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The Sea & Sea YS-D3 and INON Z330 strobes are both considered the leading strobes in the market for underwater photography. In this quick overview, we will compare both models to help you pick the underwater strobe that best fits you. Let’s go over some of the specs:
| Inon Z-330 | Sea & Sea YS-D3 | |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $649 | $849.95 |
| Depth Rating | 330 feet / 100 Meters | 330 feet / 100 Meters |
| Flash Modes | S-TTL / 13-Step Manual Flash Mode with 1/2 EV increments | DS-TTL II, Slave TTL and Manual |
| Battery | 4-AA Batteries | 4-AA Batteries |
| No. of Flashes | Approx. 210 Flashes with Eneloop batteries | 220 flashes with Ni-MH batteries |
| Recycle Time | Approx. 1.6 Seconds at Full Power | 1.7 seconds at full power,
0.6 seconds at half power, virtually no recycle time at quarter power and below |
| Connection | Special Inon Fiber Optic + 5 Pin Nikonos Sync Cord | Standard Sea & Sea Fiber Optic + 5 Pin Nikonos Sync Cord |
| Mount | Not included, Ball and YS available ($29) | Ball Mount included |
| Angle of Coverage | Circular Beam Between 110 Degrees (without Diffusers)
Soft Dome Diffuser included. |
Beam Angle 80°x105° (without diffuser) 100°x110°(with Diffuser)
Diffuser Included. (Optional Dome Diffuser for 150 deg) |
| LED Focus Light | Yes | Yes |
| Guide Number | 33 | 33 |
| Color Temp. | 5500K Without Diffuser and 5400K With Diffuser | 5800K Without Diffuser and 5500K With Diffuser |
| Dimensions | 4.0 x 5.2 x 4.9 inches | 3.6 X 4.4. X5.8 inches |
The YS-D3 “Lightning” Strobe
The YS-D3 “Lightning” Strobe is the redesigned version of the popular YS-D2J. It offers lots of great improvement from its predecessor, the YS-D3 has a newly designed circuitry that makes its TTL more accurate, it’s depth rated to 100m/330ft and has an impressive guide number of 33.
The Sea & Sea YS-D3 is the strobe of choice for photographers that require quick recycle times and a lot of power in a compact package. This strobe is also very travel friendly that it can fit in a carry on.
This strobe truly lives up to the name “Lightning”. It features no recycle time at a quarter power and below.
The INON Z-330
The Z-330 Strobe, on the other hand, is based on the popular Inon Z-240. This strobe came out earlier than the YS-d3 that it was compared to YS-D3’s predecessor, the YS-d2J. But this strobe made a mark in the underwater photography with its unique beam angle, 110 degrees without a diffuser that would normally sacrifice output.
The Z-330 Strobe has been out in the market for a while now, but it still holds the title as one of the best strobes.
Our Recommendation?
Right now, you can’t go wrong with either of these two strobes. However, we give Inon a slight advantage, mostly for their reliability. They’ve been in the game for a long time, and produce remarkably reliable strobes. Pound for pound, both of these strobes are very close in specs.
- Sony a1 Underwater Housings – May 28, 2021