Problems with consistent flash firing with the Nauticam flash trigger

[Magrone 9]

I have been using the Nauticam flash trigger via fiber optic connection to 2X Inon Z240s with mixed performance. Sometimes it fires great... with no issues. other times the strobes won't fire at all, or one fires. Today I noticed that the strobes would not fire until I pointed the camera upwards, at the sun. (?) This was the second dive and I had taken about 100 shots on the first dive... so batteries in the strobes should have still been good. I switched to fiber optic TTL just to check performance and it was working fine. I do usually have issues of inconsistent firing on every dive regardless of battery levels, so Im not sure battery life is the culprit. I checked to see if anything was blocking the light ports in the housing or on the strobes and nothing. I am using the Nauticam 7d mk 2 housing that is equipped with the prism mirror for the fiber optic ports... Any ideas?

[JackConnick 76]

First thing I'd do is check your sync cords. We've found that the flash triggers need pretty good multistrand cords like the Nauticam ones. But hold one end up to the light and see if you see light at the other end, even when you wiggle it around. They usually break near the connectors.

[Magrone 9]

Yea I checked the chords .... Nothing wrong with them and they are the nauticam ones. I missed quite a few shots on a manta ray night dive last week because my strobes were not firing. Strobes were set on half power to 3/4 power. Pretty frustrating.

[Irbis 1]

If optical cables are fine, try to change the battery in Trigger.

CR type battery may be faulty. This is one of the reasons for weak firing.

Edited November 30, 2015 by Irbis

[mqs1542 0]

I'm having similar difficulties with my strobes firing. Same Inon strobe(s) using fiber optic cables. Nauticam D7000 housing. I'm missing so many shots because of a delay of the strobe(s) firing. I've had very few instances when the strobes fire instantly. By the time the strobes fire my subject has moved or is out of focus.

 

I've had my gear for four years and I think the delay has increased significantly. Batteries are fresh. I can frame my subject, pull the shutter release and nothing happens for a few seconds. This is extremely frustrating as this equipment is expensive. It should be working. I can't help to think it might be a camera setting. The camera is taking to long to calculate the amount of power the flash needs.

 

I'm going to call Reef Photo and see if they have any ideas.

[Irbis 1]

I'm having similar difficulties with my strobes firing. Same Inon strobe(s) using fiber optic cables. Nauticam D7000 housing. I'm missing so many shots because of a delay of the strobe(s) firing. I've had very few instances when the strobes fire instantly. By the time the strobes fire my subject has moved or is out of focus.

 

I've had my gear for four years and I think the delay has increased significantly. Batteries are fresh. I can frame my subject, pull the shutter release and nothing happens for a few seconds. This is extremely frustrating as this equipment is expensive. It should be working. I can't help to think it might be a camera setting. The camera is taking to long to calculate the amount of power the flash needs.

 

I'm going to call Reef Photo and see if they have any ideas.

Delay is another problem. Check you camera on the land listening shutter sound, - does the shutter everytime works instantly ? If you have any delays, check your camera menu settings and focusing mode switch. Trigger LEDs have to fire every time with the shutter sound. If there was shutter sound, but no LED flash, Ok, this is a problem of Trigger.

Edited December 2, 2015 by Irbis