I have a Sea & Sea DX5000 which I use with a ys-25 strobe especially when I go abroad with my backpack however I wish to upgrade the strobe for something better when I go on diving hols . Most of my photography is done overseas (not mcuh call for a camera in the UK although diving is good!) so weight is a consideration. What would anyone recommend? It is mainly reef pictures I take and the YS 25 does me proud on close up and I may use it if I were to buy the YS250 to reduce shadowing on macro work.
Thanks
Graham
i would go with the double set up myself. gives you more options on using different power settings to create interesting shadows, and... if batteries on one runs out on a dive you still have the other!
thats happened to me quite a lot over the years
i would go with the double set up myself.
Thanks mike, that was the direction I was heading in but after reading the forums I was being swayed. The forums are heavily promoting the 250s and looking at the differences in the guide numbers I didn't know if I'd be gaining much from my ys-25.(20) vs 110 (22) and the 250(32). I'm trying to get a rough idea of an equivalent guide number for 2X22s!
I'd agree with Mike. One of the main reasons for getting a high power strobe like the 250's is so that you can stop down in bright conditions and still fill in shadows. Compact cameras generally have a maximum fstop of around 8, so getting adequate light into the shadows generally isn't a problem.
2xGN22's is roughly GN31 (multiply single strobe by 1.4) but all too often you'll be pointing them so they cover a greater area, and therefore in different directions. IE, your back to GN22 if your beams don't overlap. Also be aware that the advertised GN's are salesman's numbers. Backscatter did a strobe comparison, and the YS-110's were actually GN14 when tested (YS-250 was GN22).
Cheers,
Mike
i would go with the double set up
ditto.
for me because one very powerful strobe will give very strong shadows on macro, and two gives more flexibility for wide angle shots.
cheers
Leander
Thanks for all the replies, it feels like you've steered me back in the right direction. Although a pair of ys250s could have been a long term aim it would be a bit of an overkill for my my little camera. Living in the UK does make photography difficult as I can only really have a good play with my camera when I go away..by plane and hence the flight/luggage/kit/clothes issues. At least I'll have a piece of kit that'll be adaptable and the missus can have my old strobe for her little nikon so that she can get more colours that blue into her photos!!
