Folks, I just picked up a Marelux housing for my Canon R7 a couple of days ago.   For a bunch of reasons, I only got it a few hours before my flight to Philippines, and didn’t have a chance to test everything before I headed out. 
 

Now I find my fibre optic cables aren’t conducting the light needed to fire the strobe -looking into the housing port with the cable removed, I see that the trigger is indeed producing an optical burst - but it isn’t triggering the strobes (Supe D Pro).   
 

The same cables and strobes work perfectly with the inbuilt flash of my Olympus OMD body in a Nauticam housing.  
 

I recall reading somewhere that some fibre optic cables have this issue - does anyone know the specs of the type of cable that will work?

 

TiA!

 

Are you using the housing flash trigger on R7 vs built-in flash on Olympus? If so, it could be the fiber optic cable is simply not up to scratch - either single core or very much mangled. Basically flash triggers produce less light, hence with a bad cable, simply not enough will travel over to trigger the strobe. That is the very exact behavior I had years ago when first switching to a flash trigger - ended up replacing the cables and all works perfect.

 

DIY is an easy route, see below. Or need to buy a premade one - i.e 613 core.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 6Apr 6 by makar0n

Hi - that is exactly correct.    I quite likely have single core cables, as they are generic ones that cost a lot less.  
 

What should I be looking for in a cable that works?   Any multi-core or specifically 613?

 

I am in Malapascua and then going directly to Tubbataha next weekend - so DIY isn’t an option, but hopefully, can find a shop that does have something.  

Edited April 6Apr 6 by vkalia

613-core is what you should be looking for.

 

A fair few years ago, I found myself in Cebu City, about to get on a 10-day liveaboard, with my camera, housing and strobes, but without the tray, arms, clamps and fiber optic cables which were in a checked bag that got delayed. Fortunately, Stride and Stroke shop in Ayala Mall had everything that I needed. This won't help you while you're in Malapascua (although since you have a few days there, you might be able to get stuff delivered), but I assume you'll be passing through Cebu City on your way to Puerto Princesa.

awesome - thank you.  I have someone coming into Cebu City day after tomorrow.   Will see if they can pick this up for me.    
 

Or failing that, I will collect on the way back, before I head to Tubbataha.

 

Thanks a ton!

If that does not work, Nauticam website lists two stores in Manila - guess shipping is an option. Their cable will definitely work but it won't come cheap.

https://www.nauticam.com/pages/store-locator

 

Good luck!

Edited April 6Apr 6 by makar0n

Nauticam cables will be good as will INON cables if you can find something.  If you can't find anything see if there is an electronics store somewhere and pick up a couple of Toslink cables.  The square ends of the cable will fit in a Sea and Sea fibre port if you round off the corners a little bit.  Probably not quite a secure as the original but I found they worked.  Just make sure you secure them to an arm so they can't float off if the ends disengage while you are not looking. 

Thanks, folks. 
 

Stride&Stroke has Sea&Sea cables (thanks @Barmaglot for that name) and as per S&S’s website, those are 613 cables. 
 

Those should work, right?  Someone I know is coming to Malapascua tomorrow and bring it for me, if it does.  

 

Edited April 7Apr 7 by vkalia

5 minutes ago, vkalia said:

Thanks, folks. 
 

Stride&Stroke has Sea&Sea cables (thanks @Barmaglot for that name) and as per S&S’s website, those are 613 cables. 
 

Those should work, right?  Someone I know is coming to Malapascua tomorrow and bring it for me, if it does.  

 

I think S&S cables should be fine, S&S strobes after all used to need the very best cables to trigger reliably, so their cables should be good.

50 minutes ago, vkalia said:

Stride&Stroke has Sea&Sea cables (thanks @Barmaglot for that name) and as per S&S’s website, those are 613 cables. 
 

Those should work, right?  Someone I know is coming to Malapascua tomorrow and bring it for me, if it does.  

I use Sea & Sea cables with a UWT trigger and Retra Pro strobes. They were recommended to me for being sturdier than most. They're fairly pricey (I got them from divervision.com), but I haven't had any issues with them thus far.

Vinnie you need 613 core. I had and still have one supe D pro and had similar issues. Would have sent you mine vide courier but am off (like you) with a group this Wednesday. 

 

Diggy

On 4/6/2025 at 10:41 AM, vkalia said:

but it isn’t triggering the strobes (Supe D Pro).   

Ha... been there done that. (with Fotocore GTX strobes similar to Supe D-Pro).

Problem is NOT the 613 vs. single optic cable.

Fotocore/Scubalamp strobes are quite picky with connectors : you need to have the "appropriate" connector with your fiber optic cable because S&S connectors can be quite loose in the flash socket, hence it needs a thicker than usual connector. I tried with legit Nauticam and S&S cables and couldn't fire the strobes.

Also make sure you don't have a double fiber connector, it won't work either.

I recommend using the AOI/Weefine connectors thicker like these : https://uw-foto.ch/en/2858/weefine-optical-fiber-cable-long-seaandsea-seaandsea 

Edited April 7Apr 7 by Luko

Oskar at Retra told me some time back that some strobes require the fibre cable to be centralised very carefully on the sensor. This applies especially for TTL. Hence fibre bushes/plugs with dual holes (like the Inon ones) can be problematic. 

If they still prove problematic on your trip you might try taping the plugs for a tighter fit? 

Thank you for the info, everyone. Picked up a couple of Sea&Sea 613-core cables and the strobes are firing jes fine.

Had an interesting week in Tubbataha - no megafauna sightings but lovely hard coral, lots of reef sharks and generally, very enjoyable diving.

Really enjoying shooting with the Marelux and R7 combo!