New Sea&Sea TTL Converter Compatibility List

[erik 0]

Sea&Sea web site now present a new compatibility list for TTL CONVERTER I and II. Very important informations about compatibility between flash and converters ttl. The new Ys 110 don't work with TTL CONVERTER I.

 

 

You can see my tests from here. I still testing the TTL CONVERTER II with DX-D200 and D200.

Sorry, for the moment the web page is only in italian. Thank you to Fracosub (italian Sea&Sea delear) for helping me in tests with differents flashs and converters. I hope tests could help other Sea&Sea owners.

 

Link to compatibility list by Sea&Sea

http://www.seaandsea.jp/products/accessory/ttl.html

 

 

Erik

www.erikhenchoz.com

Edited January 18, 2007 by erik

[Rattus 0]

Oops, that lack of YS-110 support on the Mark I has to be a bit embarassing for them.

 

Good work finding the new Compatibility list.

 

Martyn

[erik 0]

Yes Martyn and another think: i have tried the new Ys110 with Fyji S2pro in Sea&Sea housing and the camera display an error in P mode, in manual mode it works (you can shot) but ttl don't works (overesposed shots). So Ys110 seems not suitable for the old but great S2pro.

 

Thank you

 

ERIK

www.erikhenchoz.com

Edited January 18, 2007 by erik

[seagrant 4]

Sea&Sea web site now present a new compatibility list for TTL CONVERTER I and II. Very important informations about compatibility between flash and converters ttl. The new Ys 110 don't work with TTL CONVERTER I.

Link to compatibility list by Sea&Sea

http://www.seaandsea.jp/products/accessory/ttl.html

Erik

www.erikhenchoz.com

 

Very interesting. I'm on my 3rd replacement Sea and Sea TTL converter now (10+ hours of total underwater time trying to get these things to work), used this 3rd one for 3 hours u/w, not enough time to make a decision on this 3rd replacement but I found it was very inconsistent with a few totally blown-out shots (but at least it wasn't dead-out of-the-box like 2 others I got). I thought it was just really bad for wide-angle with ambient light........., but now I see it is incompatible with the 110 strobes I have (which were supposed to be more compatible with it than other strobes).

 

Yes I think Sea and Sea needs to spend a little less development time and money on their "hard-sell" techniques (ref - booth and salespeople at DEMA '06), and maybe less time and money on glossy ads; and more time on reliability and truth in advertising (remember the original TTL unit was advertised in print as being very positive in water, wherein it is 6 to 7oz neg in fact); and more attention to reliability and value for money instead of attention on profit margin. Profit will follow if the products work as advertised.

 

Just honest input from a customer who has used the units. I'm not sure if I'll try the new converter 2 or just go with manual.

 

Carol

[erik 0]

Hi Carol,

after 2 week testing TTL CONVERTER I and II now i can say:

1) only the TTL CONVERTER I (first release) give problems with Ys 110 but works very well with YS-90DUO (all releases and also the YS-90 AUTO), Ys120 (like explained in the Compatibility List)

2) The TTL CONVERTER II work now well with the Ys110

 

For different result with macro or wide angle photos:

is a common opinion that TTL is great with macro shots and portraits but not for wideangle shots. With wideangle a lot of time is will to much difficult for the TTL circuit to read the light on the scene and this will make exposure errors.

I prefefere to use TTL only for macro or for close shots. For wideangle i use manual setting (TTL CONVERTER and camera) infact i found very good the possibility to switch the converter in manual mode and use the power dial on the flash.

I'm very interested in your opinion and maybe if you are using the Converter with differents SEA&SEA strobes you can send us your considerations and some demo shots.

Many thanks

 

ERIK

www.erikhenchoz.com

Edited January 19, 2007 by erik

[Rattus 0]

Hi Carol,

 

I would have thought you'd have an ideal case with Sea&Sea USA for getting them to swap your Mk.I unit out for a Mk.II, seeing as how you were somewhat mislead about its compatibility with the YS-110s which you also bought through them. Maybe Ryan could bring it up with them.

 

Martyn

[erik 0]

Yes i can confirm Martyn, good suggestion.

I test products for Sea&Sea Italian delear and testing the ys110 with TTL CONVERTER I we discovered this problem. Sea&Sea was sure that the TTL CONVERTER I was ok with Ys110 but was not true and infact they have update compatibility list, how i was posting here.

 

For Carol,

so i think that you can ask to SEA&SEA Usa to change the TTL CONVERTER I with the second release. I have changed my personal TTL CONVERTER last week here in italy and now i can use Ys110 - Dx90 Duo and Auto + Ys120.

 

Good dives

 

ERIK

www.erikhenchoz.com

Edited January 18, 2007 by erik

[LChan 0]

How can you tell if you have the converter 1 or 2.

 

Is it labeled a certain way? Serial Numbers?

 

The sea and sea website does not seem to have pictures or descriptions describing the TTL converter.

 

thanks.

[shchae 3]

Erik,

 

Two things.

1.The difference on type I & II is to cover new camera(D80), not new strobes. How did you tested converter & strobe ? How many of them tested ? there was several report about quality problem with TTL converter AND YS-110(it was on hold because of quality issue too.) & you might have a bad converter or a bad strobe and/or both.

 

2.S2Pro uses old Nikon/Nikonos film TTL & does not need TTL converter.

 

I am not trying to support/protect S&S but, just want to know your test is correctly & fairly done.

 

Sam

Edited January 18, 2007 by shchae

[shchae 3]

Regarding how to find it is type I or II,

 

It is not easy to find. In fact, it is not easy to find whether it is E-TTL converter (for Canon)

or i-TTL converter(for Nikon D-SLR).

 

1.E-TTL converter has " C" mark outside & has 6pin connector.

2.i-TTL converter I has "N" mark & just say TTL CONVERTER.

3.i-TTL converter II has "N" mark & say TTL CONVERTER II.

 

Sam

[shchae 3]

I just called my friend who has S&S i-TTL converter + 2x YS110(Got last week) + Nexus D200 housing and his setup is working.

 

I used S&S i-TTL converter II with 2 x Inon Z-220 , 2xInon Z-240 & 2 x YS-120 myself last week & TTL function was all working even though its battery compartment was melted & damaged my housing.

 

Sam

Edited January 18, 2007 by shchae

[erik 0]

Hi guys i'm very happy to know interest on TLL CONVERTER

 

I will search to reply to questions:

 

1) I'm helping Sea&Sea italian deleat to testing new products so i'm a happy owner of Sea&Sea products. My post was only for more informations. Is very important that peolpe know compatibility, differently you can buy wrong products (example that happended to Carol, maybe she could ask to USA Sea&Sea to change the Converter)

 

2) Tests was maked in 2 different moments: dry - testing the TTL not underwater but on land, very easy to check if the led confirm the right exposition, and UW tests for 2 weeks. I use Nikon D200 Nikon D70 and Fuji S2pro housed in Sea&Sea housing so i can oly speak about this types of camera and TTL CONVERTER for Nikon, i don't have Canon. We tested CONVERTER AND YS-110 because the italian delear had some compatibility problems with differents customers (with Nikon).

 

3) The TTL CONVERTER II not cover only the new D80. Sure the D80 have a different TTL circuit and Sea&Sea had make an hard job to make the CONVERTER II compatible with it, but the new release of the CONVERTER i think is born not just for this but to make compatibility also with Ys110, diferently with CONVERTER I the YS110 don't works in TTL (we have tried with maybe 10 flash), this explain also why Sea&Sea published on line a new Compatibility list writing that Ys-110 don't works with first release of TTL CONVERTER. First when trying we was sure that the problem was in the Ys110 but after received the new CONVERTER II and tested all changed because the TTL works fine.

 

4) I know differences betwen S2pro TTL and Nikon Digital TTL. I'm still using sometimes my old S2pro with YS-90 Dx because i love it (expetially for macro), it was my firts Reflex used underwater and i buyed it just for this reason :-), the possibility to use it in TTL with my old flash.

My post was only to inform S2pro Owners that maybe would like to buy an YS-110 :-). The YS-110 attached to the S2pro with a Sea&Sea syncro flash don't work in TTL. If you put the camera in P mode when you turn on the it will give an error, if you use M mode the camera shot but TTL make error and all shot are white (over exposed).

 

5) TTL CONVERTER I and II are the same out side but not inside :-) The only way, very easy, to know the release it to read the name marked on it in capital letter - FOR THE FIRST RELEASE IS "TTL CONVERTER" for the second is "TTL CONVERTER II".

 

In conclusion:

i find that the TTL CONVERTER is a very good product, i maked good shot with it with some experience.

Sea&Sea maked an hard and good work expecially to make compatibility. The only problem was with the First release of the CONVERTER (I), now with the news release (II) the compatibility is ok also with Ys110 how you can see on the new compatibility list.

If you use YS-90DX, YS-90AUTO, Ys-120TTL Duo you can use the first release.

 

VERY IMPORTANT:

we have tested some CONVERTERS with same results but i'm not sure that all pieces of FIRST RELEASE have the incompatibility with Ys110. A good think is to test and to ask informations to your delear, maybe an email to Sea&Sea directly will be the fastest think to do. In any case i suggest to use the second release.

 

For Carol:

change your TTL CONVERTER to the TTL CONVERTER II and your will be able to shot in ttl with YS-110 (is a very good flash) but i suggest to not use TTL and to put the CONVERTER in manual mode for wideangle shots

 

Thank you guys, an sorry for my poor english

 

 

ERIK

www.erikhenchoz.com

Edited January 19, 2007 by erik

[erik 0]

I just called my friend who has S&S i-TTL converter + 2x YS110(Got last week) + Nexus D200 housing and his setup is working.

 

I used S&S i-TTL converter II with 2 x Inon Z-220 , 2xInon Z-240 & 2 x YS-120 myself last week & TTL function was all working even though its battery compartment was melted & damaged my housing.

 

Sam

 

 

Hi Sam very sad to know your problems. But how the battery compartement was melted...maybe was flooded? And why your housing was damaged? In past i have flooded 2 flash but no damage to housing... do you have some electronic circuit inside damaged? I never flooded TTL CONVERTER but i was sure that in this case the only damage was in the converter.

 

Thank you

 

ERIK

www.erikhenchoz.com

[Rattus 0]

Erik,

 

If you check out Sam's post about "melting" you'll find that what happened was the chrome on the battery compartment bubbled up and fell off due to elecrolytic corrosion. Some good pictures in there. This seems to be linked to a circuit being made through the housing. The Nexus housing that Sam uses would appear to be succeptible to this problem, either due to a metal camera mount (seems unlikely - I don't think the tripod screw is grounded on the 5D - could be wrong) or the particular ground wiring of the bulkhead socket.

 

Hopefully if the metal camera mount is the issue, then a Delrin mount could be machined to break the circuit, otherwise a de-grounding of the bulkhead body might fix it.

 

Martyn

Edited January 19, 2007 by Rattus

[erik 0]

Erik,

 

If you check out Sam's post about "melting" you'll find that what happened was the chrome on the battery compartment bubbled up and fell off due to elecrolytic corrosion. Some good pictures in there. This seems to be linked to a circuit being made through the housing. The Nexus housing that Sam uses would appear to be succeptible to this problem, either due to a metal camera mount (seems unlikely - I don't think the tripod screw is grounded on the 5D - could be wrong) or the particular ground wiring of the bulkhead socket.

 

Hopefully if the metal camera mount is the issue, then a Delrin mount could be machined to break the circuit, otherwise a de-grounding of the bulkhead body might fix it.

 

Martyn

 

 

Uhooo! Thank you, i was in Marsa Alam and i missed this interesting post. I will read it.

E very strange problem

Than you

 

 

ERIK

www.erikhenchoz.com

[shchae 3]

Erik,

Thanks for the details.

 

A lesson was learned on my case & it is not easy to resolve the issue when MANY parties are involved (S&S,Inon,Nexus,Dealer & User).....

 

Sam

[underwatercolours 0]

I've been using the Sea & Sea TTL converter on the DX-D200 housing with dual Ikelite DS125 strobes since July. I was told by Sea & Sea in the US that these strobes had not been tested, but mine have been working flawlessly. The first shot exposures were a lot closer to perfect than anything I'm able to do in manual mode. Nothing like the old TTL we used to use on the Nikonos cameras. Even for close-focus wide angle, I consistently got great exposures, even when shooting directly into the sun.

 

A friend of mine in Florida was shooting with two Inon strobes and also got very good results, but I don't know how she was shooting. I believe she got the setup from Ryan at Reef Photo.

 

The true test of this thing was my December trip to Socorro on the Solmar V to shoot mantas. The only shots where I blew out the highlights with my flash was when I was in manual mode. I shot only wide angle with a 10.5 fisheye or 12-24 lens. I got some of the best manta shots I've ever taken...all in TTL. I even tried shooting in Program mode and got good results.

 

I'll be doing more macro on my trip to Cozumel in February so I'll see how it does on that, but I expect great results. I never thought I'd be a TTL shooter, but especially for fast moving subjects like mantas and sharks, the TTL converter does a better job than my 20 years of experience.

 

Bonnie

[Simon K. 0]

I've been using the Sea & Sea TTL converter on the DX-D200 housing with dual Ikelite DS125 strobes since July. I

 

Thanks for this very promising report.

Has anyone else experience with the S&S Converter and Ikelite Strobes especially with Canon Cameras?

I'm going to upgrade to a 5D with S&S Housing this year and would like to use the Converter.

 

Simon

[erik 0]

Erik,

Thanks for the details.

 

A lesson was learned on my case & it is not easy to resolve the issue when MANY parties are involved (S&S,Inon,Nexus,Dealer & User).....

 

Sam

 

Hi Sam

Yes, very sad to discover your problems, i hope you solv it.

 

ERIK

www.erikhenchoz.com

[lou 0]

If I look at all S&S sites , They just mention the compatibility with S&S housings. Does anyone understand why ?

I know that some of you has succesfully tested the converter with other housings and it seems it works. Does it happen by chance or there are some pre-requisistes to be satisfied to use the S&S converter?

Why doesn't S&S say anything on that ? I think it could be an opportunity for them.

 

I have just got a new Hugyfot housing for my D200 and I'm wondering whether I could use the S&S conveter

The other options (such as inside cards converters) do not allow me to switch from ttl to manual underwater since to do that you need to switch on the second courtain synchronization and the Hugy does not have this function available.

 

(Oh ...so many questions all at once ! )

[seagrant 4]

Hi Carol,

after 2 week testing TTL CONVERTER I and II now i can say:

1) only the TTL CONVERTER I (first release) give problems with Ys 110 but works very well with YS-90DUO (all releases and also the YS-90 AUTO), Ys120 (like explained in the Compatibility List)

2) The TTL CONVERTER II work now well with the Ys110

 

For different result with macro or wide angle photos:

is a common opinion that TTL is great with macro shots and portraits but not for wideangle shots. With wideangle a lot of time is will to much difficult for the TTL circuit to read the light on the scene and this will make exposure errors.

I prefefere to use TTL only for macro or for close shots. For wideangle i use manual setting (TTL CONVERTER and camera) infact i found very good the possibility to switch the converter in manual mode and use the power dial on the flash.

I'm very interested in your opinion and maybe if you are using the Converter with differents SEA&SEA strobes you can send us your considerations and some demo shots.

Many thanks

 

ERIK

www.erikhenchoz.com

 

Erik and all,

 

Ryan at ReefPhoto is exchanging the 3rd Sea and Sea TTL converter I've used now for a TTL 2 converter as we speak due to the recent alteration in the Sea and Sea compatibility list for my Sea and Sea 110s. (Again note Ryan's superior service!)

 

As said before I had two other Sea and Sea TTL units that didn't operate in TTL underwater (one operated for a few shots in TTL in a test above water but quickly failed in TTL), but they both worked in manual bypass (there is a post with my "frustrations in progress" on this - I'd just as soon move on............ ) :glare: Ryan determined that there were a number of units that were "DOA" out of the box.

 

I've just been trying the Sea and Sea TTL units out on w/a because that is what my main focus is right now (manatee season). I know w/a with TTL is challenging and maybe not the best use for the unit, but it is a good test because you will know how the TTL behaves in the most changing conditions (shallow w/a with wildly varying ambient/lack of ambient light). I don't expect the unit to be perfect under these conditions (but I was told by someone who knows that this unit works quite well for w/a also), yes Erik I'd probably use manual in these w/a conditions [or when the ambient light is reliable just turn off the strobes of course], but I wanted to see how the TTL works.... . I know the unit "white-outs" I got were a problem with the unit because the exposure, etc didn't change and the light didn't change as several were back to back under the same conditions with wildly varying results. But at least this 3rd unit actually worked in some sort of TTL (the other two wouldn't even sync in TTL), so I thought that was a step-up.....

 

I was just about to hang the unit up for w/a use and try it on on macro exclusively when I read this post about incompatibility with my 110 strobes. I was very glad to read this post and thank Erik for posting it - it saved me yet more frustration.

 

So now I've decided to give the Sea and Sea TTL2 a try. I'll be using it next week for 6 or 7 hours underwater probably - if weather pattern arrives as predicted (cold fronts have not been making it down here - this is very bad for manatee conditions and I won't go in those circumstances - but that is supppsed to change)...., so I'll have a good idea of the status then. [silly me in Florida, frowning at too many 60 degree nights and 75 degree days in the middle of winter......... B) ]

 

I had to decide if the Sea and Sea TTL unit was worth yet another try-out or just go with manual (and manual strobe operation was never a huge problem for me in the past)......, but I'm "stubborn/persistent" and I like to see things through to some sort of answer/conclusion. But the Sea and Sea TTL units are quite expensive (compared to the cost of the Henrich's alone), and I do think Sea and Sea should have tested them out better as previously stated. Especially with their own strobes.

 

Also at DEMA Sea and Sea told me that the units are only compatible with Sea and Sea housings. This is probably to cover themselves and honestly they have a point as the salesman said he can't vouch for "other" housing electronics. But I also experienced super distasteful (to me), "hard-sell" techniques at DEMA from Sea and Sea booth and their sponsored seminars this past year (something I'm not use to seeing that much of in the u/w camera world). I just think Sea and Sea could put the attention more on the quality/reliability/truth in print of their products instead of all the glossy "hard-sell" that I noticed. But then that is just my observation of course.

 

Ryan Canon has told me that the unit will work with the Subal ND20 housing and he personally checked out my housing electronics and the unit and all was well. Now the problem is the new incompatibility of the 110 strobes. Ryan knew nothing of this 110 problem and I do feel for him, having to absorb the brunt of these malfunctions when it is basically a Sea and Sea manufacturing problem. Still Ryan has been most patient with me and this I do salute

 

I'll let you know what happens. Best & Thanks Erik and Sam and all! Carol

PS - ohhhh, Sam a "melting" problem........? Yuck!

Edited January 21, 2007 by seagrant

[shchae 3]

Thanks for good words....

 

Here is comment on S&S chart;

 

"This product (TTL Converter) is compatible only with the above SEA&SEA Housings and Strobes. Use of other equipment void product warranty."

 

Hence, it is all your fault from now on....Just like that......

 

Sam

[shchae 3]

If I look at all S&S sites , They just mention the compatibility with S&S housings. Does anyone understand why ?

I know that some of you has succesfully tested the converter with other housings and it seems it works. Does it happen by chance or there are some pre-requisistes to be satisfied to use the S&S converter?

Why doesn't S&S say anything on that ? I think it could be an opportunity for them.

 

I have just got a new Hugyfot housing for my D200 and I'm wondering whether I could use the S&S conveter

The other options (such as inside cards converters) do not allow me to switch from ttl to manual underwater since to do that you need to switch on the second courtain synchronization and the Hugy does not have this function available.

 

(Oh ...so many questions all at once ! )

 

O.K. I can answer some of your questions;

1.When YS-110 was newly introduced, there was several reports that it's TTL function is not working. S&S told users & dealers that there is a batch that has problem. Now, they says ALL (?)YS-110 are NOT working

with converter.

 

2.Based on my problem, here is what I suggest;

a.If you are NOT sure (and worried) how to use TTL converter with 'other'brand housing & strobe, Wait until more test is done & posted here.

b.If you already have TTL converter with 'other'brand housing & strobes,

(1) Insulate Camera from Housing using plastic base and/or plastic screw & use with caution.

(2) Problem reported so far only with Inon Z-220/240 strobes. Use S&S strobes if possible.

 

I noticed all dealers are VERY quiet on ttl converter/YS110 issue & not making a single comment here....

 

Sam

[lou 0]

A message to all brands ! Hi Folks , there is an opportunity out there !

Look at this forum. Roughly over 50% of the topics are on ttl-ittl-ettl (anykind) and converters (S&S, Ikelite,heinrichsweikamp.etcc) It seems clear to me that dslr is moving fast and People (us) are looking for a reliable , flexible, affordable and plug&play solution. Until affordable native ittl (or -e- or whatelse) are available, I think the first who comes up with an open solution can catch the opportunity. S&S seemed to be on the right way but They do not want to make us fully happy . There will be for sure a real issue why they do not want their conveter to be installed on other housings (!?). Hope it not just a commercial reason.

[dhaas 32]

Not to "stir the pot" so to speak, but I find it especially odd that Bonnie Pelnar, using the Sea and Sea TTL converter to IKELITE DS125 strobes is having great success even on wide angle as I've preached for years......But many other brands are having poor results all over the board.

 

Plus I am unabashedly biased using only Ikelite housings with their own eTTL2 (Canon) and other friends shooting iTTL (Nikon D200 and D80) built in flash systems.

 

Digital TTL is here to stay.......Making UW imaging easier

 

dhaas