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The INON S-2000 and Sea&Sea YS-01 Solis are both excellent entry-level strobes that are very popular among underwater photographers. Both have been highly recommended with good reviews, but which one is better for you?
Let’s go through their specs and see:
| Inon S-2000 | Sea&Sea YS-01 Solis | |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $365.00 (No adapter Included) | $449.95 |
| Depth Rating | 330 feet / 100 Meters | 250 feet / 75 Meters |
| Flash Modes | S-TTL, Manual | DS-TTL, Slave TTL, Manual |
| Battery | (4) AA Batteries | (4) AA Batteries |
| No. of Flashes | 570 Flashes with fully charged 4x NiMH AA Batteries | 330 Flashes with fully charged 4x NiMH AA Batteries |
| Recycle Time | Approx. 1.5 Seconds with fully charged NiMH AA Batteries | Approx. 1.9 Seconds with fully charged NiMH AA Batteries |
| Connection | Special Inon Fiber Optic | Standard Sea&Sea Fiber Optic |
| Mount | Not included | YS Mount included |
| Manual Control | 12-Step Power Dial | 10-Step Power Dial |
| Angle of Coverage | Circular Beam Between 100 to 110 Degrees (with diffusers) | Circular Beam Between 100 to 110 Degrees (with diffusers) |
| LED Focus Light | No | Yes |
| Guide Number | 20 | 20 |
| Color Temp. | 5500k without Diffuser, 5400k with Diffuser | 5600k without Diffuser, 5250k with Diffuser |
| Dimensions | 4.2 x 2.5 x 3.3 inch (106 x 64 x 106 mm) | 2.7 x 4.3 x 5.2 inch (68 x 108 x 129 mm) |
The INON S-2000
INON successfully designed the S-2000 as one of the smallest strobes in their level. Trimming off the unnecessary space and optimizing its inner components, this tiny strobe combines incredible compact size with high quality performance.
The strobe does not come with mounts, which means you would need to purchase them separately, but you have the liberty of choosing whether you like a ball mount or YS-mount, as opposed to the YS-01 which has a built-in YS-mount. These mounts are priced at $29 each.
The S-2000 strobe features S-TTL Auto that implements TTL via a fiber-optic connection or via the ultra sensitive slave sensor, mimicking the camera’s internal flash. This is a wonderful addition for anyone looking for power and quality in a flash while saving an impressive amount of space.
Sea&Sea YS-01 Solis
The YS-01 Solis remains to be on of Sea & Sea’s best-selling strobes since its release (YS-01) in December 2009. Despite being succeeded by the manual YS-02 and then the automatic YS-03, the YS-01 Solis is still most popular as it combines both functions.
The YS-01 Solis strobe has a simple and straightforward interface, and is slightly larger than the S-2000, but still very compact. It also has an integrated YS-mount.
Another feature of the YS-01 Solis is the LED target light which is very useful in strobe positioning and for focusing on night dives.
Conclusion
Both strobes are excellent and provide great value for money.
If you are looking for something more compact, get the S-2000.
If you are for simplicity, and a target light is an advantage to you, get the YS-01.
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