Which Strobe

Hi all,

I'm trying to get back into underwater photography at the moment after drifting away to deeper wrecks for a little while.

I used to dive with a Canon A620 in the Canon housing with no strobes. Got into rebreathers and trimix and that sort of vodoo so sold it to a member in my club. Just managed to pick up an Ikelite Housing for my Canon 400D (on this forum) at a good price for my shallower diving up to about 60m (200feet(ish)). I have a spare body as well so not the end of the world if it goes, etc.

I was thinking of getting a strobe to go with it but don't want to spend too much money until I see how I enjoy it and get on. If I get hooked again (which is likely), I'll get a housing for my 5DMk11 and go deeper.

I was looking for an Ikelite DS50/51 secondhand but haven't managed to locate one. However, i can pick up YS01/02 or Inon strobes easily second hand.

Now I understand that I can't use the TTL from an Ikelite housing to a S&S strobe but have to use it manually. However, before I spend the money, I assume that the cable will still fire the strobe if the camera deems it necessary. I just have to set the power level myself.

So the question is should I go for the Inon Strobes or the Sea and Sea? And am I understanding the cabling correctly.

Thanks in advance.

The important thing to know before you spend any cash is which strobes are compatible. If I remember correctly, the Sea and Sea YS-01 and 02 strobes only fire via a fibre optic cord, so would not be suitable for your Ikelite housing, and no good for future use with a 5d2.

The same with some of the Inon strobes, the S-2000 and D-2000 cannot be fired by wired strobes.

I'd recommend either looking at Ikelites own strobes or the Inon Z240, or some of the sea and sea strobes that can be used with wired cords such as the D1 or the older YS-110. These will all work with a variety of housings providing you have the correct sync cord.

TTL isn't as popular underwater as it is on land but if you really want it then you'll need to match an Ikelite strobe with y our Ikelite housing. If you go this route, then spending a bit extra to get a DS-125, DS-160 or DS-161 will more than likely prove beneficial in the long term over the DS-51.

Mike

TTL isn't as popular underwater as it is on land but if you really want it then you'll need to match an Ikelite strobe with y our Ikelite housing. If you go this route, then spending a bit extra to get a DS-125, DS-160 or DS-161 will more than likely prove beneficial in the long term over the DS-51.

Hi there,Pooley is absolutly right. Ikelite SLR housings are not enable to use optical strobe connections therefore you wont be able to trigger any optical unit. This rules out the S&S YS01, YS02 and Inon S2000 and D2000

You are left with Ikelite own strobes. S&S YS D-1 and YS 250 and the Inon Z240.

Only Ikelite strobes will give you TTL because the housing has a built in TTL converter that allows you to control the strobe from the back of the housing.

The DS160 and 161 are very powerful and very fast but incredibly heavy and use a rather big battery pack.

The S&S YS D1 is a great option. is as powerful as the ikelite DS160 but is much lighter and uses regular AA batteries.

The Inon Z240 is one of the more popular strobes out there and it will perform perfectly, The downside is the price, compared to the YS D1, the S&S option is more powerful and cheaper.

With either of this 2 strobes you will need the S&S Syncro cord.

The Ikeilte DS51 is a small unit but pretty useless for wide angle, is under powered and has a very narrow beam.

I am new...but my two Z240 works perfectly with any camera....great if size and weight are also taken into account.