Looking for entry level (but decent) strobe. Suggestions please.

Are these ones decent?

Bonica Neon-XP Underwater Strobe - i can get for $99 used

and

Nikon Nikonos SB 105 - $200 used

I am still considering the YS90 from a friend for $180. Let me know if any of these other 2 offers are better.

I also see a deal for a YS-120 with arms and cord for $300

Sea and Sea YS120 Duo TTL and Slave Strobe along with a dual sync cord connection tray and arm.

What do you think?

Thanks

Hi!

I guess that you should stick to Inon (used), Sea&Sea or Ikelite at the moment. Optical connection is probably best with the Inon, though you need a strong stomach and a stiff drink to make it through the manual with sanity intact.

It all depends on money: if you are going to stay with underwater shooting you will upgrade, so a more expensive and flexible strobe could be a better buy in the long run. If you have a wide range of power settings, then TTL is not so important; in any case, it is unreliable except in macro photography.

If you are having trouble with strobe illumination, remember that the strobe needs to be pretty close to the subject, but also at an angle to it. It can be surprisingly difficult to point a strobe in the right direction. Images with background illumination and balanced strobe light are often the most attractive ones. Shooting at night will need you to use a focus light mounted on the camera, and I have always found night photography a bit disappointing.

Tim

PS

Home-made arms are difficult: waterproof, mobile but rigid when locked and lightweight with a low profile is hard to machine, and hard to mount on a housing. Again, if you upgrade, the strobe arms can be used again, so a good set is a good idea.

Tim

Prior to going to a DSLR, I used a YS-90 for a few years with a point and shoot and a fiber optic cable and found that it worked very well. I don't think you'll be disapointed with it.

Prior to going to a DSLR, I used a YS-90 for a few years with a point and shoot and a fiber optic cable and found that it worked very well. I don't think you'll be disapointed with it.

Thanks. What model of YS-90? Auto?

Thanks

Hi Snowscuba

It was the YS-90 Auto Duo

Mike

Thanks all for the advice. I was mistaken it wasn't a YS-90 Auto, it was the YS-90 TTL DUO. I ended up buying it for $160 even tough it has only 2 power settings. Should be fine.

Thanks