Underwater Technics releases a TTL converter for Sea&Sea MDX Canon housings. Compatible with Retra, Ikelite, and Marelux systems. A second life at an affordable price.
It replaces the original optical converter ("Optical YS-Converter") that is installed at the top of the front housing of a Sea&Sea MDX Canon underwater housing. This allows for automatic flash exposure in TTL mode instead of manual mode only.
Sea&Sea, Inon, Ikelite, Retra, Marelux, and Subtronic are all reputable brands. Some models, such as the Sea&Sea YS-D130R, the Retra Flash Pro Max II, or the Marelux Apollo III V2, also offer high-speed sync (HSS) capabilities up to 1/8000th of a second.
Approximately €450 (converted from $520, the official price listed on the Underwater Technics website). The actual all-inclusive price may vary depending on the retailer.
No, it is not mandatory. TTL (Through-The-Lens metering) can be useful for subjects that are moving or in changing conditions, but manual mode often provides more predictable results once you have mastered controlling your lighting. This converter gives you a choice, it doesn't impose a specific method.
A well-maintained Sea&Sea housing can last longer than three generations of camera bodies. The problem is that the original flash exposure mode ages less gracefully than the housing itself. Underwater Technics has just released a solution to fix this without requiring you to buy a new housing.
The Underwater Technics converter replaces the original Sea&Sea "Optical YS-Converter" located at the top of the front of a Canon MDX housing. It is an optoelectronic component powered by a CR2332 battery, rated for 5000 activations. Installation requires no modification to the housing itself, just a simple part replacement.
Once installed, the housing switches from manual mode only to true automatic TTL exposure, with compatibility announced for Sea&Sea, Inon, Ikelite, Retra, Marelux, and Subtronic flashes. On certain models (Sea&Sea YS-D130R, Retra Flash Pro Max II, Marelux Apollo III V2), high-speed synchronization up to 1/8000th of a second also becomes available, with support for burst shooting and front and rear curtain sync.
The listed price is approximately €450, converted from $520, which is the official price on the manufacturer's website.
What I mainly take away from this type of converter is the principle behind it: instead of encouraging people to buy a new housing to gain a function, we can sometimes update the part that really matters. For a Sea&Sea housing owner who was hesitating between keeping their equipment or switching to another manufacturer, this converter changes the equation.
It doesn't replace the fundamental work on when to actually use flash underwater, whether TTL or manual. The basic technique remains the same, only the tool changes.
The AquaExposure training course specifically addresses this choice between natural light and flash, TTL or manual. discover the AquaExposure training course.
Price converted from the official dollar price (current exchange rate). The actual VAT-inclusive price charged by European retailers may vary.
