Basileus, That is correct, no RC.
Actually the UFl-2 works in auto (one of the two types they give you), but there is a problem using it. If for some reason you get a complete flash dump (say you are shooting into just water), the recycle time is something around 12 second. I absolutely hate that. So I just use 1/4 (most of the time) and the flash recycle is faster than the camera.
I own UFL1's, UFL2's, YS110's and YS1's...so can test any of them (sadly, don't own YS110a, but I understand the control is the same as the YS1's.
Not only does Oly using that slightly different timing pattern, but they also look for the intensity of the preflash...both or either can cause TTl to not work. As it only looks for too strong of a preflash, using the camera in auto (as there is not manual flash control with the LX5) and the strobe in manual works, because the flash timing is alway the same (the strobes don't send out any preflash) and the strength is basically zero. Down side is it causes the camera strobe to fire at maximum (thankfully it is not that strong).
The UFL2 works because it uses then same timing pattern, and the strength of the preflash matches the camera. Sea and Sea strobes seem to have a much stronger preflash and only sometime match up with the timing.
I can get the YS1's to work in deep water, with not the best vis. I cannot get them to work when shallow and in clear water. Manual works in both conditions.
Spent a great deal of time trying, using different setting, different strobe adjustments, and anything else I could think of...I could change the point it stopped working, but not the problem.
If I wanted to, I can use auto TTL when diving in dark conditions (rather normal here in Destin, Fl), but I have gotten used to using the strobes set in manual, as it turned out to be much easier than I though.
Understand your frustration with having something that sort of work, but I would have said you cannot effectively use Sea and Sea strobes (not tested the new ones) with any Panasonic in TTL under all conditions.
As a side note, most the students I teach are using the oly zx1, which does have manual stobe setting, and I own (in addition to a lot of canon stuff) the LX5, GH1 and GX1. I do happen to like the Panasonic family better, except for this flash issue. I also understand that Inon strobes can and do work with both camera's in TTL (just don't own any).
Puffer Fish, thanks for reply!
Definitely I understand differences in Oly and Pana optical sync protocols, especially with RC feature support. Pana has no optical RC feature at all (am I right?) – this why you are using UFL -2 in manual only. Actually I am not clear with a situation of DS-TTL support on 110a for E-PL1. Yes, camera is on the list, but I see a number of claims regarding this support in fact. And I see no “happy end”, only recommendations to use it in manual. And I can use it, but I’ve been paid for extra functionality that does not work.