Dual Cords or Slave

Is the concensus here when using multiple strobes, to cord only one and use the balance in slave mode or to use multiple cords or a dual synch cord. Also if using dual strobes, is it better to have multiple bulkheads or a dual cord?

Hi, my opinion on using two strobes:

If possible, I prefer dual cords or single cords with dual bulkheads. If you use an optical slave, and you dive with other photographers, they will set your slave off all the time! It runs your batteries down, or worse yet, your strobe isn't ready when you need it because it's recharging. Another problem with the slave is that sometimes it just doesn't fire

Dual bulkheads are nice just in case you flood one. Well, if your housing is wired so that you can disconnect the flooded one.

Cheers

James

Thanks

By the way, what do you mean by "if your housing is wired to disconnect a flooded bulkhead?"

Some housings have a "master" bulkhead that goes straight to the hotshoe. The secondary bulkhead's wiring tee's into the master bulkhead wiring. If the master bulkhead floods, you're screwed. If the secondary one floods, it's not a problem.

Other housings have both bulkheads' wiring go to a board. From the board, separate wiring goes to the hotshoe. If one floods, you just disconnect it from the board and everyone's happy.

Cheers

James

Thanks for the education

James makes a good point about other photographers' strobes firing off a slave strobe - although, have to say, I have seen some good results where the slave strobe on the system of a diver being used for a subject has been fired by the photographer's strobe.

I generally use one cord and a slave and havn't had any real problems. I do travel though with a second cord just in case..........

Over all, I prefer dual cords.

But I have gotten some good shots, in remarkably stirred up water, by disconnecting a strobe arm, and hand holding it way out further to the side.

I got a useable shot of a manta this way, through too much water, that was really milky with plankton...

Only possible with the slave.

I always go back to one strobe on a cord and one on a strobe. As mentioned above I've seen several good shots where another diver set off the strobe with his.