1 U/W PHOTO EQUIPMENT

Sea & Sea YS-120 DuoA Compact, Versatile Strobe with Plenty of Power

TEXT AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY JACK AND SUE DRAFAHL

Over the last few yearsthe underwater

photography line of-fered by Sea & Seahas exploded into avast system of hous-ings, flashes, cam-eras and related un-derwater photo ac-cessories. The Sea &Sea strobe systemshave become morepowerful yet smallerand, in the case ofthe YS-120 Duo,more flexible. Thisamazing strobe workswith such Sea & Sea prod-ucts as the Motor Marine II-EXand SX-1000 as well as theNikonos V and RS and a housedNikon N50. This is possible be-cause of a unique type of elec-tronic circuitry that adapts forTTL photography with either fouror five pin connectors. The YS-120 is the first and only sub-mersible strobe with this circuitry.

Considered a mid-sized underwaterstrobe, the YS-120 Duo has a color tem-perature of 5000°K, which will give yourphotos natural flesh tones and warmhues. At full power, the underwater guidenumber is 45 with ISO 100 film. Thistranslates to an exposure of f/11 at threefeet. Just as important is the 105 degreebeam angle, which covers most wide an-gle lenses on the market. If you want tosoften the flash and spread the beam an-gle even more, you can use the diffuserthat comes with the flash. A small ring onthe flash housing allows you to attach acord from the diffuser to the flash so it

COMPARISON OF SEA & SEA STROBES

strobe is mounted on, the indicator lightsare visible. This practical innovation issure to be a hit with dual strobe pho-tographers. A red light signals the flash

is fully powered and ready to per-form. A second light turns greenand beeps when a correct expo-sure is achieved using TTL. Thisgreen light stays on long enoughfor you to move your eyes from the

camera viewfinder to the strobe tocheck the exposure.

Because the internal flash circuitryfor Canon cameras is very different

from Nikon's, there is a second versionof this strobe, the YS-120-C TTL, de-signed just for use with housed Canon

cameras.The YS-120 Duo is powered byeight AA batteries and recyclesat full power in two to three sec-onds with nickel-cadmiums,three to four seconds with alka-

(Continued on Page 59)

The YS-120 Duocan be usedon manual or TTLand with several cameras. It covers thepicture area of most wide angle lensesand can also function as a slave.

U/W RecycleGuide* Picture Color Time Weight Retail

Model (IS0 100) Angle Temp, (seconds) In Air PriceYS-300TTLYS-1 20 DUO

YS-50TTL

YS-20S

4945

40

23

100°

105°

90°

85°

5500°K

5000°K

5400°K

5400°K

4 (A)

4 (A)3(Ni)4(L)

5.5-6.5 (A)4-5 (Ni)

6 (A)

4.4 Ibs.

2.9 Ibs.

1.6 Ibs.

12.6oz.

$999.95

$782.95

$426.95

$316.95

cannot be lost underwater.There are two controls on the back of

the strobe that allow easy access to all itsfunctions. The left switch gives the unitpower, allows you to select slave func-

tion or test fire the strobe.The right switch has posi-tions for full power manu-al, one-half power manualand TTL automatic.

Unlike any strobe onthe market today, the YS-120 Duo features identi-cal indicator lights oneach side of the strobehead. No matter whichside of the camera the

Top: The back of the YS-120 showing thebattery compartment door and switch-es. Above: The YS-120 Duo can use alka-line, lithium or rechargeable batteries.

A = alkalines. N = nickel-cadmiums. L = lithium

10 SKIN DIVER MARCH 1996

SEA & SEA YS-120 DUO(Continued from Page 10)

lines and five seconds with lithium batter-ies. At full power you should be able tomake three dives with rechargeables, sixdives with alkalines and more than adozen dives with lithiums. Using TTL canincrease the strobe's battery life to two orthree times that of full manual. If you are amacro shooter, you may have to change

Above: Connectors are available for avariety of cameras. Below: The batterycompartment door is O-ring sealed.

batteries only once during a dive trip. ASea & Sea charger and eight nickel-cad-mium batteries can be purchased as anaccessory (for 120/240 volt currents).

SEA & SEA YS-120 DUOCOMPONENTS

YS-120 Duo Strobewith sync cord $782.95

Extra sync cord $101.00Eight nickel-cadmium

batteries and charger $152.00

The YS-120 batteries are in an O-ringsealed compartment. The markings con-firming battery orientation are very clear.Sea & Sea's unique battery locking doorensures a very positive seal.

The YS-120 Duo's high impact ther-mopolymer construction provides a 200foot depth rating yet the strobe weighsless than 26 ounces. Sea & Sea's II, III, IVand new Sea Arm V flash arms can beconnected to the base of the YS-120,providing a variety of extensions. If youwant to use two strobes, Sea & Sea alsooffers a dual flash connector for Nikonos,

(Continued on Page 71)

NnPlintn ComparesWith Being Here.

Theunbelievablewalls. Theincrediblemarine life. Even thespectacular meals make it hard to showhow incredible a stay here really is.But. bring your camera anyway, it's the only way you'llbe able to explain what it was like when you get home.

Call us. we'll try our best to describe it to you.

oymonBEACH RESORT

For iiilnriiiiii inn \ reservations mil: I-IW-327-3I35 or 113-323-1727 Fax 113-323-1127circle f314 on Reader Service Card

flfaufet from Here IfoflDive breathtaking walls.Swim in waters teeming

with wildlife. Explorea Caribbean islandparadise. And aftera day like that, youcan relive it all withfriends around the

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CAYMAN BRAC. B.W I

For information & reservations call: I-800-327-3835 or 813-323-8727 Fax 813-323-8827arete 928 on Reader Service Card SKIN DIVER MARCH 1996 59

SEA & SEA YS-120 DUO(Continued from Page 59)

Motor Marine and Sea & Sea housings.To avoid corrosion, the YS-120 Duo

uses very few metal parts in the housing.Most of the parts are high impact plastic,joined with metal. The only exception isin the flash arm control where stainlesssteel screws into stainless steel. Eventhis metal to metal contact is protectedwith a special plastic washer. The synccord for the Motor Marine is plastic atboth ends, while the cord for the Nikonosand housings has plastic at the flash endand a metal similar to that of the cameraat the other end. This similar metal re-duces electrolysis.

The Sea & Sea YS-120 Duo strobe isan excellent piece of modern engineer-ing. The folks at Sea & Sea have carefullyanalyzed what underwater photogra-phers need and ultimately demand. TheYS-120 Duo's compact size and weightgive it versatility, which makes it an ex-cellent addition to your underwater pho-to system. If you're in the market for astrobe, no matter what type of camerasystem you own, Sea & Sea's YS-120Duo will do the job. Give it a flash!

For more information or the name ofyour nearest Sea & Sea dealer, contactthe company at 2105 Camino Vida Roble,Suite L, Carlsbad, CA 92009; (619) 929-1909, (619) 929-0098 (fax).

SOLMAR VANIMAL ENCOUNTERS

The stylish new live-aboard Solmar Vis fast becoming known for unusual ma-rine animal encounters. BesidesHammerheads, sealions and WhaleSharks, one lucky Sea of Cortez trip wasmet by a young adult Elephant Seal atLos Islotes. To the delight of the passen-gers, this 500 pound pinniped got closeand personal with the divers.

Although intimate encounters with 20foot Giant Mantas and sharks are thenorm, divers on a Socorro Island trip wereunexpectedly visited by a mother and calfHumpback Whale and on another tripwere diving with wild Bottlenose Dolphinsat O'Neil Rock and The Boiler. This yearpromises to be just as exciting. Spaces arestill available on the April and May trips tothe Socorro Islands. For information andreservations call (800) 344-3349.

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invites you to celebratePETER HUGHES DIVE BONAIRE'S

20th Anniversary Special!4 NIGHTS

prr |ViM>n. double occupancy

VALUE ADDED FEATURES•Unlimited boat dives (as scheduled)•Unlimited airfills (for shore diving)•$20.00 per person, per stay,

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(800) 367-3484Price quoted is for a four ( I I night stay.per person based on double (xvupancy ami is valid from January (\ 19%thru April 7. 19%. Price includes air-conditioned acc< >mm< idations in a standard nxmi. roundtnp airport hotel

transfers, complimentary buoyancy control clinic, the above mentioned YALl'K AI)I)I-'I) I-T.ATl Kl\all (axes and service charges on package I'eaturev Local phone: (919) 419-3484.

OSD/AD1995

T I A R A B E A C H R E S O R T

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on double occupancy. KP. subject to availability and may change without notice. Certain restrictions apply forgroup travel. Local phone: (919) 419-3484. Fax: (919) 419-2075. OSD/AD 1995

circle 126 on Reader Service CardSKIN DIVER MARCH 1996 71