Getting one strobe or two strobes is a common question among underwater photographers starting out.
There are of course pros and cons to each option.
Using One Strobe
- Compact and travel friendly
- Easy to use, no need to mess around with 2 strobes
- Less batteries – we recommend 2 sets of batteries per strobe.
- Enough for many types of shots – you can get away with many types of shots using just one strobe and positioning it in a smart and efficient way. More about that on our strobe positioning article.
- Positioning is very important – you have just one strobe, so make sure you get it right. If it’s blocked by coral or rock, no light will reach the subject!
- More affordable – obviously 😉
Using Two Strobes
- Creates uniform lighting throughout the frame
- Important for wide angle – in order to cover the entire frame, especially with fisheye lenses.
- Harder to adjust on manual – since you have to adjust each strobe independently
- Positioning may be easier – if one strobe is blocked by coral, the other one might reach the subject.
- You tend to bumps into things / divers – divers often forget how big their setup can be with the strobes spread out wide
- Heavier / Pricier…
You can certainly start with one and add the other later, it is a bit easier to handle one strobe so that will actually be a pretty good choice to start with.
When using one strobe, I would suggest to position it on an arm above the camera and when using 2 strobes, it usually is better to position them one on each side. More about strobe positioning here
If you get one strobe, it’s always better to get one that offers enough power and a wider beam angle like the Sea and Sea YS-D2J / YS-D3, Inon Z-330 etc.
Latest posts by Tal Mor (see all)
- Featured Underwater Photographer – Eren Baştanoğlu – April 16, 2024
- Flex Arms vs. Ball and Joint Arms – January 23, 2024
- Which underwater light should I get for my Olympus Tough TG-7 or TG-6? – January 9, 2024