Dive Shop Services - Blog , PhotographyDive Shop Services - Blog , Photographyhttps://www.diveshopservices.com/blogs/photographyWed, 25 Mar 2026 19:31:20 -0700http://zoho.com/sites/<![CDATA[2020 Sea & Sea Strobe Guide]]>https://www.diveshopservices.com/blogs/post/2020_SeanSea_StrobesCheck out what Sea & Sea has brought to the strobe world this year!]]>

Adding strobes to your camera setup is like adding a motor to a bicycle, the game is changed. Strobes offer lots of light, instantly, and can be positioned in lots of clever ways to light the subject appropriately or even add an artistic element. Not all strobes are created equal. Sea & Sea makes the best strobes out there and the competition knows it. Mimics pop up from time to time and can never match the quality of the Sea & Sea brand.


Which Sea & Sea strobe is best for you? Check out the guide below and find your local Sea & Sea dealer to make a purchase!

Benefits of Strobes PDF
Sea & Sea Strobes

YS-02

The YS-01 Solis has been redesigned for 2020. The original version was the most popular strobe in its class and the redesign will not disappoint.  This light uses the same circuitry as the high end models with simpler design and options. 

  • DS-TTL II circuitry
  • Variable intensity
  • 40% brighter target light
  • Very even wide angle
Read more

YS-03

The YS-03 Solis is functionally the same as the YS-02. The 03 Solis only offers TTL, making it perfect for beginner underwater photographers who want the reliability of a Sea & Sea strobe in the most simple package possible.

  • Universal TTL support
  • One button operation
  • Very even wide angle
Read more

YS-D2J

For years, the YS-D2 has been considered the best of the best. The release of the D3 may have changed that slightly, but the proven track record and international love of the D2 was well earned.

  • Really bright (GN32)
  • Fast recycle time
  • Sync cable compatible
  • EV adjustment
  • Slave function 
Read more

YS-D3

New to the market and boasting a pile of firsts the D3 is on the forefront of strobe technology. The aspherical optical troidal lens provides an even distribution across the angle and super condensers have 0 recharge time at half power and only 0.8sec at GN22.

  • GN33
  • Ultra fast recycle time
  • EV adjustment
  • Slave function


Read more
]]>Fri, 12 Jun 2020 12:56:37 -0500<![CDATA[YS-D3]]>https://www.diveshopservices.com/blogs/post/YS-D3New and improved from Sea & Sea]]>

No matter the camera or housing they use, professional photographers prefer Sea & Sea strobes. They're tough, reliable and packed with features. The YS-D3 is the latest in the Sea & Sea family and it doesn't disappoint. The YS-D3 provides even, bright light with a fast recharge time. The electronics are superior than previous models and outperform the competition all day long.


Stats:

  • Guide number at surface: 33
  • Aspeherical optical troidal lens (this makes the light even across the entire area)
  • Revamped recharge circuitry and condensers
  • Standard beam angle: 80°x105
  • Color temperature: 5500K
  • Target light is bright enough to use as a dive light.

Recharge ability

The YS-D3 can fire bursts in rapid succession, even at high power. This means photographers can capture the perfect moment without the fear of a missing strobe ruining the shot.

  • At a guide number (GN) of 16 (half power) and less there is no recharge time for firing. 
  • At a GN of 22 the recharge time is 0.8 seconds.
  • At a GN of 33 (full power) the strobe recycles to 22 and alerts audibly and visually, then alerts again once GN33 power has been reached.

Aspherical optical troidal lens

Modes

Accessories

Dome Diffuser

  • For fisheye photography
  • Changes beam angle to 150°×170°

Snoot

  • For Macro photography
  • 25mm opening with integrated prism

Slave Prism

  • For using fixed strobes
  • No cable required
]]>Wed, 03 Jun 2020 13:54:23 -0500<![CDATA[WHYde Angle Lenses]]>https://www.diveshopservices.com/blogs/post/WHYde-AngleWide angle lenses are the staple for underwater production, but why? Do you really need one? As we go underwater the natural light diminishes, even on ]]>

Wide angle lenses are the staple for underwater production, but why? Do you really need one?


As we go underwater the natural light diminishes, even on shallow sites. Using external lighting, video lights or strobes, drastically improves images. It helps add in lost colors, provides proper contrast, and captures the real beauty of the critters. For still photography, strobes are preferred. They provide lots of light in an instant, more than video lights can provide, and have other features, like TTL, to adjust how the camera and flash work together.


You can see how the image on the right is capturing more at the same distance from the lens. Both images were taken with a Sea & Sea DX-6G

The problem with lighting is that it can only be so bright, and only go so far. Once you get in close enough for the lights to be effective you're stuck with a closeup shot that may not have everything you'd like in frame. This is where wide angle lenses come into play. A wide angle allows you to use external lighting, get close enough for the lighting to be effective, and have more in your frame.

Some camera systems only have one lens, and that's what's used in all situations. More experienced photographers who want the most of their time underwater will use a dual system to capture different kinds of images on one dive. This is typically accomplished with a "wet-lens". A wet lens is a wie angle lens that can be attached to the camera during a dive. The Sea & Sea DX-6G wide angle is a perfect example of this.

Want to learn more about cameras and lenses? Contact us for a photography workshop!

]]>Sat, 08 Feb 2020 16:08:12 -0500<![CDATA[DX-6G Settings]]>https://www.diveshopservices.com/blogs/post/DX-6G-SettingsThe Sea & Sea DX-6G is the perfect tool for capturing images underwater without the complexities of a more advanced and expensive setup. Settings f ]]>

The Sea & Sea DX-6G is the perfect tool for capturing images underwater without the complexities of a more advanced and expensive setup.

Photos were taken with a DX-6G

Clownfish
Pacific Ocean
Turtle

Settings for the perfect photo vary slightly depending on conditions but we've found the below settings are the best way to get started on your journey to take awesome photos!

Mode

  • Power ON
  • Press MODE
  • Toggle right and down to Underwater (1/2)
  • Press OK to select and exit MODE

Quality Level

  • Power ON
  • Press MENU (Rec. Mode) (1/4)
  • Toggle down to Recorded Pixels (1/4)
  • Toggle right and up or down to select your preference
  • Press OK to set
  • Toggle down Quality Level (1/4)
  • Toggle right and up to select 3 stars (best quality)
  • Press OK to set

Auto Focus (AF)

  • Toggle down to AF Setting (1/4)
  • Toggle right to Focusing Area
  • Toggle right and down to select Center Focus
  • Press OK to set
  • Toggle down to Auto Macro
  • Toggle right to uncheck the box
  • Toggle down to Focus Assist
  • Toggle right to uncheck the box
  • Toggle up to Focusing Area
  • Toggle left to MENU

Sensitivity

  • Toggle down to Sensitivity (2/4)
  • Toggle right and down to select 125
  • Press OK to set

Detections

  • Toggle down to Face Detection (2/4)
  • Toggle right and down to turn OFF
  • Press OK to set
  • Toggle down to Blink Detection (3/4)
  • Toggle right to uncheck the box
  • Toggle down to Digital Zoom
  • Toggle right to uncheck the box

ISO

  • Toggle down to AUTO ISO Range (2/4)
  • Toggle right and up to select ISO125-200
  • Press OK to set

Memory

  • Toggle down Memory (3/4)
  • Toggle right to Face Detection (keep checked) (1/3)
  • Toggle down to Flash Mode (keep checked) (1/3)
  • Toggle down to Drive Mode (keep checked) (1/3)
  • Toggle down to Focus Mode (keep checked) (1/3)
  • Toggle down to Zoom Position (keep checked) (1/3)
  • Toggle down to MF Position (keep unchecked) (1/3)
  • Toggle down to White Balance (keep checked) (2/3)
  • Toggle down to Sensitivity (keep checked) (2/3)
  • Toggle down to EV Compensation (keep checked) (2/3)
  • Toggle down to AE Metering (keep checked) (2/3)
  • Toggle down to Digital Zoom (keep unchecked) (2/3)
  • Toggle down to Display (keep checked) (2/3)
  • Toggle down to File No. (keep checked) (3/3)
  • Press MENU to set

EV Compensation

  • Toggle down to EV Compensation (2/4)
  • Toggle left to select between -1.0 and -2.0 (when using a strobe)

Flash

  • If using a strobe:
  • Power ON
  • Press the Flash icon on the Four-way controller
  • Toggle down to Flash Mode/Flash On
  • Press OK to select and exit
]]>Sat, 08 Feb 2020 14:41:12 -0500<![CDATA[How to spend a $5,000 photography budget]]>https://www.diveshopservices.com/blogs/post/How-To-SpendA customer enters your store and wants to get into photography. They have a budget, let’s say $5,000 and want to hang some pretty photos in their offi ]]>

A customer enters your store and wants to get into photography. They have a budget, let’s say $5,000 and want to hang some pretty photos in their office or house. What do you do?


Many dive shop owners would suggest the below:


  • $2000 Housing
  • $2000 Camera and lens
  • $1000 Lights
  • Free Photography specialty


This plan gets the customer an awesome camera system and some skills to take photos, without a plan to learn more, take photos, and share their experience. There is nothing wrong with a shop offering this path, but let's check out something different.


Here’s an alternate breakdown for the same customer:


  • $1000 Camera with housing
  • $1000 Trip 1
  • $2000 Trip 2
  • $1000 Trip 3
  • Free Photography specialty

Why do we prefer option #2?

Generally this will result in a lower immediate profit for the dive center but it has a huge advantage for the dive center and the customer - the customer reaches their goal. In example 1 the customer has the fancy camera, which will still take a number of dives to get great photos, and no budget to find the images they want. They have the gear, with no memories, no images, and no experience. The dive center has a happy customer who will share and brag about the experiences they had on the trips they attended. That customer is a walking, talking advertisement. Example one has a nice camera to brag about. Example 2 has the images from $4000 of adventures.


Photography is all about capturing the moment. Help your customers capture their next adventure with the Sea & Sea DX-6G.

Learn More
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