Marmeister

Thanks a lot everyone, Pavel, I’ve used YS-D1s for 12 years and with an UWTechnics trigger for about 8 years (Canon 7D and Canon 5Dmk iv). I only recently “upgraded” to the YS-D3 Duos when I changed to the R5. With the Duos, I also bought the newest UWTechnics trigger. I kept one YS-D1 as a spare, but now shoot with two Duos. I seem to have a workable solution now even though it doesn’t make total sense, so I’ll leave well enough alone. The strobe power/intensity knobs on both the Duos and the YS-D1 work through their whole range as long as they are set to pre-flash (double lightning bolt on the YS-D1 and yellow on the Duo), and this only works if the camera/UWTechnics trigger is also set to ETTL. When the strobes are set to not preflash (green or single lightning bolt) they do not work regardless if the camera is set to ETTL or M. There must be someone else here who has my same setup: Canon R5, YS-D3 Duos, UWTechnics trigger (housing is irrelevant). I’d love to hear from someone with these same components, to see if he/she experiences the same thing. Thanks!

Ok, that explanation makes sense! However, when I set my camera's external flash control to M (manual), the problem remains. BUT, if I set the strobe to preflash (yellow on the YS-D3 Duo or double lightning bolt on the YS-D1), then the strobes work, and I can control the flash intensity via the back-of-strobe knob from lowest power all the way to full power. The camera setting seems to be irrelevant. As long as the strobes are set to manual pre-flash, they work in manual mode regardless of whether the camera is set to ETTL or M. I don't understand that, but I seem to have a solution that works. My guess is that the flash trigger is always looking for a pre-flash regardless of the camera setting??? Thanks for your help.

Thanks Pavel, Thanks Chris, Answering your questions: 1) Did you program YS-D3 DUO options before usage, as described in the User Manual of TTL Converter? Yes. I have the video you made and followed it closely 2) What flash mode is set by the strobe knob, - TTL or Manual? The strobes are set to Manual (Green). When I set them to TTL, the image is properly illuminated regardless of where I have the strobe power set (from lowest to highest). In TTL mode, I can adjust the strobe power via the camera settings. 3) What flash mode is set by camera menu, - TTL, Manual, or HSS? What sync, - 1/st or 2-nd curtain? Camera is set to ETTL with 1st curtain. I also tried setting the camera to manual flash, but the problem remains. I also tried with 2nd curtain and HSS, but the problem remains. I've tried every combination of flash settings I can think of, yet the result is always the same. 4) What position of the rotary switch is set on the TTL-Converter board? Per the instruction, the TTL-converter is set to position 9 for my YS-D3 Duos. (I also tried position 2 for my YS-D1 (see below) 5) What is the fiber cable model? Is it 613 core type and brand new? My fiber optic cables meet the 613 specs. I also have a brand new cable that I carry as a spare. I tried that cable too, but the problem remains. Other things I tried: I temporarily set the TTL-Converter rotary dial to 2 and connected my YS-D1. The exact same problem occurs with my YS-D1 in manual mode: The intensity dial on the back of the strobe increases the flash output with every position EXCEPT when I go past +0.7. At all strobe settings beyond +0.7 I get a totally black image even though the flash fires. Because my YS-D1s behave the same as my YS-D3 Duos, I think we can rule out the problem being in the strobes. However, I'm thinking that there has to be some circuitry within the strobes that changes when they are set beyond +0.7 and then the trigger/converter doesn't know how to read that change. Lastly, since the whole image goes from being blown out at +0.7 to being totally black at all intensity settings higher than that (even though the strobes flash), I don't see how it coud be a sync issue. I'd think (could be wrong) that with a sync issue, I'd see banding rather than a totally black image.

I have S&S YS-D3 Duo strobes, a Canon R5 camera, an UWTechnics optical trigger, and a Nauticam NAR5 housing. My strobes fire with increasing intensity from the lowest setting to the +0.7 setting. At all strobe settings higher than +0.7 (to full power) the strobes flash, yet the image that is captured is 100% black. Both of my YS-D3 Duos do this. I also have a YS-D1, and it does the same thing (works at all setting from lowest up to +0.7 only). I figure that at strobe settings higher than +0.7 (via back of strobe dial), the timing of the flash gets out of sync with the camera. I've tried it at various camera speed settings and it makes no difference. I have the trigger set to 9 and have carefully programed for the YS-D3 Duos per the users manual. Any ideas??? Thanks

Thank Chris, I really appreciate your help. I tried programming it several times. I get the blue light and the buzzer. However, TTL still does not work. All shots are over-exposed no matter where I set the exposure dial. I guess I need Pavel to help.

Thanks a lot Chris. Here are the instructions from UWTechnics and the two sections from the S&S manual: I don't understand the circled sections. In both sections, I start with the intensity knob set to 5.6 then I turn the mode dial to TTL. It's the second step that confuses me. I'm supposed to then move the intensity knob to some other setting and then hold down the focus light again. If this is correct, then I don't understand what the intensity dial should be set on for step 5 to 6 for the preflash setup, or for step 7 of the Optical input set up. Thanks a bunch!

Hi, I have a Canon R5 in a Nauticam housing. I’m using an UWTechnics TTL trigger with fiber optic cables to fire my YS-D3 Duo strobes. I can’t get TTL to work. The directions for the UWTechnics trigger say that I need to program the strobes to cancel the pre-flash and to set the optical input in according to the directions supplied with my strobes. The strobe directions say to set the pre-flash cancel as follows: 1. Set the intensity knob to 5.6 and then turn the mode to TTL while holding down the focus light button. 2. Change the intensity knob to match the camera manufacturer (16/160 per the chart for Canon) 3. Press and hold the focus light button again. I did the above, but TTL does not work. It kinda works, but the flash intensity level knob has no affect. Whether the knob is at full power or the lowest setting, the exposure is the same. I also tried 22/220 (instead of 16/160 in step 2 above), but the results are the same. Lastly, I tried 1/10 (because the directions are not clear), but that doesn’t work at all. Regardless of the above setting, the TTL confirmation light flashes red indicating that TTL was not achieved. My camera is set to TTL. The strobes work on manual, and the intensity knob does what it should. So my only problem is with TTL. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I’ve been a member of Wetpixel for many years (different user name). I guess that I need to introduce myself here before I can post anywhere else. I just returned from Raja Ampat, Fakfak, and Triton Bay. My current rig is a Canon R5 in a Nauticam housing with S&S YS-D3 Duo strobes.