Internal flash + Video Light?

[GirlonFire]

I am looking to buy a Bigblue VL4200p for my TG-5/PT-058 set up. (No strobe) Is it advisable to use the internal flash while the light is on or is that overkill? I know light requirements will change depending on the environment and the 4200 has different modes...

Another way of asking: Is the internal flash necessary when the bigblue vl4200p is at
4000 Lumens (Level IV)
2000 Lumens (Level III)
1000 Lumens (Level II) | 400 Lumens (Level I)
200 Lumens Red LED?

Thanks

 

[Chris Ross]

The internal flash has very limited range and can't illuminate the subject when you are in too close, so in general not necessary. It will also illuminate particles in the water creating backscatter - so no you don't want to use the internal strobe. It sounds like you are taking images not video. I don't have a good feel for how powerful 4000 lumens is, but in general strobes are much more powerful than video lights. The TG-5 has a very fast lens - f2/f2.8 at widest setting so is less demanding of lighting power so particularly close in for macro the video light should have a reasonable chance of achieving a reasonable shutter speed. You know of course that video lights are not so good for shooting skittish creatures who will often swim off and also you don't have the motion stopping ability of flash.

 

[GirlonFire]

H

You know of course that video lights are not so good for shooting skittish creatures who will often swim off and also you don't have the motion stopping ability of flash.

I do.
It’s my first underwater camera (besides GoPro) so I’m not ready to commit to a strobe yet. I’m hoping a video light will suffice.

 

[Dan]

I got rid of my strobes and replace them with 10,000 lumen video lights (2 of Weefine Solar Flare 5000). No longer need internal flash. What for? It’ll just unnecessarily consumes the camera battery juice.

 

[tursiops]

I got rid of my strobes and replace them with 10,000 lumen video lights (2 of Weefine Solar Flare 5000). No longer need internal flash. What for? It’ll just unnecessarily consumes the camera battery juice.

View attachment 530009

I hope you are a solo diver with a rig like that on a night dive.....

 

[Dan]

I hope you are a solo diver with a rig like that on a night dive.....

There are level of brightness to use and at night I’ll just use 1 video light at 1000 lumens.

Here is one with 1000 lumens

 

[GirlonFire]

I got rid of my strobes and replace them with 10,000 lumen video lights (2 of Weefine Solar Flare 5000). No longer need internal flash. What for? It’ll just unnecessarily consumes the camera battery juice.

View attachment 530009

Do you keep the lights on all the time or just when shooting? I’ll have less than 1/2 the power!

 

[Dan]

Do you keep the lights on all the time or just when shooting? I’ll have less than 1/2 the power!

Just when shooting. You see that I also have GoPro 6 on top of my still camera so I can take still pictures & videos at the same time.

For skidish fish like hammerheads where you can’t use video light, I just set my Sea & Sea DX 2G on manually adjusted white balance on a gray plate that I carry in my BCD pocket & GoPro on low light setting.

 

[Dan]

I’m not into photography and try to do the easiest point & shoot setting I can get by with. I find strobe to be troublesome in getting the right setting. Sometime it’s too bright, sometime it fails to flash. The video light gives me 95% chance of success with may be a slight yellowish tint that I can live with. You can see my photos & videos here: Cocos Diving Trip Report, 17 -27 September, 2018

 

[Dan]

I got rid of my strobes and replace them with 10,000 lumen video lights (2 of Weefine Solar Flare 5000). No longer need internal flash. What for? It’ll just unnecessarily consumes the camera battery juice.

View attachment 530009

Here is my latest video & still pictures from this setup.