Everything posted by Oskar - Retra UWT
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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.
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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.
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Introducing the Retra Maxi: The Ultimate Underwater Strobe and Video Light Combo The Retra Maxi sets a new standard in underwater photography, combining a GN46 strobe with an optional 6000 lumen ultra-wide video light. Perfect for both stills and video, it offers unmatched performance for photographers and videographers looking to elevate their work. Incredible Strobe Power and Performance The Retra Maxi features a GN46 strobe, providing excellent light output for distant subjects. With its 110º beam and 5800K color temperature, it delivers precise and balanced light. The optional wide-angle diffuser expands the beam to 160º and reduces the color temperature to 4500K, perfect for wider scenes. Unmatched Speed and Efficiency With sub-2-second recycle times and over 550 full-power shots, the Retra Maxi ensures you won’t miss a moment. It also provides up to 1 hour of full-power video light output, giving you exceptional endurance for long dives. Customization and Compatibility at Your Fingertips Customize settings via the Retra UWT app, including HSS, TTL, and manual modes. The Retra Maxi is also fully compatible with all Retra Flash accessories, such as diffusers, macro rings, and the LSD Optical Snoot, allowing for flexible setups. Durability and Design for the Toughest Conditions The Retra Maxi features dual O-ring seals and a sealed battery compartment for protection against water damage. The LED-illuminated back panel ensures easy readability during night dives, and the strobe is powered by two 21700, 6000mAh batteries for long-lasting performance. Pre-Order Now and Secure Your Retra Maxi Pre-order the Retra Maxi now at $799 (excluding local taxes) before the December 4th deadline. Shipping is expected in early 2025, with more details coming in end of December 2024. Don’t miss your chance to secure the Retra Maxi and revolutionise your underwater lighting setup! https://www.retra-uwt.com/products/retra-maxi -
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:
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The Retra Maxi uses two straight flash tubes and has a centered pilot light which is our patented design.
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The new Retra Maxi is 90% new in design and construction, yet the technology is well-proven and not new for us. The Retra Warranty for the Maxi strobe offers 2.5 years of standard coverage, with the option to extend it to an industry-leading 5 years through the RetraCare+ package. No other manufacturer of underwater strobes provides such comprehensive coverage, ensuring unparalleled peace of mind.
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Thank you for sharing. The first hands-on preview video is live:
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We’re excited to announce the Retra Maxi Underwater Strobe, the perfect blend of performance and value, designed for those entering the world of underwater photography. With the renowned quality and reliability you expect from Retra, the Retra Maxi is tailored to make superior lighting more accessible to a wider audience. This new addition to the Retra family complements our existing high-end models, offering an entry point to the exceptional performance you know and trust from Retra. Pre-orders open on November 27th at an exclusive price of $799 — a special offer to make world-class underwater lighting more accessible, without compromising on the signature Retra performance. Be the first to know when the Retra Maxi is officially available and secure yours before the limited pre-order runs out, sign up for the newsletter here: https://www.retra-uwt.com/pages/retra-maxi-underwater-strobe -
Our current lineup represents the pinnacle of our obsession with delivering performance and durability in a compact design, establishing the current 4th generation Retra Flash as the most versatile and efficient strobe lineup on the market. We are dedicating extensive resources to achieving this high standard of quality and capability, which is reflected in the price. That said, we understand the importance of accessibility and are actively exploring ways to bring the Retra Flash experience to a wider audience.
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Hi everyone, Thank you for your feedback and for sharing your experiences. I want to personally address the recent decision regarding the Power Vault and clarify the steps we took and the factors that led us here. We were genuinely excited about the Power Vault project and believed it could provide real value to our community. Unfortunately, with demand falling below our expectations, it became unfeasible to produce the Power Vault in a way that aligned with our goals for safety, quality and performance. This decision was difficult, and I understand the frustration of those who pre-ordered and were eagerly awaiting the product. We’re prioritizing prompt refunds and hope to continue supporting your future needs with Retra. As always, your feedback matters greatly to us and guides our decisions. We’re continuously working on ways to improve, and your trust in Retra means everything to our team. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any further questions or concerns—I’m here to listen.
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We will soon have a limited number of strobes available for sale at significantly reduced prices due to minor cosmetic damage sustained during production (such as knocks or scratches). These imperfections are purely superficial and similar to what may naturally occur during regular diving use. If you're interested, please email us at [email protected] with the specific model, quantity, and your shipping address, and we’ll provide you with further details. There’s only a limited quantity available, so act fast to secure yours before they’re gone!
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Hi, regarding the dimensions: All dimensions on our website are in millimeters and follow this format: (internal diameter of the O-ring) X (thickness of the O-ring). The material of the O-ring should always be "EPDM 70". If you can't find any suitable O-rings locally please write to us: [email protected]
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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New lithium battery pack details will be announced in about 1 month at the end of June.
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Buoyancy is specified with eneloop pro batteries and mounting ball.
