Wide Angle TTL Underwater with Ecko Fiber Strobes and the OM TG-7 [VIDEO]

Featuring Steve Miller

A great compact wide angle TTL system used to be the unicorn of underwater photography. Not anymore. After 30+ years shooting underwater, Steve Miller was blown away by what's possible with a compact camera - like the OM System TG-7 - and dual Ecko Fiber Strobes. 

In this video, Steve explains why TTL strobe exposure can be a major advantage in underwater wide angle photography and how to maximize the impact of compact strobes.

If you're more of a reader, scroll down to view the article version of this video.

 

The Benefits of Fiber Optic TTL

Not too long ago I went to Little Cayman to do some wide angle shooting with one of our new strobes, the Ecko Fiber Strobe. I have to say it was a lot of fun and it surprised me. The first thing that's different about the Ecko strobe is the fact that it's got fiber optic TTL. This cut down my kit and it made everything a lot smaller and easier to handle. 

Fast, accurate, streamlined for macro and wide angle. Ecko Fiber TTL Strobes are the swiss army knife of compact underwater lighting. // Shot with OM System TG-7 and Ecko Fiber Strobes © Steve Miller

TTL means that the camera will quench the flash when the exposure is perfect, the TTL is deadly accurate on this. I would say it functions exactly as it does on my previous strobes which is to say perfect. In other words, the camera will set out a pre-flash, it'll measure the scene and then it'll go to flash for your frame and this all happens so fast you won't even see it. The second flash will be the flash that is the perfect amount of light to saturate your colors, bring out all the textures without overexposing or underexposing. I used the Ecko Fiber TTL in Little Cayman and it worked splendidly. 

 

Compact Strobes for Wide Angle Photography

Years ago we would say that you can't use a small strobe with a wider angle lens because the strobe isn't wide enough to cover the lens. The way you can work around that and get the coverage out of a "small" strobe that you would normally get out of a big strobe is by using two of them and angling them properly.

Have your cake and eat it, too. Ecko Fiber Strobes are both compact and capable of capturing wide shots like this reefscape. // Shot with OM System TG-7 and Ecko Fiber Strobes © Steve Miller

One of the things that makes this work is that seldomly on a dive are we lighting up everything in the frame. Especially if we're using an upward camera angle and we've got the surface, we've got some reefscape, we've got some open water, the strobe isn't going to hit that; there's nothing to reflect off, so you're not lighting it. All you're really lighting is what's right in front of the camera.

In the case of close focus wide angle, the classic technique for underwater photography, we're coming in very tight, 1 to 3 feet (30-90 cm). Putting one or two strobes on the subject, whether it's a fish or coral head or your buddy, is only a partial part of the frame. If you're using a wide lens you're probably using an upward camera angle as well to get you some blue water, maybe even a little bit of the surface into the frame. In that situation you'll find that the Ecko strobes will cover that lens even if you’re shooting 8mm, full frame, fisheye, or whatever. By positioning the strobes that way, and of course using the built-in deflector, you're going to be able to cover that shot. In addition you've saved yourself about half the cost and probably two-thirds of the weight.

Ecko Fiber Strobes really excel at the quintessential underwater shot - the close focus wide angle shot. Point your strobes at your subject and let the TTL do the heavy lifting. // Shot with OM System TG-7 and Ecko Fiber Strobes © Steve Miller

 

Final Thoughts

When I used the Ecko Fiber Strobes for the first time in Little Cayman I was really blown away. The recycle time is fast, the beam angle is great, and the TTL works beautifully. If you're looking for a backup strobe, a second strobe to take with you on trips, or just starting off with a set of strobes for your kit, the Ecko is definitely worth a look.

 

Equipment Used

• OM System TG-7 + FCON-T02 Fisheye Lens
• Ecko Fiber Underwater Strobe # 40101 

 

Additional Viewing

Ecko Fiber // More Than Macro

Ecko Review // The Ultimate Compact Strobes for Underwater Macro and Wide Angle Photography

Upgrading to Fiber Optic TTL // Shooting the Canon R5 with Ecko Fiber and RC165 Strobes

Ecko Fiber a Year in Review // Compact TTL Underwater Strobe [VIDEO]

Problem Solved: Ecko Fiber TTL Results with OM System TG-7

 

 

Ambassador Steve Miller has been a passionate teacher of underwater photography since 1980. In addition to creating aspirational photos as an ambassador, he leads the Ikelite Photo School, conducts equipment testing, contributes content and photography, represents us at dive shows and events, provides one-on-one photo advice to customers, and participates in product research and development. Steve also works as a Guest Experience Manager for the Wakatobi Dive Resort in Indonesia. In his "free" time he busies himself tweaking his very own Backyard Underwater Photo Studio which he's built for testing equipment and techniques. Read more...