Oskar - Retra UWT

Hey everyone, We appreciate you sharing your experience with Retra strobes. Even after 14 years in the business, we handle every issue with the same care and urgency, knowing how frustrating gear troubles can be, especially while diving. Here’s where we stand: Quick Support: As a small outfit, we respond fast and don’t leave you hanging. We love hearing from you, whether it’s an issue or just feedback. Warranty & Service: We’re proud to back our strobes with a warranty extension program that can cover you for up to 5 years in total. That speaks to our confidence in the product’s durability. And if you ever do need to send something in, our turnaround is typically under a week. Continuous Improvement: We’re always looking to make our products better. Your input goes straight to our engineering and design teams, and it truly helps us refine what we do. We truly appreciate your support and patience. For the fastest and most accurate assistance, please reach out through our official channels listed here, so we can review your strobe’s onboard data and provide the best solution. Warm regards, Oskar / Retra UWT

Hi cerich, Thanks for bringing this up. The "empty battery" issue has been reported in only a very small number of units. In most cases, it can be resolved by turning the strobe off and on or, if needed, using the error override function. Since this issue is rare and typically easy to clear, we addressed it in a firmware update rather than broadly publicizing it. No service is required. If you or anyone else has questions or needs assistance, please feel free to reach out to us directly. Warm regards, Oskar / Retra UWT

Hello everyone, I’m Oskar from Retra UWT. We appreciate open discussion and always value feedback from our customers. However, we’d like to clarify a few points regarding the comments made by “Muellema” so everyone understands the full situation: 1. Prompt Communication As soon as “Muellema” reached out to us, we responded, professionally and politely, with step-by-step instructions to help diagnose and potentially resolve his strobe’s issue. Our WhatsApp conversation shows our prompt replies, follow-up messages, and willingness to continue troubleshooting. We regret if our thorough questioning and guidance gave any impression of belittling his knowledge; our sole aim was to gather enough information to find the quickest and most effective solution. 2. Troubleshooting Steps We asked “Muellema” to test the strobe in specific modes, record a short video, and confirm battery readings. Through these steps, he was actually able to get the strobe working again, allowing him to continue using both strobes on his trip. 3. Possible Battery Error “Muellema” mentioned that, at one point, the strobe displayed an empty battery indicator even with fresh batteries. While rare, such an error can be overridden by holding the pilot/test button, a workaround we explained so he could continue using his strobe without interruption. 4. Future Support & Firmware Insight “Muellema” indicated he’s not fully confident in the strobe’s reliability after these incidents. We understand how frustrating any equipment issue can be, especially on a long dive trip. We never refused to inspect or service his strobe; after his last message (“Will contact after return on my final thoughts”), we unfortunately just never heard back. We remain fully prepared to assist him further should he decide to reach out again. In the meantime, our development team conducted a deeper analysis and discovered a potential firmware improvement that will likely address the reported issue, without requiring to send the strobe in for service once it’s ready. We stand by our products and remain fully committed to assisting our customers whenever they need us. 5. Battery Consumption & Shot Count A claim of only 50–60 shots per charge is far from our measured results, which exceed 500 full-power flashes using 8×AA Eneloop Pro batteries. We stand by these test figures. The significant discrepancy can often be traced to factors like prolonged standby times, heavy pilot light use, measuring battery capacity right after intensive use, or unintended multiple triggering when the camera/trigger is set to TTL but the strobe is in manual mode. If you find your strobe is delivering far fewer shots than expected, please get in touch with us directly. We’re here to diagnose the setup and help optimize your battery performance. 6. Our Commitment We pride ourselves on the reliability of our flashes and the support we provide. If any of our users ever experience a similar issue or have concerns, we encourage reaching out directly via email or WhatsApp. We do everything possible to resolve problems quickly and effectively. We regret if any misunderstanding has arisen, and we truly want everyone to have a positive experience with our products. If anyone else here has questions or feedback, please feel free to contact us. Thank you all for reading and for your continued trust in Retra UWT. Warm regards, Oskar / Retra UWT

If you’re experiencing power-related issues with your Retra Pro Max strobes, the best first step is to contact our customer support team directly at help@retra-uwt.com. Posting on a forum often leads to a mix of opinions and speculation, whereas our team, who develops, produces, and tests the products, can provide accurate guidance and solutions. To ensure your strobes are performing as expected, please check that they are running the latest firmware, as updates can improve performance and address potential issues. Battery performance can also be affected by factors such as temperature, charge state, and internal resistance. For the fastest and most effective support, we offer multiple ways to get in touch, including WhatsApp, where you can quickly share images or videos to help diagnose the issue. You can find all our contact options here: https://www.retra-uwt.com/pages/contact. We're happy to assist you!

They are the same.

The Prime+ has about 35% less power than the Pro Max (90Ws vs. 140Ws). In practical terms, this difference is around 0.4 F-stops or one click on the power dial. So, if you set the Pro Max one click below full power, it will produce the same light output as the Prime+ at maximum power.

Thank you for your understanding. As mentioned, this was part of finalizing pre-orders, but if you have any concerns, feel free to reach out to us directly.

Hi Gary, Thank you for bringing this up. During the initial pre-order phase, we accepted reservations without charging immediately, as we didn’t have a confirmed shipping date. However, to ensure smooth order processing and avoid logistical complications, we have now begun charging orders as they are confirmed. That said, you always have the option of a full refund if needed, just let us know.

Hi everyone, We don’t typically attend dive shows as exhibitors. The costs for these events can be quite high, and we believe our resources are better invested in developing cutting-edge strobes and providing top-notch customer service. That said, some of our partners do represent Retra at these events. For example, PanOcean (Roland and Claudia Conrad) was at BOOT and carries our products. They’re a great source for anyone who wants to see Retra gear up close or discuss it further. If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out to us directly, we’re always here to help!

Hi, Thank you for your message. I can confirm that your order is secure, and we remain fully committed to the updated delivery timeline. As mentioned previously, deliveries for the Retra Maxi strobes is currently expected to begin in May 2025. We kindly ask for your understanding that our team does not actively monitor forums and is usually not available over the weekend, which is why there was no immediate response to your inquiry on Friday evening. For any urgent matters or direct questions, we recommend reaching out through our official communication channels listed on the Contact page of our website. This is the most efficient way to ensure a prompt and accurate response. Thank you for your patience and understanding. If you have any further questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us directly.

Correct, the aluminum monoblock housing of the Prime+ is identical to the Pro Max version, with the only difference being the LED indicator light instead of the display. Yes, the Prime+ at full power is essentially equivalent to setting the Pro Max to one click below full power.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We’d like to clarify that when placing a pre-order, your card is not charged immediately—only an authorization is placed. You also have the flexibility to cancel at any time and receive a full refund if the schedule or circumstances don’t align with your expectations. As for import duties and taxes, these are typically aligned with your local sales tax rates and any applicable import fees set by your region. While exact amounts are determined by local regulations, they are generally comparable to the costs associated with similar products purchased domestically.

As we quickly ran out of the limited stock mentioned in my previous post, we wanted to share another opportunity for those who missed out. With the arrival of the new Retra Maxi Underwater Strobe, the Prime+ model will no longer be produced. We have a small number of units remaining, now available at special pricing. And to make this offer even better, we’re including a 4-year warranty with each Prime+ strobe. The Prime+ features the same lamp and reflector as the Pro Max, ensuring excellent light quality. While its power output is slightly lower at 90Ws (around 0.4 F-stop difference compared to the Pro Max), it remains a reliable and practical choice, with a multicolor indicator light instead of a display. This offer is now available in our online shop: CLICK HERE TO SHOP. Quantities are very limited, so we recommend acting soon if you're interested.

Maxi is optimized for high GN and subsequently less coverage. However with the WA diffuser the difference becomes less noticeable as Alex shows in the video: