Davichin, are you sure about that? I've used the S&S 250 and they aren't that bright that even 3 of them could out shine 2 625's. I know you lose a stop with the 130° reflector on the 625 but so do the S&S. I can't help but think a 3rd center strobe in not so clear water will create more backscatter?
I am not sure of that but even four 250s used in pairs (two strobes close to each other on each side) with only two arms would be cheaper, still comfortable, 500watt/sec on each side and with the possibility of orienting slightly differently you could cover a great angle. Then I have the feeling that strobe power in watt/seconds is not linear with the light delivered (this is only a feeling).
I think Hartenbergers are great strobes but expensive and if you are only going to use them mostly for those conditions you could end up "killing flies with cannon guns" (translation from a spanish saying )
This post is a good mental strobe exercise!
I am not sure of that but even four 250s used in pairs (two strobes close to each other on each side) with only two arms would be cheaper, still comfortable, 500watt/sec on each side and with the possibility of orienting slightly differently you could cover a great angle.
I have used that same argument to justify using Inon Z240s in place of dedicated wide angle strobes. The difference is even more pronounced when you consider dive weight and the travel advantages of AA batteries. When diving 4 strobes I used two arms as you describe. The question is how much light is enough?
It's only messy in that photo Drew - when my arms were folded up and the center strobed "stowed" for getting back onto the boat. I mounted the center strobe straight to the ball mount on the housing and it worked very well. I just pointed it slightly upward and it made so that I didn't have a dark patch in the middle of all my photos.
Cheers
James
It's only messy in that photo Drew - when my arms were folded up and the center strobed "stowed" for getting back onto the boat.
Aww and I thought you had them in slave mode to illuminate backscatter just for me. Except i was shooting ambient light
Thanks for the reply guys.
I will be trying to photograph geothermal cones at depth of 20-50 m, and also wreck´s. Weight is not issue. I will be using D200, Aquatica house, 8" dome and 10.5mm nikon or 20mm 1.8 Sigma, which I find hard to focus with, but i just recently bought it so I am still trying to learn about the lens.
What about the focus light, are the strobes with built-in focuslight which are strong enough or do I have another attached like the fisheye or noctural ? Please reply about this!
I am diving in Iceland, in winter time the sea is quite clear but sunlight not to much, in summer time the sea get´s green.
I suppose you want to do pictures of Strytan in the Akureyri Fjord. But for Strytan you don't need this enormous amount of strobe power. A pair of Inon Z-240's and a camera at ISO 250 is sufficient. It's just a matter of training yourself to deal with low-light/poor visibility conditions.
good luck, Udo
Hi Gisli,
I suppose you want to do pictures of Strytan in the Akureyri Fjord. But for Strytan you don't need this enormous amount of strobe power. A pair of Inon Z-240's and a camera at ISO 250 is sufficient. It's just a matter of training yourself to deal with low-light/poor visibility conditions.
good luck, Udo
Thanks Udo. I guess you have been there.
Can anyone explaine to me when there is need for this much amount of power like Hartenbergs, clear water and whales?
Gisli A.
Large subjects, moving fast, bright conditions, long camera to subject distances, high frame rates.
In cold waters I use much less powerful strobes than in the tropics. First, lower visibility means that camera to subject distances need to be shorter (less strobe power needed). Second lower ambient light levels require less strobe power to balance with them. Third I prefer the colour temp of my less powerful strobes in cold water.
Alex
Thanks Udo. I guess you have been there.
Can anyone explaine to me when there is need for this much amount of power like Hartenbergs, clear water and whales?
Gisli A.
High-powered strobes do give you a few more options in bright, shallow water if you are struggling to balance ambient exposure and strobe lights, especially if your camera lacks a fast flash sync speed.
Hey Alex, we must have been typing at the same time! darren
Simultaneous typing from almost opposite sites of this little planet!
Alex
Ok, I guess double 250 would suit me fine. The reason I was in doubt is the factor: I (we) tend to buy the cheaper, camera...strobe...lens..whatever and discovering later that it doesn´t fit what you are doing. There fore spending almost double what could have avoided in the beginning.
Thanks
Gisli A.
Well with 2 625, you can say you have the biggest most powerful strobe in the market today... that's gotta be worth something...
Opps the hartenberger flood dome is actually 130° (optional)... which is awesome wide but minus 1 guide number! The 95° is the standard reflector. You're right about the NiMH being slower than the NiCad. The specs say 30% more recycle time. I had the YS250 for awhile. It is bright but the beam is a little narrow with the diffuser. I think Davidchin showed the comparisons with the Subtronic Novas somewhere in WP.
I should correct this. Hartenberger DOES NOT sell the 130° flood reflector anymore. They only have the 95° reflector in 4 different color temperatures.
Since of economic crisis for our krona I am trying to find used strobes for less than new. The 250 are still to new to find used. I have found 1 old and used ( good condition ) S&S 300. Would I be disappointed with results or using the strobe.
Instead of one 300, should I buy two used 120 S&S .
I am in desperate need of buying strobe:-/
Cheers
Gisli A.
They are a bit slow to recycle and big - but otherwise pretty good. The 300 series was updated to the 350 to have a non-exploding battery compartment.
Cheers
James
Since of economic crisis for our krona I am trying to find used strobes for less than new. The 250 are still to new to find used. I have found 1 old and used ( good condition ) S&S 300. Would I be disappointed with results or using the strobe.
Instead of one 300, should I buy two used 120 S&S .
I am in desperate need of buying strobe:-/
Cheers
Gisli A.
Hey Gisl, what did you buy at the end?
I really would like to know your experience with your strobes in dark waters.
Do you feel that you need more or less power for WA now?
I still have two months to decide if I'm going to pull the trigger with the Sea & Sea YS-250 Pro, that's why I want to hear your conclusions.
Regards,
Andres.
Hey Gisl, what did you buy at the end?
I really would like to know your experience with your strobes in dark waters.
Do you feel that you need more or less power for WA now?
I still have two months to decide if I'm going to pull the trigger with the Sea & Sea YS-250 Pro, that's why I want to hear your conclusions.
Regards,
Andres.
Sorry Andres but I haven´t bougth anything yet. My currency is almost gone compared to euro or dollar, therefore everything is terrible expensive these days. But I will buy the 250 s&s hopefully soon and I will let you know about the results. I belive I can always decrease the power and if the situation comes up, I have the power.
If you will be ahead of me, please let me know to
Cheers
Gassa
Hey Gisl, what did you buy at the end?
I really would like to know your experience with your strobes in dark waters.
Do you feel that you need more or less power for WA now?
I still have two months to decide if I'm going to pull the trigger with the Sea & Sea YS-250 Pro, that's why I want to hear your conclusions.
Regards,
Andres.
Hi Andres
2 pieces of ys110alpha is on the way. I am sure that I will be happy with that.
Can anyone tell me if I can use old S&S like 300 as slave or can they be modified to do so??
Hi Andres
2 pieces of ys110alpha is on the way. I am sure that I will be happy with that.
Can anyone tell me if I can use old S&S like 300 as slave or can they be modified to do so??
Hi Gassa,
Thanks for the replay. At the end I bought two Inon z240 type 4, after 13 dives I'm still learning to use them.
They work really great and I'm happy I didn't buy something bigger like YS-250 Pro, my last dive was in a really strong current and I was using doubles, it was difficult to maneuver with the Inons and I didn't take pictures because of that. I think that with something bigger the situation could have been dangerous.
I will be waiting to see your new pictures with the strobes. I really like your style.
)
Except i was shooting ambient light 
