housed land strobe or UW strobe

I am trying to decide which strobe to use with a housed Nikon D90. I will mostly be doing macro, or at least fairly close-up photography (max subject distance 1m).

The idea of housing a Nikon SB800 or SB900 looks quite compelling. The Nikon iTTL CLS flash system is pretty sophisticated and these strobes are dedicated to the camera.

The TTL converters for UW strobes make me a little nervous - the external ones (e.g. Sea & Sea) look rather bulky and vulnerable, and the internal ones require taking a pair of wire cutters to a shiny new £3000 housing.

What is the opinion of forum members? Is a housed land strobe a good alternative for the pictures I want to take. What are the downsides?

Thanks

I am trying to decide which strobe to use with a housed Nikon D90. I will mostly be doing macro, or at least fairly close-up photography (max subject distance 1m).

 

The idea of housing a Nikon SB800 or SB900 looks quite compelling. The Nikon iTTL CLS flash system is pretty sophisticated and these strobes are dedicated to the camera.

 

The TTL converters for UW strobes makeㅑ me a little nervous - the external ones (e.g. Sea & Sea) look rather bulky and vulnerable, and the internal ones require taking a pair of wire cutters to a shiny new £3000 housing.

 

What is the opinion of forum members? Is a housed land strobe a good alternative for the pictures I want to take. What are the downsides?

 

Thanks

I have used SB 800 and 900 for many years. Still I am sure that it was one of the best alternative way of using i TTL for nikon system. Positive advantages as follows : 1) good underwater balance , or buyancy. 2) easy to control the E.V. 3) very accurate TTL control 4) you can control degree of lighting as you want in wide angle as well. Down sides as follows ; 1) If you set strobe as wide angle, a little bit lower GN . ( but I was never disappointed with low GN at wide angle) 2) impossible using dual TTL , you should set manaul syncro, not slave at the other side 3) In my experience,if you set one side TTL and other side slave TTL, sometime you would get under expoure or over exposure picture.4) cost will be not lower than other ordinary strobe.

I know some company produce that housing, subal , Patima, Nautilus (Japan), 10 bar, Nexus (SB 400? new model) ect,

Does you housing have fiber optic connector options? If so, I've had a lot of good experience with the STTL function of the INON Z240s, D2000s and S2000 which synchs the strobe output to the output of the camera's internal flash very effectively under many conditions.

Cho:

I am pleased to hear that you have had such good experiences with housed nikon land strobes. The housings seem to be split into two types: cylindrical, in which the strobe lies flat in the housing; and non-cylindrical where the strobe is aimed in the same way as it would be for direct flash on land. Do you have any views as to which is the better design?

Alsky72:

I don't think that Subal or Aquatica housings for the D90 allow optical connections, because there isn't space for the internal flash to flip up inside the housing.

Thanks for your responses.

Cho:

 

I am pleased to hear that you have had such good experiences with housed nikon land strobes. The housings seem to be split into two types: cylindrical, in which the strobe lies flat in the housing; and non-cylindrical where the strobe is aimed in the same way as it would be for direct flash on land. Do you have any views as to which is the better design?

 

 

Alsky72:

 

I don't think that Subal or Aquatica housings for the D90 allow optical connections, because there isn't space for the internal flash to flip up inside the housing.

 

Thanks for your responses.

I have both types. Patima and subal strobe housing is cylindrical, and 10 bar and Nautilus produced non cylindrical type, just similar form of land speed light. I prefer nautilus type (non cylindrical) due to compact size and good buyancy. But it has not dom shaped window, so narrower lighting area than cylindrical type. To me, this downside of it never made me prefer cylindrcal type. Those are stuffs using SB 900 . I could not find lack of degree of lighting or power eventhough wide angle shot. Thank you.

Thank you for the information and pictures, Cho.

I am not sure where to get Nautilus housings from the UK, so I will probably go for the Subal housing, though it is rather expensive.

Hi Alan,

The similar shaped Patima housing is less pricey than the Subal. (i.e. Around 900USD from Reefphoto).

I have them and can attest to great workmanship and design. I bit large but so is the Sb900 flash.

E.

Thank you for the information and pictures, Cho.

 

I am not sure where to get Nautilus housings from the UK, so I will probably go for the Subal housing, though it is rather expensive.