SOFT - Smart Optical Flash Tube

Focus on quality of light Retra Flash is the world's first underwater flashgun with a fully circular flash tube. Combined with a completely new reflector design it produces a high quality light output no other flashgun this size can offer. It's not all about guide numbers. What's new:  Up to 25% faster recycle times and up to 20% more flashes per battery charge thanks to a optimised flash triggering system New lightweight housing with an 8% reduction of total mass (all existing accessories remain compatible) Redesigned optical sensing module with improved signal processing Direct mounting for the E-Opto converter (no optical cable in between) Improved TTL accuracy and TTL maximum power output (all existing converters remain compatible) Reinforced mode and power dials in case of impact Dedicated HSS mode on the control panel User interface made by photographers We've spent hundreds of hours analysing photographers feedback from the field and tweaking our designs. The end result is a back panel you are immediately familiar with. Controls are large and tactile, for all types of hands or gloves. You will always get what you expected when using the control panel of the Retra Flash.  Underwater flashgun for the 21st century The new Retra Flash connects via bluetooth to your smartphone or tablet (patent pending technology). Check the status of your flashgun, set advanced features like HSS, Smart SL, Pilot Adjust and get firmware updates with the "Retra UWT" App. The new Retra Flash is a true system that is also built for the future.  Design your light without boundaries With the bayonet mount your Retra Flash can be transformed into a specialist lighting tool. Diffusers for blue water, green water and a special diffuser for sharks are available. For macro work there are several options to reduce the angle of the light beam. Secure mounting is the way.

NEW, YS-D3 MKII MODEL Sea&Sea has now updated its flagship YS-D3 strobe to the YS-D3MKII. The new updates enhance TTL shooting and third-party optical converter compatibility while still retaining all the great features, such as a 33 Guide Number, wide Beam Angle and broad flash distribution of the original D3 The new MKII model will be a “running change” update, that is, the product number (#03123), will remain the same. Features of the YS-D3MKII model Newly developed software enables compatibility with existing and previous Sea&Sea optical converters. TTL shooting with the YS-D3MKII can now be enjoyed using the YS-D2 position on the S&S optical converter. A newly designed circuit improves the accuracy of TTL light intensity with compact cameras and also provides greater compatibility with third-party Optical TTL converters. The design of the light intensity adjustment dial and mode switch has been revised for better useability in all diving environments.  The difference can be easily recognized from the outside by the MKII label on the side of the unit and the new control knobs on the rear. High Performance U/W-Strobe Newly designed circuitry and light-emitting unit produces powerful guide number of 33. In addition, a high precision aspherical optical troidal lens has been fitted over the two flash tubes to disperse an even light from the center to the edge. The strobe`s beam angle will increase to 110°by attaching the standard accessories Diffuser. When the optional Dome diffuser is attached, beam angle will increase to as wide as 150(TBD) In order to avoid misunderstanding, the YS-D3 guide number (GN) and the beam angle are based on measurements taken on land (not underwater)  Some competitors will often state a GN measured on land and the beam angle in water, for example a GN 33 and beam angle of 110 degrees. However, this GN 33 value is based on a beam angle of 60~70 degrees. The beam angle may be expanded in water by a dome effect, however the GN in water is significantly lower than the value measured on land.  Note: A land-based strobe that uses the same four AA batteries as the YS-D3 may provide a notation that the GN is 60, but these measurements are taken under the condition that the focal length is equivalent to 200 mm (= beam angle 12 °). When the beam angle becomes narrower, the brightness of the illuminated area increases due to the light-collecting effect. Aspherical optical troidal lens Superior consecutive firing capability to capture those critical moments. The YS-D3 utilizes larger capacity condensers compared with those used on competing strobes. In addition, the D3 is also equipped with a newly designed charging circuit. As a result, the YS-D3 will fire at GN16 continuously without any interval time. Even when the strobe is fired at GN22, the strobe will fire again within a mere 0.8 seconds.  When the YS-D3 is fired at Guide Number over 22, a two-stage ready-to-fire signals will be issued. For instance, after the strobe fires at full power of GN33, the strobe will inform you both visually and audibly when the condenser is charged to fire at GN22. Then, when the condenser is charged enough to fire at GN33, another different signal will be issued. This design allows you to release more shutters in scenes where you want to shoot as many pictures as possible, maximizing shooting intervals between scenes Target light with increased power incorporating a uniquely designed aluminum heat diffuser, the target light is now powerful enough to be used as a dive light.?About 4 times brighter than YS-D2? Various accessories available for all underwater imaging experiences Dome diffuser (optional accessory) Increases beam angle to 150°×170° Essential accessory when fisheye lens is used, or soft light is required. + Guide number will drop to -1.5EV when it is fitted. Snoot (optional accessory) A strobe adaptor which narrows the beam angle to be directed at a target point. Diameter of the opening 25mm. Designed with internal prism which aligns target light`s light axis and strobe`s light axis to the center. Flash prism (optional accessory) Optical guiding device to fire the strobe when a fiber-optic cable is not used. This device is for manual use only. The device is effective if multiple strobes are used in a fixed position.  However, the flash may not fire depending on the position of where multiple flashes are occurring in relation to that of the master flash.  Excellent visibility Backlight panel that is effective when shooting in dark environments The indicator color on the back of the YS-D3 changes each time the position of the mode switch is changed. Blue (in DS-TTLII mode), light blue (in slave TTL mode), orange (in manual mode with pre-flash), and green (in manual mode without pre-flash) The positioning of the operation system is obvious during night diving. * The color in DS-TTLII mode has been changed from the YS-D2 to match the color with the optical converter. In DS-TTLII mode In manual pre-flash mode   In manual non pre-flash mode Connection method with arm that can be selected according to preference YS-D3 comes with a straight type ball base. Optional YS base and new Diagonal ball base can be installed depending on the application. YS base (common to YS-D1 / D2 / D3) Traditional YS base. Easy vertical swing. Diagonal ball base (only for YS-D3) A ball base inclined at 35 ° compared to the straight type. This makes it easier to lower the strobe backwards, making it suitable for shooting when using a dome port. Also, when a Synchro Cord N is installed, interference between the cord and the ball clamp is minimized.

Developed by underwater photographers for underwater photographers - with this claim Retra UWT has dedicated itself to the development of one of the best underwater flash units in the world.  Focus on quality of light With a unique flash tube design and a completely new reflector, Retra-UWT has achieved a light output that no other flash unit of this size can offer. But it is not only about guide numbers. "All you need to remember about guide numbers is not to use them as a guide when buying a flash. The guide number is determined by both the light output and the spread of the beam. A focused beam produces a much higher guide number than a widely scattered beam, but the latter is more desirable underwater." Alex Mustard in the Underwater Photography Masterclass (2016) What's new: Up to 25% faster recycle times and up to 20% more flashes per battery charge thanks to a optimised flash triggering system New lightweight housing with an 8% reduction of total mass (all existing accessories remain compatible) Redesigned optical sensing module with improved signal processing Direct mounting for the E-Opto converter (no optical cable in between) Improved TTL accuracy and TTL maximum power output (all existing converters remain compatible) Reinforced mode and power dials in case of impact Dedicated HSS mode on the control panel The user interface created by photographers. By listening to underwater photographers using the original Retra Flash, the developers have optimized the user interface. The interaction and functionality of the new Retra Flash is even more intuitive and precise. Double O-ring and leak detector for the battery compartment Our goal is to achieve a 0% statistic for battery compartment flooding. Therefore we introduce a double O-ring on the battery cover and on the optional leak detector. In the unlikely event that the battery compartment is flooded, you will be notified by the Retra Flash to check the battery compartment as soon as possible.  Performance in numbers Flash power: 150 Ws Colour temperature: 4900 K Pilot light output (angle): 500 lm (20º) Recycling time at 100% power (4x Eneloop pro): ~3 s HSS ready: YES Power levels: 13 Leak detector: YES Bayonet connection type: A1 Electrical connection: via converter Optical connection (compatible with Inon and Sea&Sea connectors): YES Weight (without batteries, including 1" mounting ball): 865 g