Review of the Marelux Smart Optical Flash Tube Snoot, a versatile light shaping tool for photographers seeking to enhance their photography with precision and style.
The Marelux SOFT, a new addition to the underwater photography market, is making waves with its innovative design and specialized features. This smart optical flash tube is designed to optimize lighting for close-up macro subjects, offering a solution tailored to the needs of underwater macro photographers.
One of the key advantages of the Marelux SOFT is its precision and control. By delivering controlled, focused illumination, it enhances detail without excessive backscatter, a common issue in underwater photography with improper light control.
Integration and compatibility are another strong suit of the Marelux SOFT. As part of Marelux's ecosystem of accessories, it seamlessly integrates with their underwater housings and strobes, ensuring ergonomic handling, consistent colour temperature, and ease of use underwater. This is crucial when working in challenging underwater conditions.
Advanced technology is another area where the Marelux SOFT stands out. Incorporating software and optical expertise into their designs, Marelux likely offers intelligent features not typical in conventional snoots. This could include improved light diffusion and potential compatibility with TTL and wireless flash systems.
The Marelux SOFT boasts a lightweight aluminium alloy construction and thoughtful design for underwater use, making it compact and durable. This makes it ideal for macro photography where maneuverability is essential.
While the precise technical specifications of the SOFT in comparison to other snoots aren't detailed, Marelux's focus on affordability, innovation, and integration with their broader underwater system sets the Smart Optical Flash Tube apart. It offers a user-friendly solution optimized for macro imaging, unlike generic snoots that may be less specialized or harder to sync with strobe systems.
The Marelux SOFT comes with several unique features. Its built-in iris/aperture allows for beam width control, ranging from 2mm for super macro subjects to 60mm for larger portraits. The beam quality is unique, featuring both a diffuser and optical condenser for a concentrated, non-harsh light.
The Marelux SOFT is currently available at Bluewater Photo, with a U.S. MSRP of $399 plus an additional cost for the strobe mount. It is compatible with a wide range of strobes, including Sea & Sea YS-D2J, Sea & Sea YS-D3, Inon Z240, Inon Z330, Retra Flash Pro X, Ikelite DS 160 Mark II, Ikelite DS 230, Seacam 150/160, Inon s2000, Inon d200, among others.
The Marelux SOFT's aiming light significantly improves the hit rate of shots from 20% to 100%. The built-in aiming light shuts off for 1.2 seconds after strobe firing to avoid interfering with photos. It also comes with a battery for the aiming light, a ball mount, and a neoprene tube cover for buoyancy.
In conclusion, the Marelux SOFT provides efficient, integrated, and user-centric lighting control for underwater macro photography, improving image quality and ease of use compared to many other snoots on the market. Its compact size, advanced technology, and seamless integration with Marelux's underwater system make it a valuable tool for underwater macro photographers.
- The Marelux SOFT, a novel addition to the underwater photography market, is specifically designed to optimize lighting for close-up macro subjects, catering to the needs of underwater macro photographers.
- Offering controlled, focused illumination, the Marelux SOFT enhances detail in underwater macro photography, minimizing excessive backscatter, a common issue with improper light control.
- Integrating seamlessly with Marelux's underwater housings and strobes, the Marelux SOFT ensures ergonomic handling, consistent colour temperature, and ease of use underwater, especially in challenging underwater conditions.
- Marelux's Smart Optical Flash Tube stands out with its advanced technology, incorporating software and optical expertise into its designs, offering intelligent features not typical in conventional snoots.
- The Marelux SOFT's lightweight construction and thoughtful design make it compact and durable, ideal for macro photography where maneuverability is essential.
- Offering unique features such as a built-in iris/aperture for beam width control and a diffuser and optical condenser for a concentrated, non-harsh light, the Marelux SOFT sets itself apart in the underwater photography market.
- Available at Bluewater Photo, the Marelux SOFT is compatible with a wide range of strobes, improving the hit rate of shots from 20% to 100%, and coming with additional gadgets like a battery for the aiming light, a ball mount, and a neoprene tube cover for buoyancy.
