Best Trigger or Cable for Backscatter Mini Flash MF-1
Started by tdphoto ·
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Best Trigger or Cable for Backscatter Mini Flash MF-1
19 posts
Hi,
I use my Sony A7III in a Nauticam housing with the Nauticam LED Trigger for Sony. But with some flashes i have some problems, also with different cables.
The Mini Flash MF-1 and also the SS-2 and SS-3 from i-Divesite will not work any time. No problems with my INON flashes.
Would the thick cables from iDiving be an option for my problem? Does anyone have experience with the cables? Or do you think about a new trigger? And if so, which product?
Thanks for your feedbacks and greetings from Switzerland,
Tino
UWTechnics triggers support Backscatter Mini Flash. They all were updated specially for this strobe in September-2020.
As example, this is product #11075-HSS i tested with Sony A7-A9 and MF-1 strobe:
INON strobes generally have less issues with triggering as the sensor is more sensitive.
Check the trigger output is well aligned with the cables as well. what cables are you using currently? Generally the best cables a multi core cables with I think 613 cores. S&S and Nauticam cables both have this, no name and generic cables may not. DIY cables is certainly a possibility - there are threads on the topic in this forum with recommended cable type listed.
The Backscatter Mini has a much weaker sensor than Inon strobes. I had some cables that worked great with my Inon 330's but were hit and miss with the Backscatter. I am now using the Backscatter Mini with a Nauticam D850 and their standard LED trigger. I use homebuilt cables with this 2mm ebay fiber below. The Backscatter strobe fires flawlessly with this setup.
Is the LED trigger in the Sony Nauticam housing any different than the Nikon Nauticam? Perhaps there are some specs to compare or ask Nauticam. In any case I would try replacing your cables before buying a different trigger.
I have the Nauticam LED trigger for the Olympus OM-D EM-1 Mark II. It will fire with homemade 217, 613 and 1000 core fibers from Asahi with no issues (the fibers I use are 2 meters long and coiled around a 3/8 inch form). They will also fire as Dave says with short lengths (and probably long ones) of the 2 mm fiber I use for the Saga fiber ring strobe. If you don't want to make your own, these will work.
I have no I just ordered a cable for testing and something from the 3mm thick cables.
Let's see if something works.
15 hours ago, bvanant said:
I have the Nauticam LED trigger for the Olympus OM-D EM-1 Mark II. It will fire with homemade 217, 613 and 1000 core fibers from Asahi with no issues (the fibers I use are 2 meters long and coiled around a 3/8 inch form). They will also fire as Dave says with short lengths (and probably long ones) of the 2 mm fiber I use for the Saga fiber ring strobe. If you don't want to make your own, these will work.
Have you tried using the 90deg style of connector? I get some interference on the housing side of the connection when using my Olympus epl10 and Panasonic 8mm inside the AOI housing with dome port. I would be okay with a diy cable if I can the 90deg connectors.
Would it be better to get a 1 to 2 cable (1 port connector to two strobe connectors) or just run 1 to 1 cables?
I am also using the Backscatter Mini Flash, eventually moving towards dual strobes when I get a chance.
TosLink cable, 2 to 4 mm single fiber and Uxcell strain relief plugs 7 mm od from Amazon or eBay have worked perfectly for me for the past several years, used with Sea&Sea and Inon strobes and Subal, Isotta and Nauticam housings. I wrap a 1 meter long cable around the strobe arms to take up the extra length and keep it out of the way. A drop of ABS plumbers glue adheres the cable to the plug, then I trim both with a razor. eBay and Amazon have low prices and prompt delivery.
In contrast, coiled cables are thin, break easily, the coil gets in the way and catches on things; unreliable and best avoided. Plus they are expensive, cost many times more than TosLink cables.
"In contrast, the coiled cable is thin, breaks easily, gets in the way and catches on things; it is unreliable and best avoided" HUH? I guess we just have different experiences. I have several thousand dives using coiled fiber optic cable (mostly made myself) and none has ever broken (try pulling one apart). I think the 90 degree connectors are quite useful for some housing/strobe setups. As for Toslink cables at least the ones I have, the core fiber is 1mm so thickness is the same or less than for the multi core fibers.
In any case, if it works, fine just don't let it get chewed on by some Stellar sea lions.
Bill
TosLink and Multicore seem to be the best way to go for fiber optic . But yes, stay away from sea lions, take their photo, but no chewing. One of my buddies got bit in the Sea of Cortez by a big male, dropped and lost his equipment, bad sea lion day for him.
51 minutes ago, Kraken de Mabini said:
One of my buddies got bit in the Sea of Cortez by a big male, dropped and lost his equipment, bad sea lion day for him.
Someone needs to talk to your buddy about about getting a Lanyard. And yes, my fiber optic cables have been broken by Stellar SeaLions!
Great photo, scary in fact, hope she was ok.
Which lanyard do you recommend? I misplaced mine and am looking for a replacement.
45 minutes ago, Kraken de Mabini said:
Great photo, scary in fact, hope she was ok.
Which lanyard do you recommend? I misplaced mine and am looking for a replacement.
That photo is my wife up in Hornby Island, BC. She was fine and had fun. There is a Stellar colony up there very accustomed to divers. We've been there several times and it's always a blast. The sealions are pretty good with people and just play with divers a lot like playful dogs. They don't chomp anyone, just test your fins, hoses, head, and Fiber Optics. If they get a little over excited you can ignore them and they generally ignore you.
This is probably the best lanyard out there, with the coil reinforced with a nylon webbing. I use one very similar.
I'm still looking for a cheap way to get Sea & Sea connectors for self-made cables. The plugs should also fit thicker cables up to approx. 4mm.
Thanks for your help.
Tino
One can use Uxcell 7 mm od strain relief plugs, from Amazon or eBay. No O ring is necessary as the built-in rings of the plug keep it in place once plugged in.
I glue them together with a drop of plumbers ABS cement from Home Depot, then trim the end with a razor.
If you have S&S connectors from an old dead cable you can just snip them off and drill them out. Run your fiber into them, add a dab of glue to hold it in place and you're good.
You can get that exact connector for $8 or so from fun-in.
or 3-d print some for cheap if you have a printer. There are a bunch available on yeggi but I haven't tried any
Bill
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Hello everybody,
Thank you again for your help! Yesterday I received the thick fiber optic cable and immediately tested whether the MF-1 could be triggered without any problems. Conclusion, perfect! Even if the cable is not exactly in the socket, the flash will trigger without any problems. Now I just have to get the appropriate connector.
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