DPG is a comprehensive underwater photography website and community for underwater photographers. Learn underwater photography techniques for popular digital cameras and specialized professional underwater equipment (wide angle, macro, super macro, lighting and work flow). Read latest news, explore travel destinations for underwater photography. Galleries of professional and amateur underwater photography including wrecks, coral reefs, undersea creatures, fashion and surfing photography.
Dive Photo Guide

News

Updated Ikelite Fiber Optic Strobe Converter
By Joseph Tepper, September 29, 2018 @ 12:49 PM (EST)

Ikelite has released the third generation of their Fiber Optic Converter for DS Strobes. The nifty accessory converts your Ikelite DS strobe’s electronic bulkhead into a fiber-optic port. This allows for ultimate strobe flexibility—whether you want to use a fiber-optic connection instead or trigger strobes remotely. 

The converter has an enlarged slave window with a 90-degree field of view to allow for remote triggering. This new generation of converters is constructed from hard anodized aluminum to reduce weight without reducing durability. (Ikelite has updated their sync cords with this material as well.) It is also hypersensitive in order to translate the slightly weaker LED flashes produced by Sea and Sea and Nauticam’s optical flash triggers. 

The new Fiber Optic Converter for DS Strobes is now available for $150
 



When purchasing underwater photography equipment like the products mentioned in this article, please support DPG by supporting our retail partner—Backscatter.com.



PRESS RELEASE

This 3rd Generation of the Fiber Optic Converter features a hard anodized aluminum plug connection which reduces weight without sacrificing durability. It is recommended for use with any Ikelite strobe produced September 2018 or later with a hard anodized aluminum bulkhead. 

Like the 2nd Generation model, this Fiber Optic Converter features heightened sensitivity for use with SEA&SEA or Nauticam housings with internal electrical-to-optical flash triggering devices. These devices translate the camera's electrical signals into a series of LED flashes which are much less bright than a traditional built-in camera flash. The Fiber Optic Converter is also compatible with any system where the camera's built-in flash can be seen by a fiber optic cord.


Attachment and Use

The Converter simply attaches to the strobe's electrical bulkhead in place of a sync cord connector. The enlarged slave window provides approximately 90 degrees field of view for remote triggering. 

The Fiber Optic Converter automatically configures itself for compatibility with both pre-flash and non pre-flash camera modes. No setting of small switches or confusion over number of pre-flashes. Simply turn on your strobe and take one picture to configure. This adapter is a manual exposure (non-TTL) trigger only. The strobe's output may be adjusted using the manual power settings built into the strobe (varies by model). 

An individual Fiber Optic Converter and compatible cord is needed for each strobe. Use of two strobes requires two Fiber Optic Converters. This converter attaches to an Ikelite DS strobe. It is not intended to be attached to a housing and will provide no functionality if attached to an Ikelite bulkhead in a housing.


Alternatives

There are two shooting scenarios where the High Sensitivity Optical Slave Converter # 4405 would be a better option:

  • If you're shooting a DSLR or mirrorless camera with Nauticam fiber optic converter and want to shoot at a higher frame rate (4 FPS or faster).
  • If your primary purpose is to trigger your strobes remotely at a distance from the housing without a fiber optic cable in between.


Strobe Compatibility

  • Ikelite DS50, DS51
  • Ikelite DS125
  • Ikelite DS160, DS161 
  • Fiber Optic Cord Compatibility
  • Ikelite Fiber Optic Coiled Cord # 4501
  • INON Optical D Cable "Non-wireless type" L-Connector
  • SEA&SEA Fiber Optic Cable (L-type) # 50107
  • SEA&SEA Fiber Optic Cable II # 50128
  • Olympus UW Fiber Optic Cable PTCB-E02
  • Nauticam Optical Fiber Cable # 26211 Nauticam to INON
  • Nauticam Optical Fiber Cable # 26212 Nauticam to Sea&Sea

 

RELATED ARTICLES

LATEST EQUIPMENT

Backscatter Smart Control Optical TTL Flash Trigger
Sea & Sea MDX-R5II
Nauticam NA-R1
Ikelite Housing for Canon EOS R5 II
Backscatter Hybrid Flash HF-1
Be the first to add a comment to this article.
You must be logged in to comment.
Sponsor
Newsletter
* indicates required
Travel with us

Featured Photographer




Sponsors