Dive into the Double Delight with Sea & Sea YS-D3 Duo: A Comprehensive Review

Unveiling the Sea & Sea YS-D3 Duo: A Groundbreaking Underwater Strobe

For over four decades, Sea & Sea has been a trailblazer in underwater lighting technology. The latest addition to their yellow submarine strobe family is none other than the Sea & Sea YS-D3 Duo. This innovative strobe takes the place of the Sea & Sea YS-D3 Mark II, offering many of the same features but at a lower price point.

The Sea & Sea YS-D3 Duo has undergone significant re-engineering, incorporating a more sensitive optical sensor for improved TTL functionality and a dual RC circuit for accurate exposures with OM System cameras, such as the TG-7. Despite its upgrades, it still manages the same astounding recycle times of 0.6 seconds under half power with a total guide number of 33. We had the unique opportunity to test the Sea & Sea YS-D-3 Duo during the Sea of Cortez underwater photography course.

Why not grab your very own Sea & Sea YS-D3 Duo and elevate your underwater photography game?

US MSPR: $849.95

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Sea & Sea YS-D3 Duo: Key Specifications

Guide Number (land): 33
Beam angle: 105 x 80 degrees (no diffuser). 100 x 110 degrees (with included diffuser). Optional 150-degree dome diffuser available - GN is reduced by -1.5 EV.
Battery life: 220 flashes with Ni-MH batteries (4x AA)
Recommended Batteries: Eneloop Pro
Recycle time: 1.7 seconds at full power, 0.6 seconds at half power, virtually no recycle time at quarter power and below
Color temp: 5800K (5500K with diffuser)
Improved optical sensor and TTL accuracy
New RC TTL mode for Olympus cameras
Underwater Buoyancy: Almost Neutral (-20g)
Aspherical troidal lens in flash tube for a nice, even beam
Improved audio and visual ready notification when strobe is ready to fire
Built-in safety features to prevent overheating
300 lumen targeting light (4x more powerful than in the YS-D2J)
Auto power off
Over pressure relief valve
DS-TTL II, Slave TTL, RC mode, and Manual modes
Compatibility with 5-pin sync cord/N and fiber optic cables
Depth rating: 100m/330 ft
Weight: 610 grams (21.05 oz)
Includes ball mount strobe adapter, diffuser, silicon grease
US MSRP: $849.95

Enhanced Optical Sensor and TTL Accuracy

Earlier iterations of the popular YS Strobes (specifically the YS-D2s) suffered from reliability issues. However, under new ownership, Sea & Sea has transformed these issues into new, improved, and highly dependable strobes that offer better performance.

The Sea & Sea YS-D3 Duo finishes the metamorphosis introduced in the YS-D3 Mark II, boasting an enhanced optical sensor that ensures improved TTL accuracy across all shooting conditions. The TTL mode operates similarly to an "automatic" strobe mode in most respects, enabling users to take images underwater without adjusting their strobe power.

Redesigned and Improved - Optical Sensor, Better TTL, and a New RC Mode

The optical sensor also grants the strobe greater compatibility with cameras that use low-powered LEDs in their flash triggers. A superior optical sensor translates to better TTL accuracy all around. While TTL is only around 75% accurate and may require some exposure compensation with the proper EV control dial on the strobe, it's still a valuable feature for those seeking an effortless underwater shooting experience.

The most intriguing change may be the name: the strobe now features dual circuits that includes an RC mode. The RC mode is specifically designed for Olympus/OM System cameras with an integrated RC flash mode, such as the OM System TG-7. The improved RC mode ensures incredibly precise exposures underwater, as demonstrated in Bill French's unedited photographs taken during our diving trip in the Sea of Cortez with the TG-6.

The Sea & Sea YS-D3 Duo maintains two manual modes for more conventional shooters, one of which can be activated by cameras with pre-flash and the other by a single flash or flash trigger.

Safety Feature

Due to the upgraded optical sensor on the strobe, if the strobe is turned on outside the water without a fiber optic line attached, it can release rapidly firing strobe releases. In such cases, the strobe will stop shooting and flash yellow. Before turning on the strobe, it is recommended that you connect a fiber optic connection or sync cord to prevent such incidents. Simply switch the strobe on and off to reset it.

Beam Quality

The YS-D3 Duo's beam quality remains the same great beam found in the original Sea & Sea YS-D3. It is designed with an aspherical troidal lens in the flash tube for a nice, even lighting distribution. The beam tends to be a little cooler (5800K) compared to previous models, which aids in enhancing colors while maintaining a natural-looking appearance in greener, colder water, such as on the west coast of the United States.

Lightning-Fast Recycle Times

Arguably the YS-D3 Duo's best feature is its lightning-quick recycle times, particularly at reduced power. The recycling time is 0.6 seconds at half power and practically nonexistent at quarter power or lower. This implies that you can fire at any rate you like during dark, deep dives with minimal ambient light, making it an especially advantageous feature for coldwater divers.

Build and Ergonomics

Built to Sea & Sea's exacting standards, the strobe is essentially indestructible, pushing out more power per size ratio than any other strobes on the market. The perfect size for travel while packing a powerful punch, it outperforms larger strobes without sacrificing flexibility in tight underwater environments.

The YS-D3 Duo sports a redesigned rear panel, dial, and controls, ensuring seamless operation even with thick gloves on chilly dives. Adjusting settings is now more intuitive and hassle-free, with large, easy-to-operate dials.

The strobe runs on four AA batteries, facilitating convenience if you're in a remote area and happen to forget your batteries. It is designed to be used with Eneloop Pro batteries, so these are the batteries we recommend for optimal performance.

Revamped Targeting Light

The YS-D3 duo's targeting light provides up to 300 lumens of light, which is four times as bright as the YS-D2J. As a result, it is simple to use as a focus light when capturing macro shots. Although we rarely utilized the target light due to the preference of having a separate focus light, it proved to be useful when we needed to point the strobes away from the subject.

In summary, the Sea & Sea YS-D3 Duo is an exceptional underwater strobe that caters to both travelers and professional photographers. Its innovative design, ease of use, and lightning-fast recycle times elevate it to the top of the market as a versatile and high-performing strobe.

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The Sea & Sea YS-D3 Duo offers improved TTL functionality, bringing better performance in underwater photography.
With the Sea & Sea YS-D3 Duo, you can elevate your underwater photography game, particularly in macro shooting, as demonstrated by Bill French's images from the Sea of Cortez.
Due to its compact size, the Sea & Sea YS-D3 Duo is perfect for travel, yet it packs a powerful punch in underwater environments.
The Sea & Sea YS-D3 Duo maintains a nice, even beam for improved lighting distribution underwater.
One of the standout features of the Sea & Sea YS-D3 Duo is its lightning-fast recycle times, especially at reduced power, ideal for dark, deep dives.
The Sea & Sea YS-D3 Duo's targeting light provides a bright 300 lumens, making it useful for focusing on macro subjects or aiming the strobes away from the subject.
The new RC mode of the Sea & Sea YS-D3 Duo ensures precise exposures underwater when used with Olympus/OM System cameras like the OM System TG-7.
The Sea & Sea YS-D3 Duo's ergonomics and control layout make it easy to operate, even with thick gloves during cold dives.
To minimize the risk of unnecessary strobe fires when used outside of the water, connect a fiber optic connection or sync cord before turning on the Sea & Sea YS-D3 Duo.
The Sea & Sea YS-D3 Duo's enhanced optical sensor makes the strobe more compatible with cameras that use low-powered LEDs in their flash triggers, boosting overall TTL accuracy.