Is there any Epoque ES-150DS digital strobe user here. Care to share your view ?? Pos or neg views are welcome

I heard that using NiMh batteries has forced this strobe
to poup underwater, because it’s extremely small. NiCd
Batteries should be no problem, though. However all
this is second hand information.

Hello, photosmart:

I also have Olympus C5000 Zoon and PT-019 housing.  I am thinking about purchasing Epoque ES-150 DS strobe.
I am wondering if you have already used the Eqpoque ES-150 DS strobe.
If so, can you give me any comments (ease of use, performance and etc.)?

Thank you.
Hiro
:wink:

I am also looking into buying the Epoque strobe and am looking for some feedback from anybody that has used it before.  I have an Olympus C-4000 camera with the Olympus PT-10 housing (which I got from a Japanese dealer online shipped for under $200!).

Secondly, I still need to get the tray, arm, and fiber optic cord if I choose this strobe.  I’ve found a online site that has everything I need instock at great prices, but I am a little nervous to buy from them.  They are from singapore, want to charge me an extra 4% to use my Visa, or I can PayPal them but to someone’s personal account.  Does anyone have any experience dealing with the people at http://www.oceanicfocus.com? The individual I’ve been emailing with at that company is named McHale Song. 

He claims the following:  “My company is well established and is reigsitered as the authorised distributor with major brand such as Epoque, 10Bar, Inon and Jonah Housing etc.  It is also recognised by Digideep.com as the dealers for all the above brands.” I figured I’d ask this forum if they did in fact recoginze this company as a company that is trusted to do business with.

Thanks in advance, I’ve learned plenty already by reading this forum.  Keep up the good work all of you posters and administrators at digideep.com! 

-Sean

Hello, seanberg:

I am thinking about Epoque strobe, tray, arm (10 cm, flexible), synch cable from http://www.marinecamera.com
They are located in San Diego, CA where you live.  So this may be convenient to you.  They quoted me aroung $370.00 + tax for the above set-up, which seems very reasonable.

Hello Hiro, yes, I’ve been to the http://www.marinecamera.com website, and have been to the owner’s actual store in San Diego.  Lee, the owner is a very knowledgable and nice person.  He recommended to me the Epoque over the Ikelite system I was considering.  The only reason I’m considering buying the gear somewhere else is that I’m trying to cut down on my costs.

The store in Singapore has cheaper prices for the slot tray, strobe, arm, an fiber optic cable, and for the wide angle and macro lens.  Also, I wouldn’t have to pay the 7.75% California sales tax.  The shipping from Singapore to California is surprisingly very cheap.  My only concern is getting scammed by the seller.  The seller is claiming that people here at digideep.com know of him and his business, but I can’t find anything anybody has written about them.  So please, if anybody has dealt with oceanicfocus.com, please step up and tell me about it.

Additionally, I want to hear some stories if anyone has any about Epoque strobe.  I’ve read the battery compartment is tricky and can flood easily if not done correctly, but Lee at Marine Camera Distributors walked me through all that step by step at his store.  My trip to Belize is in a month and a week, and I need to pull the trigger and purchase my gear soon.

Thanks in advance!
-Sean

Hiro, just so you know, the quote of $370 you are getting for the gear you listed from Marine Camera Distributors comes out to about $329 from oceanicfocus.com

Shipping is cheaper than California sales tax as well…

-Sean

Hi, Seanberg:

I hope all is well with you.  I’ve been searching reputation on the Epoque strobe ES-150 DS as well.  I finally found one opinion at:
http://dive.scubadiving.com/members/gearreviews.php?s=544
In this report, it says that Epoque strobe is not strong enough to shoot objects that are away 6 feet or more.  However, underwater, we need to get as close as we can and 6 feet is pretty far to take photos underwater.  After I’ve looked at these sample photos, I’m pretty satisfied with what I can expect from Epoque strobe, so I think I am going to purchase next week.  Give me your thoughts if you’ve already purchased and used it.

:D Hiro

Hi there

Have any of you taken the plunge (sorry) and bought the Epoque strobe yet? I am looking at it and some first hand user info would be very helpful.

Thanks

Dave

Hello Dave:

You may want to try the following URLs.

http://www.digitaldiver.net/yabbse/index.php?board=3;action=display;threadid=4335

http://www.digitaldiver.net/yabbse/index.php?board=3;action=display;threadid=4528

http://www.digitaldiver.net/yabbse/index.php?board=3;action=display;threadid=4169

Hope these help.

Hiro

Thanks for the links Hiro a lot of info to digest. Opinions seem to be divided as to whether its worth spending the money on the Epoque or spending more on a more powerful strobe.

For me the choice is the Epoque or no strobe at all, as I am not prepared to spend as much (or more) for a strobe as I paid for a camera and housing, and I think the Epoque will be a great improvement on the internal flash.

I have one of these strobes. It is underpowered. I am in the market for
a new one mybe Inon

I purchased the Epoque DS 150 set up from Marine Camera Dist. except I got 2 strobes.  Am using them with the Oly C5060 & Oly housing.  I was advised to get close & that works well.  I have gotten a few really good pics (and a lot of awfull ones) with this set up so I know it will work.  I got the longer arms & bent them until the strobes were level with the camera lens and equal distance apart.  I think my problem is figuring out the 5060 settings.  Over the 4th of July weekend I went to Cozumel and flooded one of the strobes.  I felt like I had put the battery cap on right, however, I was using NIHM batteries.  The battery cap has been hard to get off and a little tricky so I was trying to be very careful.  I will reorder another strobe and try NICAD as per another post on this forum.  It is the cheapest strobe setup I have found.  Have been told you don’t need as much light with a digital camera by people much better than I.  Marine Camera was very helpful the first time around.  If anyone has any tips on Oly 5060 setting let me know.

I have an Epoque 150 and it works pretty well.  I am new to uw photo, but have been able to get some very good photos with mine.  I have a Sony dscp100 camera with a sony housing.  I purchased my gear from b&h photo video, but got my double tray ($36), 36 cm flex arm ($36) and fiber optic cable ($37) from helixcamera.com and fantasea.com.  I am pretty sure about the prices, but it has been a while.  They had the best prices by far.  I just got back from Barbados and I semi flooded my epoque strobe.  when I opened the battery compartment, there was a drop or two of water inside on the batteries.  The light would come on, but it would not flash.  I got back to Denver and let it dry out and it now works.  Make sure you dont change anything.  Use new batteries, I continue to use AA and get a supply of o-rings.  Change them at least yearly if not more.  It is cheap insurance.  I greased mine between dives, but did not get a new o-ring on this trip.  (lazy) I am going to purchase another one so I can shoot with two strobes.

good luck.

not sure what the problem is for you.  turn off your preflash on your camera and that may help.  i use a p100 sony and the preflash is seperate so i can still use it.  i get very good photo’s with my epoque flash.  if you are using a slave fiber optic cable, make sure that it is working on the surface, then try it under water.  if you are getting black photos, something is not working, my sony takes good photos without the epoque.  wish i could help more, email me if you want to, it may be easier, i dont use this board much.