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Retra Flash + Retra LSD

Started Feb 28, 2021 | Photos thread
Architeuthis Regular Member • Posts: 491
Re: Retra Flash + Retra LSD

Barmaglot_07 wrote:

I finally got the chance to properly put this combination into action over the past few days, and I must say, I am impressed with it. Even in the hands of a relatively inexperienced user (I just passed 200 logged dives), I was able to pretty much pick it up and run with it. The ring-shaped flash with a center-mounted modeling light makes aiming completely straightforward - there is no offset, so whatever is illuminated by the modeling light will be lit up by the flash, and the aiming spot is bright and easy to pick up on the camera LCD. The supercharger extended battery compartment makes for a very convenient handle to manipulate the strobe. My only gripe, really, is that light transmission efficiency could be better - shooting at ISO 100 and f/22, I have to keep it at max power for a good exposure, and with smaller masks, I have to bump up the ISO. To be fair, there's probably a bit of user error in there - the beam focuses to peak intensity 10cm from the snoot's front glass element (measured in air; may be different underwater) so placing the strobe closer or further than that from the subject will disperse the beam and lower the light intensity.

Some samples - mostly Christmas tree worms, as they're a perfect subject for practicing, being static, colorful, with lots of detail, and sticking up from substrate so that you can shoot them against a water background. Excuse the backscatter; I was shooting in rather terrible (2-3m) visibility.

Great results!

How many strobes with LSD are you using (One flash+LSD, two flashes + two LSDs or two flashes and one of them equipped with LSD)?

Wolfgang

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