questions about starting out with one strobe

hi, new to uw photography, i have alot of above water experience and equipment and diving experience, have d810, starting uw with ikelite housing with 105 and 10-17tok, only want to commit to one ds160 strobe to start plus small focus light neo fix sw 1000. i think one strobe will be ok with macro but i am not sure it will be so great with wide angle?
1. did i make a mistake with tokina? vs sigma 15mm - i know it will vignette below 14.5mm.
2. using the wide angle would the small focus light add any value to fill shadows or should i set it to turn off when the strobe fires?
3. general tips for 1 strobe close focus wide angle?
4. position for my focus light? - top housing or on other housing arm?
going to big island hawaii in jan......
thanks

Hi!

Generally the Tokina 10-17 is seen as the go-to lens for wide angle with DX cameras; and the Sigma 15mm for FX. Not quite sure how you'll get on with the 10-17 on FX. Maybe not ideal.

One strobe on wide-angle can be OK as, for me at least, I tend to use the strobe(s) to highlight just one element in the foreground of the pic and not try and light everything. So I often have one strobe switched off.

Focus light I'd suggest on top of the camera housing pointing forward. You only need for macro.

Have a great trip!

hi, new to uw photography, i have alot of above water experience and equipment and diving experience, have d810, starting uw with ikelite housing with 105 and 10-17tok, only want to commit to one ds160 strobe to start plus small focus light neo fix sw 1000. i think one strobe will be ok with macro but i am not sure it will be so great with wide angle?
1. did i make a mistake with tokina? vs sigma 15mm - i know it will vignette below 14.5mm.

Like Tim said above, its more suited to DX and not FX
2. using the wide angle would the small focus light add any value to fill shadows or should i set it to turn off when the strobe fires?

Unless you are in a really dark area eg: under a deep over hang or through a cave system etc. you wont need a focus light for wide angle. If you are diving any wrecks you probably will need the focus light.
3. general tips for 1 strobe close focus wide angle?

Keep the strobe on either side of the housing, behind the dome port, pointing slightly outward and not directly at the subject. Sometimes one may be able to point directly also, but it should be behind the dome to avoid flare. Change power settings manually as required. If you want to take CFWA images with a sun-ball in the background, keep the strobe sync to maximum that your camera allows either 1/200, 1/250 or 1/300 and start with an aperture of around f10. For general seascapes, keep the strobe high and straight above the housing. Make sure it is behind the dome and pointing slightly upwards.
4. position for my focus light? - top housing or on other housing arm?

You will probably, as Tim said only need this for macro. Top is best usually, i keep mine on top but to one side of the camera.
going to big island hawaii in jan......
thanks

Hope the above helps,

Diggy

there are a couple of online reviews that say contrary to usual thinking that tokina is fine on full frame usung 14.5-17 mm range . they now make an option w no sun shade. you can also use it across full range w 1,4 tc

i can still modify my order as the sun shade free one is on back order ???anyone had particularly neg experiences

Seriously, if you can change your order, go with the Sigma 15mm. There is just no advantage - that I'm aware of - in using the 10-17 on FX. It's designed for DX use (where it is brilliant) not a high-end D810 on FX.

i changed my order thanks everyone

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