need help on selecting flash

[MrSpace]

Hey bros, bit the bullet and got me a G9 + housing.

Thainking of getting a basic strobe system. due to budget. saw this ikelite ds51

http://www.amazon.com/Ikelite-Substr...5967430&sr=1-2

and also the entry set of

http://www.amazon.com/Ikelite-Autofl...5968365&sr=1-2

both of which costs about 500++ with the first one withotu trays..

Would very much liek a more exp strobe like the 125 but then no budget for it now..

any advises?

thanks again and God bless

[howeikwok]

Spend a bit more and get Inon/sea&sea. D-2000 series from inon is a popular model chosen by many on this forum (go search the threads). Alternatively look for the sea & sea YS-110 which can be used with DSLRs or the DX-27.

[Gymrat76]

If I were you, I'd save up and get a single DS-125, rather than twin DS-51s. Later got more moolah, get another DS-125. Excellent strobe!

[bighead]

Nw gt DS-160, maybe probably can get a better deal for the DS-125 ..

[howeikwok]

For DS-125s need to consider cost of charger and maybe a spare battery. Specs are 200+ shots at full dump which may or may not get you thru a full day's diving assuming 50-100 frames per dive.
Weight is also a consideration esp when divers move up from simple P&S set-up and are already using a new heavier camera. The weight difference between a DS-125 and inon/sea&sea strobes are significant.

[Gymrat76]

While I agree that the Ikelite strobes are heavier, the battery lasts really long. I can go an entire weekend trip on a single charge, including using the DS-125's focus light as a focussing light for the night dive.

And yes, now that DS-160 is out, DS-125 may be had at a cheaper price, so enquire at your friendly Ikelite dealer

[howeikwok]

Originally Posted by Gymrat76 While I agree that the Ikelite strobes are heavier, the battery lasts really long. I can go an entire weekend trip on a single charge, including using the DS-125's focus light as a focussing light for the night dive. And yes, now that DS-160 is out, DS-125 may be had at a cheaper price, so enquire at your friendly Ikelite dealer

Battery life is similar to the inon's in that respect. i've heard dylan telling me about his D-2000w lasting more than a week in bali when he was doing his flying manta project.
For me it has never konked out and has more than half charge after a day's diving and shooting.

[howeikwok]

Originally Posted by Gymrat76 While I agree that the Ikelite strobes are heavier, the battery lasts really long. I can go an entire weekend trip on a single charge, including using the DS-125's focus light as a focussing light for the night dive. And yes, now that DS-160 is out, DS-125 may be had at a cheaper price, so enquire at your friendly Ikelite dealer

Battery life is similar to the inon's in that respect. i've heard dylan telling me about his D-2000w lasting more than a week in bali when he was doing his flying manta project.
For me it has never konked out and has more than half charge after a day's diving and shooting.

[MrSpace]

thanks so much guys, sorry i didnt check back in days, was busy with work, might just get the inon d2000 or the sea and sea ys 110 .. its gonna be such a costly hobby, just to check, can we take great photos without strobes but brining down the shutter? whats the limit? know on land anything below 1/25 will risk motion

[crusher]

Originally Posted by MrSpace thanks so much guys, sorry i didnt check back in days, was busy with work, might just get the inon d2000 or the sea and sea ys 110 .. its gonna be such a costly hobby, just to check, can we take great photos without strobes but brining down the shutter? whats the limit? know on land anything below 1/25 will risk motion

Even with IS, I doubt you can reduce camera shake at 1/25 underwater. Even if you can, you can't freeze motion of the things you are shooting at 1/25. By the way, flash is needed to bring back the colour, even when there is sufficient ambient light underwater.

[lovells19]

Hi there's a promo now for the DS125, See HERE

no other strobe beats the 1s recharge time for full flash of the DS125. heavy n bulky yes. but its all worth it

Or if you really want basic, why not check out the new AF35? its about $599 with arm, tray and optical sensor, no more struggling with the sync cord. Battery life depends on the battery you use (4xAA). see the link above.

[howeikwok]

Originally Posted by lovells19 Hi there's a promo now for the DS125, See HERE no other strobe beats the 1s recharge time for full flash of the DS125. heavy n bulky yes. but its all worth it Or if you really want basic, why not check out the new AF35? its about $599 with arm, tray and optical sensor, no more struggling with the sync cord. Battery life depends on the battery you use (4xAA). see the link above.

There are bigger strobes out there. Was at scubacam last night and i saw the hugeaxx seacam ones. Those are 2-3 times bigger than the DS-125s.
Anyway for DS-125, got to factor in a variety of factors like cost of chargers (ie if you have 2, probably need 2 chargers), batteries (exp and may have to consider getting extra as back-up).
I think most users out there, even some pros are happy enough with the inon Z-240s or the sea & sea YS-110s for the combination of size/weight/cost effectiveness of batteries and chargers.
The AF35 is a good concept but i wished they put in more power into that strobe. Read the specs it was something like GN14? Compared to the Inon D-2000 (GN20), YS-110 (GN22), Z-240 (GN24), DS-125 (GN32), it's not very powerful.
Btw, sea & sea just launched a new budget strobe to replace the tiny YS-15, the YS-17. Can consider that as a comparison to the AF35.

[Gymrat76]

Well, the Seacam ones prob cost 2-3x more as well..haha!

With the DS-125, if you have 2, you just need 1 charger. charging time is less than 2 hours, so just charge one after another. Like I said earlier, I never needed to get a spare battery, but YMMV.

[Photosmart]

Originally Posted by howeikwok There are bigger strobes out there. Was at scubacam last night and i saw the hugeaxx seacam ones. Those are 2-3 times bigger than the DS-125s. Anyway for DS-125, got to factor in a variety of factors like cost of chargers (ie if you have 2, probably need 2 chargers), batteries (exp and may have to consider getting extra as back-up). I think most users out there, even some pros are happy enough with the inon Z-240s or the sea & sea YS-110s for the combination of size/weight/cost effectiveness of batteries and chargers. The AF35 is a good concept but i wished they put in more power into that strobe. Read the specs it was something like GN14? Compared to the Inon D-2000 (GN20), YS-110 (GN22), Z-240 (GN24), DS-125 (GN32), it's not very powerful. Btw, sea & sea just launched a new budget strobe to replace the tiny YS-15, the YS-17. Can consider that as a comparison to the AF35.

Big does not mean anything. I can showed you the big strobes like SS400 and DS200.

I have used most of the strobes you have mentioned. Other than the ikelite DS125, YS250 and Z-240, the rest can ignore. And the manufacturer guide number mean nothing at all. You have to test it to see for yourself.

Lovells (aka Jimmy) hasused almost all the strobe on the market beginning from D-180 to D2000 and Ikelite DS50 to DS125 and also SS400. He can tell alot about strobes...

[skywalk]

I've been using Inon and I have no complaints. Shoot me a PM if you want to have a look at my D2000, cus im considering upgrading to a Z240