Backscatter Smart TTL for Sony & Olympus

[Dave_Hicks]

I know some folks have been waiting for the Sony TTL / HSS flash trigger from Backscatter for their line of strobes. I just today got an email announcing availability for this set of new triggers. It looks like they have configurations for Nauticam and non-nauticam housings, and both sony and olympus options.

 

Backscatter Smart Control Optical TTL Flash Trigger Review & Setup Guide - Underwater Photography - Backscatter

 

[hellhole]

So.... Can I use the universal flash trigger on a nauticam housing?

 

And can you do 20/30fps with the has?

Edited February 8 by hellhole

[Dave_Hicks]

59 minutes ago, hellhole said:

So.... Can I use the universal flash trigger on a nauticam housing?

 

And can you do 20/30fps with the has?

You can use the Nauticam trigger but it won't do TTL or HSS. You can to rapid fire at 30fps depending to power setting with the stock trigger. However, in the Nauticam Sony housings they don't provide a trigger like they do with the Nikon model. I don't know why that is.

[ChipBPhoto]

I saw the Sony/Nauticam model a few weeks back.  

 

NOTE - it uses a rechargeable internal battery.

 

While I personally prefer the individual CR style batteries due to having one less thing to remember to charge, it seems to be well made.  The price also seems inline with other smart triggers.  

 

If true HSS and/or TTL is desired with the HF-1/MFs and Sony bodies, this will be a needed purchase.  

 

 

Edited February 8 by ChipBPhoto

[TimG]

15 minutes ago, ChipBPhoto said:

NOTE - it uses a rechargeable internal battery.

 

While I personally prefer the individual CR style batteries due to having one less thing to remember to charge, it seems to be well made.  

 

I'm with you, Chip, or preferring the CR replaceable batteries. 

 

I had this discussion a few weeks ago with Miso over the Vivid Leak Sentinel. The V6  also now uses a rechargeable internal battery rather than the previous versions which used easily available CR batteries. Miso explained that this was due to the increasing power consumption of the boards he was using. 

[scipionems]

Looking one of the video-tutorials about setting the flash menu of the Sony camera, I saw that they suggest to use only a particular kind of adapter using Canon lenses....

I wonder if this trigger will work using the Monster Adapter with my Nikon 60 mm macro in blackwater dives.... 🤔

But I don't know where ask similar information to Backscatter site.... 

[gremlin]

It says Sony full size housings for Nauticam, wondering if it'll work with the A7C or the A6700 housings?

[shokwaav]

4 hours ago, gremlin said:

It says Sony full size housings for Nauticam, wondering if it'll work with the A7C or the A6700 housings?

 

Email them. I asked them about the A7C2/A7CR housing before I placed my order. 

[Susa]

On 2/8/2025 at 12:17 PM, ChipBPhoto said:

I saw the Sony/Nauticam model a few weeks back.  

 

NOTE - it uses a rechargeable internal battery.

 

While I personally prefer the individual CR style batteries due to having one less thing to remember to charge, it seems to be well made.  The price also seems inline with other smart triggers.  

 

If true HSS and/or TTL is desired with the HF-1/MFs and Sony bodies, this will be a needed purchase.  

 

 

if I understand it right, with Sony and TTL only the HF will work, not MF. But I'm not sure. 

[TimC]

8 hours ago, Susa said:

if I understand it right, with Sony and TTL only the HF will work, not MF. But I'm not sure. 

yes, that is correct. MF is only Olympus RC.

[hellhole]

del

Edited February 11 by hellhole

[hellhole]

18 hours ago, Susa said:

if I understand it right, with Sony and TTL only the HF will work, not MF. But I'm not sure. 

that is what i got too...

 

SONY TTL - only for HF1

SONY HSS - HF1 and MF

[hellhole]

will i be right to say that i should buy the universal sony system as that allows me to switch housing system..  like from a marelux to a nauticam, to a isotta, etc?

[kallebumba]

On 2/9/2025 at 1:58 AM, gremlin said:

It says Sony full size housings for Nauticam, wondering if it'll work with the A7C or the A6700 housings?

 

I emailed them and asked if the sony trigger will fit into the A6700 housing, this is the answer:

 

Quote

The new Sony Flash Trigger for Nauticam housings will not be able to fit into the a6000-series cameras, no. You would need a UW Technics trigger if you wanted to be able to shoot both Manual and TTL with the Backscatter strobes <https://www.backscatter.com/UW-Technics-TTL-Converter-for-Sony-a6600-with-Nauticam-Underwater-Housings>.

 

Best Regards,

Cameron Wills 

 

[Cameron Wills]

12 hours ago, kallebumba said:

 

I emailed them and asked if the sony trigger will fit into the A6700 housing, this is the answer:

 

 

Hey Kallebumba,

 

I need to correct that previous email, it looks like I mistyped when I was answering your question. With the UW Technics Trigger, you would be able to shoot Manual or HSS with Backscatter strobes, not TTL. With the other specified strobes in the description area of the item further down the page, it does list the strobes that do have TTL support, but the Backscatter strobes only have support for Manual and High Speed Sync.

 

To specify, the Backscatter Sony Triggers would work with the a6000-series cameras, but there isn’t enough space in the Nauticam housing to use those triggers.

[kallebumba]

Thanks for the correction.

Are there plans to release a version of the backscatter trigger that will fit in the Nauticam A6700 housing?

[Lewis88]

When I tried a s-turtle in my A6400 housing, the vacuum LED was in the way. 

 

With the deeper a6700 and the LED being on the back of the housing, I'm surprised it won't fit. 

[Chris Ross]

To those wanting to fit triggers in the A series Sony housings, the new external trigger that UWT has put out may be of interest, it only needs space for the hotshoe cable inside.  Assuming it works as advertised it could be a good option.  There is a an announcement onsite currently here:

 

 

[Cameron Wills]

On 2/11/2025 at 10:19 AM, kallebumba said:

Thanks for the correction.

Are there plans to release a version of the backscatter trigger that will fit in the Nauticam A6700 housing?

With how snug that camera fits into the housing, there's just no room for our trigger to fit. So there's not really any plans due to that particular constraint

Edited February 12 by Cameron Wills
correction of typo

[cerich]

53 minutes ago, Cameron Wills said:

With how snug that camera fits into the housing, there's just no room for our trigger to fit. So there's not really any plans due to that particular constraint

Hey Cameron,

Do you happen to knw if it will fit in the Olympus PT-EP14?

[kallebumba]

48 minutes ago, Cameron Wills said:

With how snug that camera fits into the housing, there's just no room for our trigger to fit. So there's not really any plans due to that particular constraint

 Hm, sad to hear that.

 

 

So the dimensions of the Backscatter trigger are:  43 x 27 x 21mm

The dimensions of the Nauticam Trigger for the a6700 housing are: 52 x 36 x 26.5mm

 

But i guess the dimensions of the backscatter trigger are without the cable for the leds, so that might then be the problem, right?

[Cameron Wills]

On 2/12/2025 at 1:36 PM, cerich said:

Hey Cameron,

Do you happen to knw if it will fit in the Olympus PT-EP14?

I can't say for certain if it would fit in that housing. The trigger would work the camera, yes, but we don't have an EP14 housing here where I could confirm that.

[Chris Ross]

36 minutes ago, Cameron Wills said:

I can't say for certain if it would fit in that housing. The trigger would work the camera, yes, but we don't have an EP14 housing here where I could confirm that.

The EP-14 as I recall is set up to use Olympus mini flash which used to come with their cameras as is the Nauticam housing so if it fits in the Nauticam housing likely it fits in the PT-EP 14.  The only thing that might be an issue is overhanging the camera at the back. You would still need to trail fit it though to be certain in case there is anything protruding inside. 

[shokwaav]

I can confirm the Backscatter nauticam trigger works well with my A7C2 with nauticam housing. The TTL also seems to work well on land with the HF1s. I do like the fact the nauticam trigger is designed without wires, making it feel more durable, although it may be less viable for alternative housings.