HSS Retra Strobe

On 6/26/2020 at 5:49 PM, Pavel Kolpakov said:

Hi Joss,

UWTechnics #11031-HSS TTL board for Nikon is available now in online store:

 

Thank you Pavel, I'm looking forward to try it. Could you please send me the manual?

12 hours ago, Joss said:

Thank you Pavel, I'm looking forward to try it. Could you please send me the manual?

Hi Jose,

You can look online User Manual for TTL-Converter #11031-HSS here:  https://ru.calameo.com/read/005560836d01ae694dc7e

I also can send PDF, if you give me an e-mail.

On 7/8/2020 at 10:41 AM, Pavel Kolpakov said:

Hi Jose,

You can look online User Manual for TTL-Converter #11031-HSS here:  https://ru.calameo.com/read/005560836d01ae694dc7e

I also can send PDF, if you give me an e-mail.

Thanks Pavel, I just received it yesterday. That was quick!

I did a HSS test at home (not uw) and it works well all the way to 1/8000s. 

I have a question, with my D500 in auto FP 1/250 + retras in HSS mode. It looks like I still can do 1/100, 1/6,0 1/30..... without going back to Manual on the retras. But the instruction manual says to put the retras in M mode for normal speeds. I'm missing something?

Really looking forward for the weekend!

Kind regards,

Joss

38 minutes ago, Joss said:

Thanks Pavel, I just received it yesterday. That was quick!

I did a HSS test at home (not uw) and it works well all the way to 1/8000s. 

I have a question, with my D500 in auto FP 1/250 + retras in HSS mode. It looks like I still can do 1/100, 1/6,0 1/30..... without going back to Manual on the retras. But the instruction manual says to put the retras in M mode for normal speeds. I'm missing something?

Really looking forward for the weekend!

Kind regards,

Joss

 

Joss, did you compare the power output at normal speeds between the retras in HSS and normal mode at any given power setting? If they're the same my guess would be that they're smart enough to just take the standard trigger signal in that mode, too (which would be great as that's exactly how I want to use them :))

12 hours ago, Joss said:

Thanks Pavel, I just received it yesterday. That was quick!

I did a HSS test at home (not uw) and it works well all the way to 1/8000s. 

I have a question, with my D500 in auto FP 1/250 + retras in HSS mode. It looks like I still can do 1/100, 1/6,0 1/30..... without going back to Manual on the retras. But the instruction manual says to put the retras in M mode for normal speeds. I'm missing something?

Really looking forward for the weekend!

Kind regards,

Joss

 

Hi Joss,

Yes, if Retra strobe is in HSS mode, you can shoot at slow (normal) speeds too, using Nikon. 

But in common case, i would recommend to set Retra to M mode when use normal sync speeds, by 2 reasons:

1) In HSS position the flash intensity adjustment range (by another knob) is rather limited on both sides, it is acceptable for HSS pulsating flash, but user can not get Full power from the strobe, and minimum powers are limited too. So, when you don't need HSS, but use normal speeds, you can get a full range of available flash power, you have to use a simple mono-flash (set Retra to M mode). 

2) In HSS position, but at normal sync speeds, the normal lighting is available only on Nikon cameras, because of Nikon simple X-sync for HSS flash. But on Canon / Sony / etc., there will be a dark strip on the image, because those brands use significantly different sync type/timings for HSS flash. So, this is also a reason to set Retra to M mode when normal sync speeds are in use.

On 2/25/2020 at 10:49 AM, Pavel Kolpakov said:

1) Yes, GH5 converter will be updated for Retra Pro support.

2) That TTL-Converter was developed for m4/3 new style HotShoe (for camera models produced since 2016). It does not support old version cameras which have 1 pin less on the HotShoe.

Hi @Pavel Kolpakovcan you confirm if the uwtechnics converter for the GH5 supports and enables HSS with the Retra Pro / Pro X?

I saw your post from a few years ago stating an update would be coming but the website states that HSS is not supported.

1 hour ago, joncroweucl said:

Hi @Pavel Kolpakovcan you confirm if the uwtechnics converter for the GH5 supports and enables HSS with the Retra Pro / Pro X?

I saw your post from a few years ago stating an update would be coming but the website states that HSS is not supported.

Hello,

Panasonic GH5 version of UWTechnics TTL converter does not support Retra HSS functionality, as written in Specifications. This is only a single model TTL Converter which does not support Retra HSS. But all other versions UWTechnics converters (Nikon, Canon, Sony, Olympus) support Retra HSS normally. 

The reason is following:  Panasonic GH5 HotShoe communication protocol had a flying moment of shutter opening (in some limits) in HSS mode. In all other brands cameras such time moment is hardly determined by protocol. So, to reliably cover the full shot by the HSS flash lighting Panasonic land strobes have rather long total flash duration in HSS mode, it is significantly longer than 5ms duration of HSS flash of Retra. 

That is why the HSS feature was excluded from UWT TTL Converter version for Panasonic GH5. I don't know, the problem is solved in GH6 camera, or not, but i did not test GH6 protocol yet. Maybe it is still the same.

26 minutes ago, Pavel Kolpakov said:

Hello,

Panasonic GH5 version UWTechnics TTL converter does not support Retra HSS functionality, as written in Specifications. This is only a single model TTL Converter which does not support Retra HSS. But all other versions UWTechnics converters (Nikon, Canon, Sony, Olympus) support Retra HSS normally. 

The reason is following:  Panasonic GH5 HotShoe communication protocol had a flying moment of shutter opening (in some limits). In all other brands cameras such time moment is hardly determined in protocol. So, to cover the full shot by the HSS flash lighting Panasonic land strobes have rather long total flash duration in HSS mode, it is significantly longer than 5ms duration of HSS Retra flash. That is why the HSS feature was excluded from UWT TTL Converter version for Panasonic GH5. I don't know, if this problem of flying HSS flash beginning is already solved in GH6 camera, or not, but i did not test GH6 protocol yet. Maybe it is still the same.

 

interesting,  I remember asking about this and got the answer it was because there was a missing power pin.  But that was the GH4 and/or GX9 which I have.

However with the battery powered Turtle TTL converter that has not been a problem in TTL or HSS manual.

Andrea

5 hours ago, nudibranco said:

interesting,  I remember asking about this and got the answer it was because there was a missing power pin.

However with the battery powered Turtle TTL converter that has not been a problem.

Andrea

 

Yes, such problem of shutter / HSS-flash moment refers only to new type Panasonic (GH5) cameras construction / protocol, - for powering flash control system (TTL-Converter) from camera HotShoe pin. But If use former years m4/3 protocol (old version, without power pin usage), - it is another protocol and timings.

  UWTechnics converters for m4/3 family (Panasonic, Olympus) use only new version flash system protocol, powered from HotShoe pin. Miniature construction without battery was done according to the most of user's requests. We don't produce old version with battery supply now. But you can use TRT product, if it fits, why not.

I plan to look at the new GH6 camera protocol. Maybe GH6 already does not have such a problem with shutter / HSS-flash moment, that took place with GH5 previously. Who knows. Let's look.

17 hours ago, nudibranco said:

interesting,  I remember asking about this and got the answer it was because there was a missing power pin.  But that was the GH4 and/or GX9 which I have.

However with the battery powered Turtle TTL converter that has not been a problem in TTL or HSS manual.

Andrea

 

Thanks for the input @nudibranco, have you had success using the Turtle TTL converter triggering HSS on Retras with the GH5?

I use the Turtle Mobi  for Panasonic and there are 2 versions: TTL and Manual.   TTL version costs more but you can configure it to use it as HSS in Manual or in TTL up to the flash sync.   Since I bought it I only use it in HSS manual and works just fine.  I love the ability to have the Shutter flexibility.   Probably I could have saved €100.

It is great with sun shots especially (CFWA) and to blacken or defocus backgrounds in macros.   

I use it on a GX9 but I am sure it will work on a GH5!

Thanks very much, Nudibranco. I've been in correspondence with Balazs at Turtle TTL to confirm the specs of the o-turtle.

If you see this post, Balazs, thank you very much for your fast responses to my questions on a holiday weekend. Truly excellent customer service. 

I'll be ordering an o-turtle manual trigger to enable HSS functionality with the Retra Pros and keep my dmw -fl70 as backup flash trigger, or for when I want to use TTL.

I'll be taking both triggers to the Red Sea in June. I'll try to write up a trip report when I get back.