makar0n

Hmm had similar issues with Nauticam trigger and Z240s - issue was the cable (original multi-core Nauticam) was basically half broken - i.e. after years of use, too many strands have failed and not enough light went through. That said, putting a stronger trigger (TRT) did help with another cable that had similar issues (DYI multi-core one this time that I did not make very well...). Silly question - you sure its original Inon cable and not some cheap replica? As looks too cheap for an original and don't think Inon makes them in 2m length neither. Such random cables often use shitty quality (or single core) fiber optic and that might result in not enough light being carried to trigger the strobes. Again, speaking from experience of buying similar once and not being able to trigger the strobes as well - it would work fine with built in flash, as it was more powerful, but not with the Nauticam trigger... You can very easily make you own cable - see here: And here:

Eneloops Pro are handling low temps pretty well so I do not think 6 degrees would be an issue. Since battery usage will differ between different devices, and yes, one failing battery can result in strobe complaining about not having juice (gets uneven so to speak). I would suggest a few more tests that will hopefully help you determine where the issue might be: 1) Confirm issue happens again i.e. this was just not a fluke dive (unless done multiple dives already that is with issue persisting) 2) Swap batteries around - is the issue staying with the same strobe or moving with the batteries? (though you do mention "second Retra Pro Max started showing signs..." 3) Try other/completely new batteries - yeah no ideal to having to buy new ones but that way you can see if that makes difference. Hopefully you will then at least have a better idea whether issue is battery or strobe related. Another angle is the internal battery resistance - the 015 reading does seem a bit low (vs others). You could try to mix and match the sets i.e. find ones that are reading high and try only those. Could be also charger though - a lot of them are simply inaccurate as well as slot dependant (i.e. battery will read differently on different slots) As I had some time on my hands, I took out Xtar VC4S and measured resistance. Note that I am not sure as to how accurate this is - for example one battery showed about 121 mΩ (once), I then swapped it to another slot and now it shows 38 mΩ (or thereabout after swapping few more times)...To counter this, I have read each set twice - 2nd time just randomly swapping batteries between slots to see if readings will change (so readings in second column do not belong to the same line as first column technically) - and yes they did, so I suspect my charger is not that accurate neither. 3 sets of Eneloop Pros, all produced between 09-11/2011, all 3 work fine in all my devices including Z240s. Have not been charged or used for a few months so voltage on all is just under 1.3V. Set #1 mΩ #1 mΩ #2 23 28 38 18 27 31 32 27 Set #2 mΩ #1 mΩ #2 31 21 21 23 23 18 47 31 Set #3 mΩ #1 mΩ #2 43 20 54 18 23 20 72 30

I always wondered - do people still use the 5 pin ? Fiber sounds like so much easier/simpler solution really. Personally I think i've opened that 5 pin cap on Z-240 once...for greasing xD

Waiting for the Pro Max Retina XDR Thunderbolt Liquid model. And 1k stand as an accessory 🤣

Let's add "travel and tight spaces friendly". Could also go with "power efficient". And this wannabe Apple Pro Max naming....yikes xD

The very exact thing. Not bothered about GN gazillion at all - would love a travel and tight places friendly strobe (and not the current crop of bricks) with modern features like HSS, maybe even a circular tube for a nice beam. Support for Li-Ion batteries (maybe even interchangeable with AA) purely for a faster recycle rate. Absolutely no battery packs. Well made, with a minimum 100m depth rating and reasonably priced as well. But a man can dream...

We had Z-240, then Z-330...Time for a Z-420 xD

Ach there is my favorite Retra fanboy! I really wish I had access to IP addresses of the users, wonder if yours wouldn't perhaps turn in to be Slovenian, that of a VPN, or traced to somebody business related. It's really cringy to watch those "praise Retra/Li-Ion (only when Retra announces battery pack), slam competitors/Li-Ion (before Retra announces battery pack)" posts with virtually nothing else. And I won't even say which industry person present on this website your writing style looks like. But I digress, manufacturer specs can be anything they post on the website. Especially if one is very conservative and the other very optimistic. I will let you guess which one is which. Meanwhile real-life feedback is people have to buy the 8 battery extension for Retra as near mandatory, and even then complain about having to constantly charge the batteries and travel with a stack of them ;] Also, you are comparing quite an older strobe with latest model. Why not go against Z-220 if you are at it? And the battery indicator changes everything of course. How could I possibly have done all those years diving without one, silly me. Yet never ran out of the battery juice. Must be nothing short of a miracle. After all, having to change batteries once every 2 days (and they usually won't be nowhere near empty by then neither ) its such an impossible task. Its not like this gives me 100% confidence I have juice vs looking at some imprecise (as I do not see any actual capacity) indicator that might change 5 minutes after I go under.

Retra seems to have always had a notorious rep when it comes to battery life. Inon is the exact opposite - while I do not have Z330s, my Z240's last hundreds of photos easily. In fact I no longer bother changing batteries (Eneloop Pro) every day, its usually every 2, sometimes even 3 days with an average of 2-3h in the water per day. So I wouldn't worry there too much 😉 That said a Li-Ion option would certainly be a nice upgrade...

Specs certainly do look very interesting! Would there be any chance for a model without the video light to appear one day? Basically fixated on the weight - at 1.2 kg per strobe it is not very travel friendly for those of us without business class tickets xD Also, as this sounds like a battery pack device - does it use a proprietary charger? Can the batteries be assembled DYI route?

It's not that bad in my opinion, personally I avoid the flight route though. Last time I've checked, flights were at ridiculous morning times and then you land at Tablas, completely different island. Getting over to Romblon then takes quite a while, and involves a car and a boat usually. Much better route was always the ferry - take one in the afternoon, have a good night sleep on the ferry (and get over the jetlag) and arrive right in the actual Romblon in the morning - have breakfast and jump straight into the water. Well, ferry times have changed a bit now, so it starts in Batangas earlier and gets to Romblon earlier, but still preferred that than the flight. And no need to worry about baggage allowance for once.

While holding vodka martini in your hand I suspect. Shaken, not stirred.

@TimG BOOT mission goal is clear - sneak in, infiltrate, report 🤣

Wooohoo, finally! Still waiting patiently 🙂

This and the shoddy quality of their circuit boards...it was not a matter of if, but when the light will fail. When they worked, indeed were quite nice, definitely liked the switch as could change the power level even with my nose should hands be full 😉 But inevitably one by one they would break and the issue was usually the circuit board. What was worse, the company was not exactly helping past the warranty period - absolute refusal for sending any spare parts, demanding that light be always sent to their authorized service center and of course bill from those being as high as a cost of a new light. And not sure they could be called US manufacturer neither - I think all the parts were made in China and merely assembled in US.

Personally I am always removing the handles - apart from cleaning, housing wouldn't fit into the backpack otherwise ;] Screws are going into a small zip-lock style bag, so no issue losing those. Also greased with lovely Lanocote (marine grade grease) from time to time - also useful for any other metal screwy parts like clamps etc.

Still confused about this and somehow had the impression its the cure for short working range on diopters...

Seems that port charts have now been updated. No clue however how will it work with the likes of CMC as well... 452 Euro on Nauticam site: https://www.nauticam.com/products/mid-range-focus-optimizer-1-mfo-1

Interesting considering the crusade in the other topic from Retra affiliates against Li-Ion 😉 Specs do look interesting but the weight is quoted at 1150g...tad heavy travel wise, but seems almost neutral in the water, if I understand the buoyancy value correctly. And let's not post those prices the same misleading way Retra been doing since beginning - they are based in EU as such by law have to publish prices with VAT included, at least to private customers. I won't even mention the fact that prices are in USD and not in EUR....And even in US, not every state is tax free. Price now shows as 799 USD (guess intro, w/o video light), 879 (with video), 999 regular for both. Thats 966,76 USD including 167.79 VAT (as calculated by Retra checkout) and 1063.69 (including 184.59 VAT) That represents about 21% VAT. So regular price will be about 1208 USD.

its the usual: -piece of string - 1 Euro -the same piece of string but labeled "diving" - 5 Euro -the same piece of string labeled "diving and camera" - 50 Euro And the plugin falls into the last category. I wish they offered support for other software, including open source Dark Table, rather than just the Adobe "let me force you into never ending subscriptions" Photoshop. But one can dream 🤣

Email Nauticam regardless, they do have pretty good customer service. Had a couple flooded years back (the older generations, think now its 3rd or 4th one) and they did exchange for latest and greatest without any issues, and if my memory serves me correct, the second time I was out of warranty as well.

There is quite a few topics on Scubaboard - Aggressor fleet is a bit controversial. Seems the individual boats operate on franchise basis under as single brand, and when anything smelly hits the fan, parent company washes their hands off anything. There are certainly lots of positive stories out there, but also quite a few total wrecks (latest one in Komodo, where boat stayed in port whole week, and refused any refunds). Seems as long as it goes well, all guests are happy, but if anything goes bad, then you are on your own. Might be worth combing the accidents section, that fleet seems a bit fire prone. Also this might be of interest, also few recent guest reports towards the end: https://scubaboard.com/community/threads/belize-aggressor-iv-mooring-breaks.639886/

And this is exactly why I come here, all this water photo thing is totally secondary 🤣

I knew I should have not edited the post and left the original text - "...and asked me to take it out" .

Hmm now that is an idea! I was eyeing that Ayegear thing as well, but indeed this looks like it is going to sag...and once it is apparent you are carrying something they might ask you to take it out. I did have that experience once, when tried to hide a small-ish laptop bag under poncho style wind cover thing. Check in person noticed the bump and asked to see whats there then proceeded to weight it. So maybe vest under and some thick jumper to cover the bumps (which would be hopefully smaller) will work better indeed. Then build the housing, including WWL and camera inside and do that as "personal item" hanging over the shoulder 😉 I have also taken to carry a dive thigh pocket over trousers - so far no issues and a nice big extra pocket fitting lots of stuff. Unfortunately, at least in Europe, airlines are going nuts - 7-8kg is the new norm. Och sure you can pack it into the checked in baggage, but neither the airline nor insurance will take any responsibility for it. If it goes missing its your problem.