Oskar - Retra UWT

Hi, sorry for the delayed response, I usually follow what is posted in the strobes and lighting forum. By moving the mode dial to position SOS/TURN the screen will flip or rotate or turn 180deg. The strobe will remember this position even when you switch off and exchange batteries so you don't need to select the orientation each time.

I forgot to mention earlier, but the TTL range and reliability have notably improved from the 2nd to the 4th generation Retra Flash. While a significant part of TTL performance depends on the trigger boards, we've received very positive feedback from their manufacturers of TTL trigger boards regarding the TTL usability on the 4th generation Retra Flash.

We offer the E-Opto converter for those who prefer using their electrical cables. This device attaches to the end of your existing electrical cables and, with the 3rd and 4th generation Retra Flash, it can also attach directly to the strobe without additional fibre optic cables. The E-Opto converter is a cost-effective solution, and it's easy to keep spare devices on hand in case of any issues. An advantage of using the E-Opto converter instead of electrical cables is that you can remove it mid-dive for an off-camera strobe lighting scene. With a few exceptions, only a small percentage of existing users prefer electrical cables over optical fiber with LED trigger boards. I believe almost all newcomers choose fibre optic cables. Additionally, there are four variants of electrical cables, so among that small group, even fewer photographers use any specific electrical connection. Fortunately, the optical fibre connection system on the Retra Flash accommodates both plug and thread type connections, providing a versatile all-in-one solution.

Since specifications alone don't fully capture this, it's worth noting that our continuous development has significantly enhanced the reliability and durability of our strobes from the 2nd to the 4th generation. The improvements are a result of addressing feedback and integrating advancements in technology and design. The 4th generation strobes are much more resilient to accidental drops (please don't try testing this) and are significantly less vulnerable to any random defects compared to the 2nd and 3rd generation models. Over the past five years, Retra Flash prices have increased mainly due to inflation. Additionally, manufacturing and developing highly specialized equipment for a small market has presented its own challenges. Despite these challenges, we remain committed to providing the UWP community with the highest quality products and support that we can. Regardless of the age of your Retra Flash or where it was purchased, we offer servicing and repair for all our strobes. If you encounter any issues, please contact us. We’ll do our best to diagnose the problem remotely, provide advice on temporary solutions, and offer a free check-up and diagnostics if the product needs to be sent to our workshop. We also arrange worldwide pickup and delivery for your convenience. Thank you for your ongoing support and valuable feedback.

Thank you for sharing Tim. If anyone runs into issues with their update please get in touch via any of the available options: https://www.retra-uwt.com/pages/contact

The underwater weight of the 3rd Gen Retra Flash Pro X in the above picture, including 8xAA eneloop pro, the mounting ball and Supercharger X, is -250g. In comparison, the Retra Flash Pro Max, including the mounting ball and configured with the Power Vault, weighs only -50g underwater. The difference can be further reduced by mounting a small neoprene cover, like the one in the above picture, which provides approximately +40g of buoyancy at a depth of 1 meter. With a practically neutrally buoyant strobe in the water, minimal force is needed to manoeuvre it, even with a slight offset in the center of gravity. I hope this clears up some doubts regarding underwater strobe balance with the Power Vault battery pack.

Creating a unique version for 2nd and 3rd generation Retra Flashes would have had only a minor impact on the total length, so we opted for a product compatible with all Retra Flash strobes (except the first generation, which does not support over-the-air firmware updates). The Power Vault increases buoyancy by 100g compared to the 8xAA Booster configuration, maintaining an equal balance of the strobe underwater.

You're welcome. When designing the Power Vault, we explored all available options. However, incorporating Li-Ion batteries into the 4xAA/8xAA battery compartment did not significantly enhance the strobe's performance to justify their use. Our final design offers a capacity equivalent to using 16xAA batteries, while only weighing 25 grams more than the 8xAA version.

The new App includes firmware update 2.2 for Pro Max, Prime+ and Pure (4th Gen strobes) and a firmware update 4.2 for Pro X and Prime X (3rd Gen strobes). Both updates include the following improvements: - Enhanced optical sensing when using inefficient fiber optic cables - Resolution of a rare issue with an unresponsive mode dial - Reduced chances of a false leakage alarm in high-moisture environments

Please note: The 2nd Gen Retra Flash mentioned in the post above had significantly lower efficiency compared to the current 4th Gen Retra Flash. While both generations offer the same maximum light output, the 4th Gen Retra Flash has greatly improved efficiency, producing 50% more shots per charge. Most 4th Gen Retra Flash users have reported that during diving trips with four dives per day, they never run out of battery power. As part of their routine, they usually charge their strobe batteries once the camera battery is empty. They typically carry a total of 20 AA batteries for a set of two strobes. However, some users have expressed a desire for increased battery autonomy, especially in locations with limited charging options or for longer diving sessions. To address this, we developed the Power Vault option, which doubles the battery life compared to the 8xAA equivalent. The Power Vault does increase the total length of the strobe, but the Retra Flash Pro Max with the Mounting Ball and Power Vault weighs 1.020g (dry) and has a slight negative buoyancy of approximately -50g. This means that while it is 25g heavier than the 8xAA equivalent in dry conditions, the Power Vault setup is 100g more buoyant compared to the 8xAA and Booster combination, requiring fewer floats on your setup.

New lithium battery pack details will be announced in about 1 month at the end of June.

Buoyancy is specified with eneloop pro batteries and mounting ball.

I understand you are trying to manipulate TTL mode into manual mode via TTL pre-flash. Pre-flashes in TTL are limited in power output (duration) and therefore it will not be possible to obtain the desired results. Unfortunately this is not a bug in the firmware but a part of the TTL protocol.

Apologies for the oversight—there was a typo. The accurate version is 4.5. Thanks for catching that; we'll make the necessary correction.

Hey Tim, good to know you got the new firmware update sorted. Just a heads-up, that flicker in the pilot light is totally normal, especially when LED is set to full power and in the 4xAA setup. If you switch to 8xAA, it becomes less noticeable, and sometimes, you won't even see it.

Which Retra Flash model? Sorry, just seen it's the first generation with single o-ring battery compartment and no leakage detection. Please send us any images to email/whatsapp/viber/imessage and we will do our best to assess the situation. For now just make sure the compartment will be dry so there is no additional corrosive action.

I wouldn't suggest using soap as it could contain chemicals that potentially speed up corrosion while trapped beneath the Bumpers. A very very small amount of silicon grease should suffice, to get the o-ring slightly shiny.

Hi, as the username suggests my name is Oskar and I represent Retra UWT. Like on the previous Wetpixel forum I do my best to help out with any questions and watch out for any suggestions or general feedback about Retra UWT products. Thank you to the team behind Waterpixels for helping the diving/photography/videography community with this new public platform. It is so important to have an online place like Waterpixels where anyone can browse and contribute.