Confused...

[Lizard Leg]

Ready to get a strobe for my Oly E-PL1 and PT-EP01 housing. It seems the more research I do, the more confused I get.

I have narrowed it down to:
1 - D-2000
1 - S-2000
1 - UFL-2
1 - YS-D1
2 - YS-01

I am considering the UFL-2 since the RC mode is supposed to work so well with Oly cameras. I have never used a strobe underwater and don't want to waste a lot of money on something that doesn't do what I want it to do - be a basic strobe capabale of taking decent pictures in varied conditions. Powerful enough for me to play with settings for desired effects and simple enough to set it up and hand it off to my wife for her to take pictures basically as a P & S.

I am considering the 2 YS-01 strobes vs 1 each of the others since I ahve heard that 2 strobes are always better than one.

Any info is appreciated.

 

[muzikbiz22]

All good choices. FWIW, I shoot with dual YS-01's. They work, they're great, travel nicely, no problems. 2 strobes are not necessarily "better than 1", just different. Just depends one what you're shooting, and what you're shooting with.

 

[Lizard Leg]

Do you have a page where I can look at some pics of the dual YS-01 setup? What camera are you shooting?

 

[SEMO Scuba]

I am using an E-PL1 in a PT-EP01 housing with 2 D2000 strobes. I only had 1 strobe last year and added a second this year. The D 2000 works well for me with the E-PL1. I have no experience with any of the other strobes you list. These are a few of the photos from my last dive trip:

Roatan 2012 Photos by BillFooter | Photobucket

 

[Lizard Leg]

thanks!

 

[bvanant]

I think for learning a single strobe is one of the best ways to learn, but ultimately you will want two strobes. I have/use the Inon S2000, D2000, Z240 and the S&S YS01, 110a and D1. They are all good but for your setup I might go with either 2 YS01 or 2 S2000.
Bill

 

[Lizard Leg]

I guess I keep looking at the difference between two strobe bulbs (1 horizontal and 1 vertical) with the D-2000 vs the single bulb in the S-2000. Have also been hearing things about the Sea & Sea's not being as reliable, and that the Inon's are damn near indestructable.

 

[Lizard Leg]

Any thoughts on my above post? At this point, with all of the research, phone calls, etc. I'm down to a single D-2000 for the time being (a second to be added later), the Nauticam Flexitray W with both handles, and various ULCS arms, clamps and adpaters for a focus light and the strobe - 2 - 8" arms for the strobe.

 

[bvanant]

That will be a fine choice. For macro I have never been able to see a real difference between the S2000 and the D2000 strobes if I use a diffuser. Learn how to use a single strobe well and you are on your way to being a good photographer.
Bill

 

[Lizard Leg]

Thanks. I keep getting more and more confused it seems. I have one group telling my that Sea & Sea strobes are good, but flood easy - and that Inon's are indestructable. I have one group telling me the S&S strobe (YS-D1) is better than the Inon I am looking at because of the higher power.

And has anyone had experience with I-DAS arms/clamps/ etc.?

ARRRGGGHHHH!!!