Pavel Kolpakov

There are currently 7 manufacturers on the market that produce TTL triggers: UWTechnics, Nauticam, TRT, Ikelite, AOI, Inon, Backscatter. But only 1 of these 7 manufacturers uses online updating. This is not accidental. But if online updating is the main criterion for you among all the characteristics and functions, you can choose it, why not. This is quite normal. Other people have other, more important criteria. And that's okay too.

Of course not. It does not work this way. Our TTL-Converter has 9 different type ttl-profiles in the firmware, each profile can be set by the rotary switch. Totally for Sony, Canon, Nikon and Olympus there are 36 different ttl-profiles in our firmware. Those profiles includes almost all varieties of ttl-profiles which are in use nowadays among the underwater strobes. Most of new strobes appear on the market have the same or very similar ttl-profiles as existing in the firmware. So, In most of cases client does not need to update the firmware when a new strobe appears on the market. He just need to ask us about the information, - what ttl-profile should be set by the onboard rotary switch. We update the firmware now only if actually a new ttl-profile strobe has appeared, for example in 2025 it may be 1-2 times or so. Or may be not at all in 2025, unless a fundamentally new ttl-profile appears.

We issue the firmware update only if we add a new strobe model which did not exist before on the market. And there is no any other reason for our TTL-Converter update. Currently it is necessary to send the product to the factory. In future we plan to make an online update too.

Do you mean synchronization for 4 strobes installed on the housing arms? You can use 2 pcs of dual optical fiber cable for 4 strobes synchronization. If you mean 2 strobes on the housing + 1-2 strobes installed on the bottom (at long distance from the housing), we can also make long length optical fiber cables (single, or dual), no problem.

The firmware is the same. The difference is only a metal body. External TTL Converters were made with the metal body to improve the mechanical protection and simplify the installation. If you already have an internal unit and everything is Ok, you don't need to change it.

Hi Jorg, We probably can update your TTL-converter, if hardwire allows the OPTIMA strobe support. We will check. Let's be in contact by messenger or e-mail. What slave mode do you mean, probably the triggering from other strobes? We plan to produce an external sensor (screws to the strobe input) for creative shooting with few strobes, which provides a wide radiation pattern and high sensitivity to pulse flash, but totally resistant to sunlight and torches. Such device electronics is already developed by us. This task will be covered very effectively.

We have different strobes in plan for future. Some of them will be without video light.

The strobes you listed are very worthy products. I don't discuss products from other manufacturers, it is not my task, sorry. I can only tell photographers about our own HSS system of the flash OPTIMA-10000 and about the essence of the HSS flash lighting in general. The principles of normal flash synchronization and HSS-flash synchronization are explained in the picture below: At slow shutter speeds (up to 1/250s) the normal usual synchronization is in effect - the flash fires once at the moment of the fully open mechanical shutter window, full energy flash usually lasts 1-2 milliseconds. This is called the normal flash synchronization, or "X-synchronization". But at ultra fast shutter speeds (faster than 1/250s) the shutter window no longer opens completely, such a moment does not exist at all, it is a narrow open strip moving along the frame during 5 milliseconds. Here only HSS synchronization is possible, - the strobe makes many small quickly following flashes (the base frequency is usually about 30 kHz) firing during 5 milliseconds, thus exposing the entire frame. And the faster the shutter speed, the narrower the open strip. The method of adjusting the intensity of HSS flash illumination usually is to change the frequency. The main problem with the HSS flash lighting is considered to be the so-called "Banding". These are alternating dark and light narrow stripes on the image. The reason is the parasitic interaction of the pulsations of the HSS flash and the camera shutter work. With an increase in shutter speed, banding increases, sometimes at speeds closer to 1/8000 it becomes unacceptable for shooting. Banding is very dependent on the camera and flash model. With one camera model it is more noticeable, with another less. The problem of banding at the global level in photographic equipment has not yet been solved, even in land photography. Manufacturers of photographic equipment are struggling with this effect, but with varying success. Our strobe OPTIMA-10000 has another HSS frequency and completely different method of HSS flash intensity adjustment, than other underwater strobes. It was our own development. Developing our OPTIMA-1000, we performed hundreds of experiments related to HSS, as a result of which we optimized the electronic components, parameters adjustments and firmware, related to the operation in HSS mode in order to minimize the banding effect. Currently, testing the HSS flash with the camera models we have in stock (7 camera models, including Nikon, Canon, Sony and Olympus), - there is no banding, the image is absolutely clear even at 1/8000. Of course, banding may appear with some other cameras that we do not have in stock, so we plan to gradually test all other cameras popular in underwater photography to confirm the effect. We will publish the results.

We are preparing TTL/HSS profile for TTL-Converters now for OPTIMA-10000 support.

The weight is 230g in the fresh water.

Chris, thank you! The Ikelite versions of TTL-Converter (M16 and 1/2UNF) have a slightly different o-ring sealing than others and need a nut, the same nut as Ikelite bulkhead has. The nut usage requires much longer length of rear threaded part, than Isotta. Also, Ikelite version TTL-Converter has a lower overall height of external part of the body to reduce the shoulder of external impacts and avoid damage to the plastic housing. Isotta version has some greater height of down external part of the body because some housing controls or protrusions are situated too close to the threaded M16 hole. Sometimes, who knows, It may be possible to install Ikelite M16 version Converter on the Isotta housing, but i am not sure, and it will require the concrete housing check. So, Isotta and Ikelite versions of TTL-Converter are different in the rear part of the body. We will publish all versions soon, you will see the difference on the pictures.

This is a camera menu for external flash control. TTL-Converter provides intellectual communication with the camera, including the menu options. The Canon version menu is shown on the pictures above. TTL-Converter even saves the latest Canon menu settings in it's non-volatile memory (for the user's convenience), and then loads them into the camera the next time the TTL-Converter is connected. UWTechnics produces such TTL-Converters for Nikon, Canon, Sony and Olympus. Nikon DSLR cameras are supported of course.

There is no any contradiction. The continuous shooting is actually available up to 120 fps using this strobe and UWTechnics TTL-Converter. The recycling time after full dump is actually 0.8 sec. The maximum 120 fps speed of course cannot be reached at the 150 Ws full power in each of 120 flashes during 1 second. Energy saved in capacitors is only 150 Joules. Strobe does not recharge at such speed at all (between such fast 120 flashes). So, you have to divide the available energy to the quantity of flashes. The 120 fps speed can be reached at small flash power, like 1/125. And UWTechnics TTL-Converter new firmware supports such continuous shooting speed with this strobe, for example with Sony A9 III camera. At such speed it can be used for any special macro tasks or so. But of course, 120fps would be extremely rare usage anyway. In reality we use up to 15 fps in underwater photography, in most of cases the 2-3 fps is enough.

Yes, this device was specially developed to simplify the installation and improve the mechanical protection.

Thank you, Tim. Subal threaded holes usually are situated too close to the central protrusion on the top of the housing, it would be impossible to install such device, but only bulkheads. Currently i see only the following housings acceptable for the External TTL-Converter installation: Nauticam, Marelux, Sea&Sea, Aquatica, Isotta, Ikelite, Seafrogs.