First Strobe Recommendation For Canon WP-DC38 Housing (S95)

[archiebald]

Hi,
I just came back from Malaysia where my daughter and I gained our OWD certification. After our course was finished we took on some extra dives where I used the S95 + WP-DC38.

Even though I was concentrating on dive basics rather than the camera most of the time, after post processing the RAW images, I must say I was blown away by some of the results I got using just the internal strobe (close-ups) and natural lighting. Far better than expected.

Already planning the next dive vacation and I would seriously like to add a single strobe to the housing to extend my creativity.

So I am looking for a reasonable strobe + arm + bracket kit that can work with the WP-DC38, not too expensive because I don't know how deeply the bug has bitten yet, and not too cheap that it will disappoint.

Also, I have read up a lot on underwater photography but would appreciate any tips for a newbie.

Thanks in advance

 

[ozziworld]

I would recommend the INON S2000 on a flex-arm and tray. In keeping with the compactness of the S95, the INON S2000 is just right. Check out the INON website as they make a lot of accessories and lenses that will work perfectly with he WP-DC38 housing.

INON TOP

 

[archiebald]

Thanks very much!!

By the way, here is a small gallery of some of the shots I managed to get. Close-ups are internal flash, wide shots are natural light, all shot in RAW and post processed in Photoshop. Not sure how good my processed white balance is. Depthe varies from 1-2 meters all the way down to 18 meters.

Paul's Vacation 2011 generated by VisualLightBox.com

 

[Cumbo]

I would recommend the Inon D-2000 instead. This is mainly due to its modelling/focus light. I love it. Really really bright and is, thus, really handy on night dives.

 

[shoupart]

Hi,

We carry a couple of packages for a tray/handle/strobe. A Sea &Sea YS-01 strobes would be versatile enough for you and keep up with your increasing skills. It's quite small and compact, and has a spotting light function, too.

 

[orenbvip]

Jason get me a better deal than the retail (that everyone else sells) And i'll take one.

 

[mozaik]

I agree with Shoupart.. The YS-01 is almost as powerful as the D-2000 and it is very compact , lightweight and much cheaper than the Inon.

Check our this review and images :
Underwater Strobe Package Review | Fantasea & Sea and Sea

We are offering a number of such packages based on the Fantasea Blue Ray tray , this makes them very competitive in pricing.

 

[Ardy]

Seems you are happy to buy a new flash but if it were me I wouldn't spend 500 on a new flash if I wasn't sure I was going to use it. I'd buy a second hand manual flash.

You can pick up a manual SnS flash on ebay for about $50 and sometimes they come with arms. Not as small as the YS-01 or the Inon but a good thing to learn on.

This assumes the S95 can run in a manual mode. If happy in a couple of years buy a Inon or Sea and Sea flash.