YS-60 TTL first efforts...

[Ben Panter]

Finally got a chance to have an hour in the water with my six month old strobe (been doing far too much teaching recently!), and given that the vis in Loch Long was about a metre I'm hopeful for the future. We swam from the layby to Conger Alley at about 25m, not a huge amount around but lots of Scallops feeding. Vis got worse as we hit the reef, which was to be expected. Lesson learned that it would be good to have a small torch fixed to the strobe arm for the focus to work with. Presumably that won't show up when the flash fires?

The last couple of shots were with an old sea&sea fisheye fitted. Not that impressed really, but will see what I can do to improve things with more light when the vis picks up...

Loch Long with Dave

cheers,

Ben

[DDT uk]

The focus light shouldn't show up on your shots unless it is particularly strong subject to the relative to the flash. Some focus lights cut out when the flash fires so this is not a problem. Yuzo seems to do a cheap one. Not tried it yet but I have been thinking about it.

In an ideal world you may be better mounting the focus light independently from the strobe (such as on top of the housing). According to sages such as Martin Edge, the trick to avoiding backscatter is to use the edge of the beam so not to light any of the water column between the housing and the subject. As a focus light will typically have a much narrower beam, you may may find the only one would be proper positioned.

Daniel

[zan]

Not sure what you had in mind, but I use a UK Q40 torch taped to the top of my strobe and it does the job nicely. It has to point where the strobe points, but it works fine for me at the moment and only cost £20.

Zan

[Ben Panter]

Thanks both!

I'd planned something along the lines of what Zan suggests, just a very weak light to allow composition and focus when it's pitch black down there, rather than trying to manoeuvre my umbilical into place.
I do like the look of the other torch, though I suspect that the postage will be about as much as the unit!

thanks,

Ben

[jackdiver]

Originally Posted by Ben Panter

Thanks both!

I'd planned something along the lines of what Zan suggests, just a very weak light to allow composition and focus when it's pitch black down there, rather than trying to manoeuvre my umbilical into place.
I do like the look of the other torch, though I suspect that the postage will be about as much as the unit!

thanks,

Ben

Just a thought, but have you noticed how the 'focus iluminator' light built into most cameras tend to be orange or red? I guess that this would have less chance of showing (filter attached to torch) in a photo.

I've had a few photos spoiled in the past by buddies 'helping' and shinning bright torches on my subject just as I take a shot...