Olympus SP350 / PT30 with Epoque 230DS

Hi everyone

I am the proud owner of an Olympus SP350 with the PT30 housing. I also own an Inon close lense and a bayonet (I forget the model number but they work with my housing).

After having gone on a photo workshop liveaboard to the Red Sea last month, I became very jealous of people who have strobes and WA lenses. The photos they came up with seem to be much better than mine.

I've been looking at buying the Inon UWL105 WA lenses (I think that the bayonet I have will work with it) as well as an Epoque 230DS strobe with arm and tray. Also, the necessary stuff to link to my housing through a sync chord. The online shop appears to have everything although I have yet to actually confirm with them - pretty sure I can go for fiber optic link if necessary.

Before I spend my hard-earned case, has anyone had any experience with Epoque 230DS strobes? Good or bad points?

The one thing that I noticed is the recycle time (9 sec?) - this seems a bit excessive.

Any comments or alternative strobes would be nice to know. I am aware of the Ikelite strobes but they are very expensive.

I have also looked at the Olympus strobe (FL20?) but everyone I ask keeps telling me not to touch it!!

thx

DK

Just my personal experience with the SP-350. I've owned the Sunpak which I think is the same model as the low end epoque. It put out great light and fired reliably as long as you buy the fiber optic cable. The battery door was a little flaky but I think the Epoque 230DS has a different battery door.

I started with an FL20 flash with housing which worked out well since it had TTL. I then added the sunpak later. I later replaced the sunpak with a YS27DX which is a great manual strobe. You also need to figure your arm costs into all these decisions.

good luck

If you have the budget..get the Heinreich Weikamps bulkhead...and a Sea & Sea YS 110..

Here's a sample of wide angle shot taken with Inon wide angle and the YS 110 strobe.

That's an amazing photo.

Was it taken with an Olympus SP350 (with Inon WA and Sea & Sea strobe)?

DK

That's an amazing photo.

 

Was it taken with an Olympus SP350 (with Inon WA and Sea & Sea strobe)?

 

DK

Yes it was.