Hi,

might be someone can help. Wanna try HSS here in LaPaz shooting Sealions in shallow water with a lot of sun.

If I set the UWT board in manual mode (dial 0) my Retras shot flawless if I set it to TTL mode (dial 7 for the Retras) the flash doesn`t fire (tried in M, TTL, HSS mode). Tried all settings from 1 till 10 on UWT board. No flash. Also checked settings on Nikon D-850 menu like 2nd curtain, flash sync...... Also set 1/250fp in D-850 menu so flash should be set in M mode by UWT board for using HSS as described in UWT manual. If I set the UWT board to M (dial 0) and use HSS mode on the Retra i have underexposure (black) in the bottom of the picture. Any idea? Contacts on Hotshoe also checked.

Br Markus

I'm having trouble following. Is the issue only in HSS that the flash is not firing? Also to be clear are you saying the flash is not firing or is it not syncing? From what I can see the sequence is:

• Set the UWT dial to position 7

• in camera menu set to Auto FP in the flash sync speed menu

• Set the retra strobe to the HSS setting.

The manual doesn't mention using dial position zero in conjunction with HSS sync mode on the Retra. The Retra is in manual mode with when it receives HSS signals, there's no TTL with HSS. You can adjust flash intensity with the power knob on the strobe.

I use HSS a fair amount on my Retras with a D500.

I have the UWT trigger on the usual Retra setting, 7. I have everything else set for Manual. When I want HSS I just move the Retra strobe dial from M to HSS and change shutter speed from, say, 1/200 to, say 1/2000.

Hi,

problem is that the flash is only firing in position 0. If I set UWT- Board position 7 the flash doesn't fire. Doesn't matter on which position the Retra dial (M, TTL, HSS) is.

Br Markus

Hmmm, that is odd. Why not PM Pavel?

22 hours ago, Muellema said:

Hi,

problem is that the flash is only firing in position 0. If I set UWT- Board position 7 the flash doesn't fire. Doesn't matter on which position the Retra dial (M, TTL, HSS) is.

Br Markus

I would PM Pavel, Have you checked to see if the LEDs on the trigger illuminate when you fire off a shot? Do you get the lightning bolt symbol on the camera screen as mentioned in the manual(on position 7) ? These would be good first steps to check the camera recognises the trigger and that the LEDs fire or not. I ask as this may point to the problem.

Also just to confirm, you say the strobe does not fire - I assume you mean the strobe emits no light at all, not that the the strobe fires but the frame is dark?

Hi Chris & Tim,

thanks for reply. Yes, the lightning bolt symbol on the camera screen on position 7 UWT board appears on the D850 for few seconds. Then disappears. You assume correct, no light at all.

Br Markus

1 hour ago, Muellema said:

Hi Chris & Tim,

thanks for reply. Yes, the lightning bolt symbol on the camera screen on position 7 UWT board appears on the D850 for few seconds. Then disappears. You assume correct, no light at all.

Br Markus

This likely indicates the problem if this doesn't show up then it is not communicating with the camera. By the description when in manual mode on the trigger the camera doesn't detect it as a flash and it is triggered by the centre contact of hotshoe and the earth of the hotshoe frame. To be recognized by the camera it communicates using the other smaller contacts of the hotshoe. I could be a fault with the hotshoe cable perhaps, you said you checked hotshoe did you try cleaning the contacts perhaps with a pencil eraser? This might be a good first step.

Also try looking into the fibre optic connectors to see if you can see the LEDs illuminate, try it at position 0 so you can see how bright they are to be sure you can recognise the LED lighting up then try at position 7 If no light comes in position 7 this ocnfirms trigger is not talking to the camera.

Again suggest you PM Pavel to ask advice, he may have additional things you can try.

Hey Markus

To add to Chris’ thoughts: yeah, odd that your camera shows the lightning flash symbol on the LCD screen but that it doesn’t stay illuminated. I’m sure it should. Sounds indeed like a faulty contact or maybe a trigger battery issue. Have you tried fresh batteries?

As Chris suggests, clean all the flash and hot shoe contacts. I’m guessing you’ve tried using a regular flashgun on the camera. Does the flash illumination signal remain light? If so, a trigger or sync cable issues looks suspect. Again, trigger batteries or sync cable.

5 hours ago, Muellema said:

... the lightning bolt symbol on the camera screen on position 7 UWT board appears on the D850 for few seconds. Then disappears.

It looks like low battery, or weak contact in the battery holder.

Remove the product from the housing. The next actions do on the table, without housing and other gear, but only with the camera:

Remove the batteries from TTL Converter. Bend down the central tongue of the battery holder pushing it maximum down by any tool (flat screwdriver), to improve the contact. Then, install 2 batteries. Batteries must be NEW.

Check the "flash" symbol on the service screen and the LEDs work. Set all camera settings described in the User Manual of TTL Converter for TTL mode, carefully step by step (this is absolutely necessary). After the TTL flash tests on the table directly with the strobe (without fiber cable!) you can install the product into the housing and connect your cable.

Edited October 23Oct 23 by Pavel Kolpakov