Nauticam flash trigger works only now and then....

[Johan Sundelin]

I have such a weird problem that I desperately need some advice on. Leaving on a trip in two days and my brand new equipment is not working. Any advise would be HUGELY appreciated!

The problem shows it self when taking flash pictures in continues mode. If I have the flashes dialed into the lowest output I can visually see the flashes firing for every shot I take. However, when reviewing the images only the first frame is being lit by the flash, all others have zero flash light on them. This is irrespective of if I shoot 1 or 10 frames per second.

The really troubling part is that the problem comes and goes seemingly in a random manor. If the camera sits for an hour then suddenly it works perfectly and I can take as many as 20 frames per second and every frame is lit by the flash. If I then wait some hours or a day, suddenly the problem is back even though no connection or camera adjustments have been made. I have tried many ways but still have not been able to force the error.

- Nikon z8 camera with 24-50 mm lens, Inon z330 flash with Inon cable. Camera is set at M mode at about 1/125th of a sec, f6,7 and ISO 200, flash sync speed 1/200 sec (not FP), flash sync speed is 1/60. The flash is in manual mode, lowest flash output and the ACC button is pressed and locked into place.
- It is the same problem with both the Inon z330 flashes and a Sea&Sea YD-D1 flash.
- Also identical problem when changing fiber optic cable from Inon to Sea&Sea.
- Both these flash brands also all works perfectly with a Nikon D850 in a Sea&Sea D850 house with Sea&Sea flash trigger.
- I have even connected the Nikon Z8 to the Sea&Sea house and its built in optical flash trigger and then everything works. When then moving the Z8 camera back to the Nauticam house without any camera adjustments the problem comes back.
- The Z8 also works perfectly with a Nikon flash attached to the hot shoe. This is the argument that Nikon customer service uses to claim the camera functions as it should. The camera is also updated to the latest firmware.
- Total reset of all camera settings does not solve the problem either.
- I have received a new manual flash trigger from Nauticam but the problem is the same.
- Everything works perfectly when I connect the Z8 via a sea&sea electric cable instead of fiber optic cable (see picture). I do however not have any way of fitting the cable into the Nauticam "house holes".

Sorry for the long post but I have tried sooo many things without success and neither Nauticam nor Nikon have managed to help so far. Please, any idea on how to fix this??

 

[Barmaglot]

Sounds like the triggering signal is right at the edge of 'too weak' for the strobes to pick up reliably. Sea & Sea triggers use unusually powerful LEDs to work with low-sensitivity sensors in their strobes, and your setup working with one of their triggers suggests that this is the issue. Maybe return the Nauticam trigger and get a TRT Turtle? They have extra-strength LED-panels as an option.

 

[Nemrod]

OP, have you confirmed that the trigger LEDs are actually firing when you have a fail to sync?

 

[Johan Sundelin]

Sounds like the triggering signal is right at the edge of 'too weak' for the strobes to pick up reliably. Sea & Sea triggers use unusually powerful LEDs to work with low-sensitivity sensors in their strobes, and your setup working with one of their triggers suggests that this is the issue. Maybe return the Nauticam trigger and get a TRT Turtle? They have extra-strength LED-panels as an option.

This is an interesting idea. One "evidence" that supports this is that when I look straight at the LEDs firing from the trigger it feels like the first light signal is a bit stronger than the following ones. Definitely worth investigating further. Thanks!

 

[Johan Sundelin]

OP, have you confirmed that the trigger LEDs are actually firing when you have a fail to sync?

Thanks for your idea. Yes they do, and also the strobe is firing. So looking at the action from a distance everything looks fine. It is only when reviewing the pictures that the problem of only the first picture being lit is visible. If firing in single mode I need to wait about one second in between pictures, then it works. Anything faster is not working. I can also see a green light lighting up for a second after each red LED flash is sent to the strobe. I assume this should indicate that the LED works correctly.

 

[Nemrod]

Can you set the camera to a flash output higher than minimum for manual? I know, I know, why should that matter with a trigger set to manual or manual mode trigger.

Can you ensure that the Z330 strobes are set to manual on the mode switch, I am sure you have through this episode?

Does the camera actually work reliably and every time in single shooting mode if you wait the one second or more?

I have gone through a similar issue, not exactly the same with my Sony NA6400 and the UWT trigger, fail to sync randomly. And with no resolution. And in my case I know it is the trigger despite being sent several as I too have updated software and then bought a new camera two years latter. It is the dang trigger.

If everything works as it should until you plug in the Nauticam trigger, your troubleshooting has thus logically isolated the issue to the trigger.

For your trip you will just have to shoot in single mode, assuming that mode actually syncs every time if given a rest between shots of a few seconds.