Underwater Photography Equipment Review: Sea & Sea YS-D3 Strobe
Sea & Sea Unveils the YS-D3: A Game-Changer in Underwater Photography
Sea & Sea has announced the launch of its latest underwater strobe, the YS-D3, a powerful and versatile tool designed to take your underwater photography to new heights.
The YS-D3 is equipped with a snoot specifically designed for it, which helps in isolating subjects and producing black backgrounds. This strobe takes four AA batteries and is compatible with 5-pin sync cord/N and fiber optic cables.
One of the key features of the YS-D3 is its improved beam compared to the YS-D2J. It boasts an aspherical troidal lens in the flash tube, making the beam more even and without hotspots. The YS-D3's targeting/model light is four times more powerful than the targeting light on the YS-D2J.
The YS-D3 comes with a range of accessories, including a snoot, dome diffuser, slave prism, and a redesigned ball mount. The diagonal ball mount designed for the YS-D3 has a 35-degree inclination to help minimize interference between the sync cord and ball mount.
The slave prism for the YS-D3 allows the strobe to be triggered from a distance without cords or cables, making it a great tool for backlighting scenes or illuminating large seascapes like caves, wrecks, and reefs.
The YS-D3 is equipped with Sea & Sea's DS-TTL II shooting mode, which allows for quick metering of light and fine-tuning of TTL exposure compensation. Manual mode on the YS-D3 allows for adjustment of guide number and fine-tuning of exposure by about 1/3rd of a stop.
The YS-D3 offers several production enhancements over the YS-D2J. It has faster recycle times, with a very quick recycle time of just 0.6 seconds at half power, and almost no recycle time at below quarter power, making it highly effective for shooting fast-moving underwater subjects.
The YS-D3 delivers a professional-grade beam with a maximum guide number of 33 (measured on land), offering stronger and more consistent illumination. It runs slightly cooler and provides a pleasant color temperature around 5800K, contributing to natural-looking color in underwater photos.
The YS-D3 is designed for both professional and enthusiast photographers who need power, quick recycle times, and a nice beam in a small package. It features larger knobs for easier use underwater and a backlit panel for shooting in low visibility environments. The YS-D3 has a recycle time of 1.7 seconds at full power, 0.6 seconds at half power, and virtually no recycle time at quarter power and below.
The Sea & Sea YS-D3 is available for purchase at Bluewater Photo with a U.S. MSRP of $849.95. With its numerous features and accessories, the YS-D3 is a forward-looking choice in underwater strobes, particularly for those shooting quick subjects.
[1] Source: Underwater Photography Guide
- A guide for underwater photography recommends the Sea & Sea YS-D3 as a game-changer, offering a snoot for subject isolation and black backgrounds.
- This strobe from Sea & Sea takes four AA batteries and is compatible with 5-pin sync cords/N and fiber optic cables.
- The YS-D3's improved beam compared to the YS-D2J features an aspherical troidal lens, creating a more even beam with no hotspots.
- The YS-D3's targeting/model light is four times more powerful than the one on the YS-D2J.
- Sea & Sea's DS-TTL II shooting mode on the YS-D3 allows for quick light metering and fine-tuning of TTL exposure compensation.
- In manual mode, the YS-D3 allows for adjustment of guide number and fine-tuning of exposure by about 1/3rd of a stop.
- The YS-D3 offers faster recycle times, with a quick recycle time of just 0.6 seconds at half power, and almost no recycle time at below quarter power.
- The YS-D3 provides strong and consistent illumination, boasting a maximum guide number of 33, and runs slightly cooler with a pleasant color temperature around 5800K.
- This strobe is suitable for both professional and enthusiast photographers, offering power, quick recycle times, a nice beam, and featuring larger knobs for easier use underwater.
- The YS-D3 is equipped with a backlit panel for shooting in low visibility environments, and it's available for purchase at Bluewater Photo with a U.S. MSRP of $849.95.
- With its numerous features and accessories, the YS-D3 is particularly ideal for those shooting quick subjects, like sharks, nudibranchs, or even sunballs in kelp forests or bluewater scenes, leveraging gadgets and technology in underwater photography.
