2x YS30 enough light for macro?

I want to set up a compact and light weight macro rig with two YS30 strobes. I am fairly confident that these will provide plenty of power for most macro shooting, but just wanted to get reassurance from people who have shot macro with a just a pair of YS30s.

Are they powerful enough?

Alex

Alex,

I have one I bought last year. Do you want me to test it out? I use it as a remote slave for "fun" photos but see that it would make a pretty good macro flash. It is also TINY!

Cheers

James

Thanks for the offer, James, I have two here. I was actually hoping someone would post a nice real world macro shot - as an example to put my mind at rest.

I am pretty sure Espen was using a pair on his rotating macro strobe collar. If they are good enough for him, then they are good enough for me!

Alex

Hi Alex,

I have advertised and rung around and have failed to locate a couple of these puppies; any idea as

to where I might find a couple hidden away??

Thanks for taking the time,

Bruce

Hi Alex,

I used this arrangement ( two YS-30's ) a long time ago with film rated at ISO 40 so they have the power. Like many strobes that are powered by two battries they can be slow to recycle. Athena makes these rings in 100, 110 & 120 mm which work great with small strobes.

Phil Rudin

One of the instructors for UW photography at Brooks use to use this combo for macro successfully.

I copied him and bought a pair. Never found them strong enough. Also I don't like the color temp of Sea and Sea strobes. They take forever to recycle.

I keep one for a backup slave. As a light weight set up I found the Ike 50s superior in all respects.

I have a YS30 for sale - hardly been used at all....

Don

Hi Alex,

I used a pair of YS30's with my macro film rig successfully for years. Shooting Velvia 100 they were fine for most subjects down to F22/32 place at the end/in front of the port i.e. close to the subject. I only recently ebayed them actually. Used with a pair of good Nimh AA's they were good for 100 shots per charge with a pretty fast recycle. I loved them for the small size and only got rid of them to streamline my luggage and save lugging four strobes on each trip. I can supply plenty of images if interested.

Regards,

Andy

I've used a YS30 paired up with a YS90 on a D50 and found it fine. I can't see a problem with the a pair of YS 30s and they are a nice compact shape close to the port. Strobes with the equivalent of 1 f stop more power do get a lot bigger.

In poor viz I always had the feeling that the tighter beam angle on the YS30 helped reduce back scatter. My only complaint is that it is nice to have a strobe with variable powers for reflective subjects. I guess they are a bit slow to recycle but certainly no worse than the YS110s. Not sure if they are made any longer.