Turtle TTL Optical Flash Trigger

Alex Tyrrel · Issue 95, Mar/Apr 2017 · pp. 49–53

Products mentioned: TURTLE (TRT Electronics), TURTLE Board, LED Board, Subal ND500 housing, Nikon D200, Nikon D7000, Nikon D500, Nikon D4, Nikon D5, Canon 1DX, Canon 5D, Canon 6D, Nauticam Flash Trigger, UW Technics Circuitry, Sea & Sea Optical YS-Converter, Sea & Sea YS-250 Pro, Sea & Sea YSD1, Sea & Sea YSD2, Inon Z220, Inon Z240, Ikelite strobes

For the last few years I have been eagerly awaiting the release of an optical flash trigger that can be used in my Subal housing. The main reason being for travel, so I can leave behind the heavy electronic sync- cords (including a back-up set, plus a spare dual cable just in case!), to be replaced with lightweight fiber-optic cables. An added advantage is having four fewer O-Rings to inspect and maintain, even though I generally leave the sync-cords permanently attached to the strobes when diving regularly. Also, optical cables will make packing for my daily shooting a touch easier, leaving my strobes free from cables to pack wherever I like in my rucksack that I use to carry my already prepped rig to the boat. I have been a Nikon & Subal user for more than 10 years, starting out on the D200, then upgrading to the D7000 that gave me the option of triggering the strobes using the interna…