Pavel Kolpakov
Forum username: pavel kolpakov
Posts: 315
Active years: 2015—2023
Role: Founder of UW-Technics (TTL converter manufacturer)
Primary forums: Lights/Strobes/Lighting Technique
Specialization: TTL strobe systems, electronic strobe triggering, housing modifications
Biography
Pavel Kolpakov is the founder and sole developer of UW-Technics, a company that designs and manufactures TTL (through-the-lens) flash converters for underwater photography housings. His products became widely adopted in the underwater photography industry, with Nauticam offering UW-Technics internal circuitry as a factory option in their housings. Kolpakov is recognized as one of the foremost experts on underwater TTL strobe systems, and his Wetpixel forum presence served as both technical support channel and collaborative development platform.
UW-Technics Products
Kolpakov’s UW-Technics company produced several categories of products:
- Internal TTL boards: Installed inside housings to convert hot shoe flash signals to fiber-optic signals. First supplied to Nauticam for the Nikon D500 housing, later expanded to Canon, Sony, Olympus, and Panasonic cameras ([1])
- External optical TTL converter: A standalone unit attached via M14 housing port, compatible with any housing. Powered by CR1632 batteries, it converted the hot shoe signal to an LED optical signal transmitted via single or double fiber-optic cables ([2])
- Electric bulkheads: Nikonos, Ikelite, and S-6 connector options in various housing mount formats, including Meikon-specific mounts ([3])
Community Role
Kolpakov was an active and highly respected technical resource on Wetpixel. His forum presence functioned as both customer support and collaborative engineering, with users frequently tagging him directly in TTL troubleshooting threads (e.g., by StuartV in the YS-D3 compatibility discussion). He was described by longtime user timg as “an excellent guy… his advice and support is first rate” ([4]).
Notable Contributions
TTL Systems Discussion Thread (100 replies)
Kolpakov started a comprehensive thread proposing discussion of “various TTL systems that were not previously covered in the Articles partition of Wetpixel, including rare and serial versions, modifications of TTL technics, etc.” The 100-reply thread became a definitive community reference on TTL converter options, strobe compatibility, connector pinouts, and housing installation details. Kolpakov freely shared technical information about his own products alongside advice about competitor systems ([5]).
Wetpixel Product Reviews
UW-Technics products received editorial coverage from Wetpixel:
- Field review of UWTechnics External Optical TTL Converter (2017) — Adam Hanlon reviewed the external converter, noting that the internal circuitry was first supplied with the Nauticam NA-D500 housing ([6])
- Multiple product announcement articles covering TTL boards for Canon, Sony, Olympus, Panasonic, and Sea & Sea camera/housing combinations ([7], [8])
Community Support
Kolpakov provided detailed technical guidance on fiber-optic cable selection, recommending specific products like the HowShot Dual Fiber Optic Cable and Sea & Sea Dual Sync Cord, while cautioning against less reliable options ([9]).
Timeline
- 2015: Joined Wetpixel forums
- 2017-01: UW-Technics external TTL converter announced ([10])
- 2017-03: Wetpixel field review of UWTechnics external converter published ([11])
- 2017-08: TTL converter for Canon shipped ([12])
- 2019-02: TTL converter for Olympus shipped ([13])
- 2019-04: Started the comprehensive TTL systems discussion thread ([14])
- 2019-04: TTL board for Panasonic GH5 shipped ([15])
- 2019-05: TTL converter for Sea & Sea shipped ([16])
- 2019-06: TTL circuit for Nauticam NA-EM1X shipped ([17])
- 2022-11: TTL board for Canon in Marelux housings shipped ([18])
- 2023: Last active year on forums
Activity Profile
- Peak years: 2019—2022
- Focus areas: TTL strobe systems, fiber-optic triggering, housing electrical modifications
- 315 posts across Lights/Strobes/Lighting Technique
- Notable distinction: Created the industry-standard TTL converter platform adopted by Nauticam, Marelux, and other housing manufacturers
Sources
- Wetpixel article, Mar 28, 2017: Field Review Uwtechnics External Optical Ttl Converter ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 28, 2017: Field Review Uwtechnics External Optical Ttl Converter ↩
- Forum thread: Ttl Systems In Underwater Photo ↩
- Forum thread: Experience With Trt S Turtle Ttl Trigger ↩
- Forum thread: Ttl Systems In Underwater Photo ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 28, 2017: Field Review Uwtechnics External Optical Ttl Converter ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 30, 2017: Uw Technics Ships Ttl Converter For Canon ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 5, 2019: Uw Technics Ships Ttl Converter For Seasea ↩
- Forum thread: Ttl Systems In Underwater Photo ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 29, 2017: Uw Technics Announces External Ttl Converter ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 28, 2017: Field Review Uwtechnics External Optical Ttl Converter ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 30, 2017: Uw Technics Ships Ttl Converter For Canon ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 18, 2019: Uw Ships Ttl Converter For Olympus Cameras ↩
- Forum thread: Ttl Systems In Underwater Photo ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 29, 2019: Uw Technics Ships Ttl Board For Panasonic Gh5 ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 5, 2019: Uw Technics Ships Ttl Converter For Seasea ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 5, 2019: Uw Technics Ships Ttl Circuit For Nauticam Na Em1x ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 29, 2022: Uw Technics Ships Ttl Board For Canon In Marelux Housings ↩
- TTL systems in underwater photo (forum) ↩
- Field Review: UWTechnics External Optical TTL Converter (article) ↩
- UW Technics announces external TTL converter (article) ↩
- UW Technics ships TTL converter for Canon (article) ↩
- UW Technics ships TTL converter for Sea&Sea (article) ↩
- UW Technics ships TTL board for Canon in Marelux (article) ↩
- Sea&Sea YS-D3 / UWT trigger thread (forum) ↩
- TRT S-Turtle trigger thread (forum) ↩