Strobe Questions

I have a C-5050 camera and PT-015 housing with a Ikelite DS-50 strobe. I am ready for more. I am thinking about adding a DS-125 or another DS-50 plus a wide angle lens. I when would have dual strobes and a wide angle lens. But I have questions.

After reading many posts and comments, I find that a very popular setup is dual DS-125 strobes and a wide angle lens.

My question is that almost everyone states that they set the DS-125 strobes for partial power, why? Why not use dual strobes with less power? I do understand that you want one strobe stronger than the other. But I don't understand why everyone buys so much strobe power and then cuts back on output.

Since I already own a DS-50, what do you think of utilizing the DS-50 as the fill strobe and buy a DS-125 for the primary? For that matter, why not get another DS-50 and put the diffuser on the second to reduce output and act as a fill light. I understand the need for strobe coverage necessary for the wide angle lens and it seems that either set up would be adequate.

Almost all of my favorite pictures taken have been close shots (3 feet or less) the DS-50 has worked well, but I find myself also using the camera flash (with a piece of opaque face mask strap stuck in the housing diffuser, to reduce the output) plus the DS-50 on some shots to achieve a higher f-stop (manual mode) and that creates some backscatter.

My thoughts on why I would want the wide angle lens would be so that I have less pictures of partial fishes. I have a lot of pictures of fishes with no tails, or tails with no heads.

I would appreciate comments on DS-125 + DS-50 dual set up (vs) DS-50 + DS-50 dual set up.

Tom Collier

I would appreciate comments on DS-125 + DS-50 dual set up (vs) DS-50 + DS-50 dual set up.

IMHO both setups will work fine. Personally, I would prefer 2 strobes of the same power. It is easier to get ratio lighting by changing the output of the strobes. Also, if you ever wanted to reverse it it would be easier too. I would also consider a second DS125 to match the recycle time of my first DS125 as well.

If you think that the power of 2 x DS50s is adequate for your application then by all means go for it.

My thoughts on why I would want the wide angle lens would be so that I have less pictures of partial fishes. I have a lot of pictures of fishes with no tails, or tails with no heads.

A wide angle lens lets you get closer to the subject while maintaining a wider field of view. You'll have less water between you and the subject than if you tried to get an equivalent fov with the built-in lens alone and also need less strobe power. I'm not sure how that'll solve your 'fish butt' problem - surely that's a matter of anticipation and keeping the shutter release half-depressed to reduce shutter lag?