Sea & Sea YS-D3 II Strobe (Version 1)

Sea & Sea YS-D3 II Strobe

(Version 1)

*Discontinued - This Storbe has been replaced by the Sea & Sea YS-D3 II (Version 2)

Check out our Sea & Sea YS-D3 Review at Bluewater Photo and the YS-D3 Review on the Underwater Photography Guide

The Sea & Sea YS-D3 is one of the world's best strobes for underwater photography. It offers lots of great improvements from it predecessor, the YS-D2J, including quicker recycling times, a more even beam, a redesigned back display, and a more powerful targeting light. The YS-D3's circuitry has been improved and the strobe is capable of a powerful, professional guide number of 33 (land). At guide number 22, the YS-D3's recycling time is a mere 0.6 seconds and at guide number 16, there is virtually no recycle time! This kind of capability is very beneficial to underwater photographers that need to shoot quick subjects with burst modes on their camera.

Features:

• Maximum Guide Number 33 (on land)
• Newly developed aspherical troidal lens on the flash tubes provides even light dispersion, no hotspots are produced
• Native beam angle of 105 X 80 degrees with no diffuser
• Wide beam angle of 120° (with included diffuser) or can even wider (150°) with the optional diffuser
• Battery life: 220 flashes with Ni-MH batteries (4X AA)
• Recycle time: 1.7 seconds at full power, 0.6 seconds at GN 22, no recycle time below GN 16!
• Color temperature: 5800K. 5500K with a diffuser
• Large capacity condensers
• Firing the strobes at Guide Number 16 the strobe can continuously fire without any interval time
• Two-stage signal - Visual and Audible notification that the strobe is ready to fire 
• Has a pre flash cancel mode
• Improved power of target light which can be used as a dive light also. It is also adjustable in 2 steps
• Auto power off when the strobe is left turned on for a long time
• Over pressure relieve valve
• Dimensions: 3.6 X 4.4 X 5.8 inches
• Weight: 610g/21.5 oz (above water), -20g/0.7 oz (underwater)

Functions:

• DS-TTL II
• Slave TTL
• Manual Mode

Connectivity:

• 5-Pin Sync Cord/N
• Fiber Optic Cable

Recommended Cords and Cables for the Sea & Sea YS-D3:

• Sea & Sea Fiber Optic Cable
• Sea & Sea Fiber Optic Cable (Long)
• Sea & Sea Single Sync Cord
• Sea & Sea Dual Sync Cord
• Nauticam Universal Fiber Optic Cable
• Ikelite Sync Cord for Sea & Sea Strobe
• Ikelite Sync Cord for Dual Sea & Sea Strobe
• iTorch Fiber Optic Cable

Optional Accessories for the Sea & Sea YS-D3:

It's pretty clear to us that when Sea & Sea was designing the YS-D3, they were addressing every concern they've ever heard about their strobes. Many of these concerns were answered in the form of strobe accessories that make our mouths water! We might just be seeing a golden age of innovation for Sea & Sea. Check out some of our favorite accessories for the YS-D3:

1. Sea & Sea YS-D3 Snoot - the YS-D3 snoot will allow you to produce dramatic lighting and capture beautiful black backgrounds easily with your YS-D3. It has a prism built in so that the target light of the strobe will easily illuminate the subject. 

2. Sea & Sea YS-D3 Dome Diffuser - the dome diffuser for the YS-D3 produces a nice, even, 150 degree beam. This is great for wide angle photography, especially with a fisheye lens. 

3. Sea & Sea YS-D3 Slave Prism - The slave prism allows the strobe to be triggered remotely without any cords or cables. This is great for backlighting wrecks, caves, and reefscapes.

4. Sea & Sea YS-D3 Strobe Diagonal Ball Mount - The diagonal ball mount has a 35 degree inclination which minimizes interference between the sync cord and ball mount. 

Sample Underwater Images:

Quick recycle times produced this beautiful photo of a King Angelfish in a split second

Scorpionfish Eye photographed with the Nikon Z6 camera, Ikelite Z6 housing, saga magic tube, and single Sea & Sea YS-D3 strobe with the YS-D3 snoot. f/20, 1/160, ISO 100

A macro photgoraph showing the YS-D3's accurate TTL capability - even in very low visibility of less than 2 feet

Black coral photographed with dual YS-D3 strobes, dome diffusers, Nikon Z6, Ikelite Z6 housing, Nikon 8-15mm fisheye. 1/160, f/11, ISO 200

Related Underwater Gear Categories:

• Sea & Sea Housings, Strobes and Accessories
• Underwater Strobes & Flashes
• Underwater Video Lights
• Snoots for Underwater Strobes