Not looking to bash on Retra. Basically I am down to purchasing a set of these. I see the booster pack. I realize that is something I should get in due course but due to the rather expensive nature of this purchase, can I use these strobes without the booster. I am shooting a Sony NA-6400 and a Canon NA-R50. Mostly wide angle and mostly with a WWL.

Can anyone tell me how many shots (they get) in (their) normal shooting without the boosters? I realize there can be a range here but most folks do not shoot at full power or need the fastest recycle for every dive and every shot. What can I typically expect?

How do you think these strobes will handle with a Nauticam APS size housings? Are they huge?

Being as I am known to be fastidious and OCD with my belongings, do these have good resell should I decide I have bought a Rolls Royce strobe set to shoot with my Toyota level systems?

Why do I want these instead of the new Atom or HF-1? Simple, the Backscatter strobes do not have a universal TTL mode and the Retra does. I shoot manual but do want TTL capability and the Backscatter strobes do not support TTL with my systems.

Edited 8 hours ago8 hr by Nemrod

Hi Nemrod

I’ve been using Retra since 2020. Yes, pricey but I’ve never regretted the purchase for a second. I’ve gone through various iterations and now have the ProMax with the Booster. They are a very neat package and not much larger than the venerable Inon Z220/240. The Booster is especially ergonomically neat and a much better battery change arrangement than the SuperCharger.

On use, I find using an LSD snoot - which I do almost constantly for macro - the Boosters are essential. I often have the power cranked up. I reckon on getting 3 dives - say 400 images - during the day with some power left over with that setup.

I find the Boosters useful if I'm shooting into the sun a lot with wide-angle and using HSS. In those circumstances I often have the power setting pretty high.

However, on bog-standard wide-angle shots, although I have the Booster in situ (why wouldn’t you?), battery life is significantly longer.

No, with APS-C the Retras are not overkill. I’m shooting a Nikon D500.

I’ll happily admit to being a Retra fanboy. An excellent product that delivers power and quality in a manageable package with excellent accessories and terrific customer support.

Consider the Retra Maxi strobe, not the Pro Max. It's brighter, faster, longer battery life, and include excellent video lights. I am not sure who the Pro Max is for, but it is not the best Retra anymore for most people.

Edited 3 hours ago3 hr by Dave_Hicks

3 hours ago, Dave_Hicks said:

Consider the Retra Maxi strobe, not the Pro Max. It's brighter, faster, longer battery life, and include excellent video lights. I am not sure who the Pro Max is for, but it is not the best Retra anymore for most people.

Dave, isn't the Maxi in a larger case, which is a concern to me because I like to get into tight spaces to shoot morays and critters? Also, isn't it kind of a video combo strobe. Video is something I never do. The Pro Max II is meant for still photogs I thought? Simply zero interest in looking at or shooting videos. But, yes, let me take another look at those, I think they can come without the video light option? Thanks.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by Nemrod

41 minutes ago, Nemrod said:

Dave, isn't the Maxi in a larger case, which is a concern to me because I like to get into tight spaces to shoot morays and critters? Also, isn't it kind of a video combo strobe. Video is something I never do. The Pro Max II is meant for still photogs I thought? Simply zero interest in looking at or shooting videos. But, yes, let me take another look at those, I think they can come without the video light option? Thanks.

Yes, the Maxi is bigger but not all that much. About 8mm more in diameter and 27mm longer. Honestly, I can imaging you would notice in active use. And there is no booster to bulk up the Maxi, where the Pro Max all be requires the booster for decent battery life. Yes, video light is optional and will save $200usd. It's a nice to have feature and the strobe has power to spare for the 5000 lumen light.