RC or WIRELESS? – Why there’s no universal solution (yet)

RC or WIRELESS? – Why there’s no universal solution (yet)

Over the past few months, we’ve received a lot of questions about how our Olympus-compatible triggers work. So let us clarify why it’s not so simple to create a single universal solution that works flawlessly across all systems.

Most of the inquiries are about the RC (Remote Control) mode.
Olympus refers to it as RC, while Panasonic uses the term WIRELESS for essentially the same feature.
While the names differ, the technical foundation is the same: an intelligent optical communication protocol based on a sequence of pre-flashes that transmit control signals to the strobe.

These signals allow the camera to control the strobe from its menu, including modes like TTL, MANUAL, and HSS (High-Speed Sync).

⚠️ Not all cameras support these features, so it's important to check your camera's specifications on the manufacturer's website before assuming compatibility.

Not all strobes work with all systems

To make things more complicated, most strobe manufacturers primarily develop their products for Olympus RC compatibility. This means:

❌ A strobe that works well with Olympus RC might not support Panasonic WIRELESS mode
✅ There are some exceptions, but full dual-system compatibility is rare – so always check the strobe's technical documentation.

Example:
The Olympus TG-7 supports RC mode with its built-in flash – but only in TTL mode. In this case, the camera automatically controls the flash power.

More advanced MILC cameras (like the OM-D EM series or Panasonic GH5) allow full control of TTL, MANUAL, HSS, and even more advanced options like front/rear curtain sync or manual flash power settings – directly from the menu.
These functions are typically only supported by strobes with full RC compatibility.

What’s the core issue?

The digital signal timing and encoding between Olympus and Panasonic systems is different.
As a result, most underwater strobes cannot guarantee 100% compatibility with both systems.
This is not a trigger limitation, but rather a technical constraint that affects all manufacturers.

o-TURTLE SMART 3 – The flexible solution

Our latest o-TURTLE SMART 3 trigger is now capable of automatically detecting and handling both Olympus RC and Panasonic WIRELESS modes.

(Just to be clear: the trigger supports both — but your strobe still needs to be compatible!)

✅ All standard optical TTL modes are supported
✅ Automatic FP/HSS switching is also available — provided your camera and strobe support it

In the video below, you can see the system in action: Backscatter HF-1 operating in WIRELESS TTL mode with a Panasonic camera.