=sqrt(2)GN1. That would give us 1.41*24=33,8

Then there is the fact that the Subtronics has a dome glass at the end that should theoretically reduce the GN. Well, they are expensive strobes.

That is what makes me think! However, I am leaning towards the INON's for the reason of having 2.

E_viking

@Christian,

 

I am afraid that it is the case. The Maxi has a Guide number of 16 UW and the NOVA has 20. That can then be multiplied with sqrt(5)=2.24 to get an air Guide Number. That would give us 16*2.24=36 and 20*2.24=44.8.

To combine 2 equal strobes the equation is GN=sqrt(2)GN1. That would give us 1.41*24=33,8

 

Then there is the fact that the Subtronics has a dome glass at the end that should theoretically reduce the GN. Well, they are expensive strobes.

 

That is what makes me think! However, I am leaning towards the INON's for the reason of having 2.

 

E_viking

Wasn't familiar with the equations on how to calculate the power for two identical strobes - interesting. But as you say there's more to the equation than just the GN number. Have light coming from two different places vs one, will enable you to light a larger area closer to the lens. It will be an advantage in many situations.

/c

Hi All,

Sorry for the late reply. I had to tryout my, finally arrived, drysuit. I fitted and was dry :-)

@ Christian: I have just learned those formulas myself :-) Yes, I admit to being an Engineer

I really like your picture of the Manta.

I have to say that I generally tend towards the smaller INON's.

E_viking