James Emery

Hi everyone, the day is here! The Backscatter Hybrid Snoot (Optical Snoot 3) Backscatter.comBackscatter Optical Snoot OS-3Backscatter Optical Snoot OS-3 for Backscatter Hybrid Flash

The Best Underwater Action Camera Video Light: Backscatter Octo 3500Bright, Bold, & Ready For ActionThe Backscatter Octo 3500 Wide Video Light is the perfect go-to travel friendly light for action cameras and compact camera rigs. With a powerful 3500-lumen, 100° beam, it delivers bright, even coverage that brings out rich color and fine detail in your footage. A perfect pairing for wide angle action cameras and compact systems, the Backscatter Octo 3500 adds professional-level lighting without adding bulk. It’s just as capable on bigger camera rigs, either working as a low-profile focus light or for creative lighting when paired with accessories like color or the fluorescence Backscatter Video Light Excitation Filter. With Backscatter’s signature octopus tentacle print, the Octo 3500 doesn’t just perform well—it looks awesome while doing it. The small size of the Backscatter Octo 3500 Wide Video Light makes it perfect for travel and action camera rigs, while the simple single-button control makes it easy to learn and use. KEY FEATURES:3500 Lumen Brightness 100º Wide Even Beam - Light Scenes with Wide Angle Lenses Three Power Levels Compact Size - Perfect for Travel Backscatter Color Filter System Compatible Enjoy the vivid colors of fluorescence with the optional Backscatter Video Light Excitation Filter Powered by two interchangeable protected 18650 batteries Simple Single Button Control 5000K Color Temperature CRI 90 Triple O-ring Seal The Backscatter Octo 3500 is an excellent video light for both macro and wide angle. OM System TG-7 | 1/60 | ISO 100 | ƒ4.3 Pro Level Action Camera LightingThe 100° beam of the Backscatter Octo 3500 makes it perfect for action cameras. Its wide, even, beam with natural-looking light falloff ensures all footage looks professionally lit right out of the camera. The small size of the Backscatter Octo 3500 Wide Video Light makes it a perfect for compact camera rigs, like the OM System TG-7, providing plenty of lighting power without adding a ton of bulk, complexity, and cost. At 3500 lumens and a 5000K color temperature, the Octo 3500 delivers color close to natural daylight, enhancing the color of underwater video clips. Compact, bright, and built for wide lenses used by action cameras— the Backscatter Octo 3500 is the perfect choice for professional grade lighting. When shooting wide angle, always use two lights to fill in gaps Behind the scenes, the 100° wide and even beam angle will easily cover large scenes and subjects. CLICK HERE TO KEEP READING & SEE THE OCTO 3500 IN ACTION

Also, check out our video here:

Backscatter Atom Flash Underwater Strobe ReviewThe Most Powerful Compact StrobeIntroducing the Backscatter Atom Flash — a small flash with BIG power. Underwater photographers can now capture pro-level lighting in a compact, travel-friendly package. With an underwater guide number of ƒ28, the Atom Flash packs serious flash power for its size, lighting everything from the biggest wide-angle scenes to tiny macro subjects. Its 110° flash beam delivers smooth, even coverage, while flat or dome diffusers expand and soften the beam further. Snap on the Optical Snoot OS-2, using built-in 1,000-lumen white and red focus lights make pinpoint macro lighting effortless. The Atom Flash shares the same advanced flash modes as the bigger Hybrid Flash, plus some new tricks of its own. Enjoy 11 manual power levels, Smart Control TTL for Sony, Olympus, and OM System cameras, wireless remote triggering, high-speed sync, and a low-power mode with 10 extra steps of fine adjustment—perfect for dialing in subtle light balance. A super-bright auto-rotating LCD clearly displays flash settings, shots remaining, and battery life. With over 600 full-power flashes on a single charge, the Atom Flash keeps shooting as long as you do. Compact, powerful, and travel-ready with an introductory price of $749, the Backscatter Atom Flash delivers professional performance in a rugged, portable design—making it the ultimate strobe for photographers who demand maximum power in minimal size. CRAZY BRIGHT TINY FLASHBright Guide Number of ƒ28With an underwater guide number of ƒ28, the Atom Flash packs a super bright flash into a travel-friendly body, easily illuminating shallow reefs, big scenes, and can easily light the foreground of stopped-down sunball shots. Its compact build also makes it perfect for macro work with the Optical Snoot OS-2, fitting effortlessly into tight scenes. Though small and travel friendly, the Atom Flash has plenty of power to illuminate big scenes with ease, even at ƒ18 Canon EOS R1 | Canon 8-15mm Lens | 1/200 | ISO 200 | ƒ18 With plenty of power to spare, the Atom Flash can light motion blur images in bright conditions when using a stopped down aperture and low ISO. Canon EOS R1 | Canon 8-15mm Lens | 1/3 | ISO 320 | ƒ22 Easy to Aim High Quality Light BeamMore than just a bright strobe, the Atom Flash's light beam is even from center to edge, with a gentle light drop-off, and no light-gaps or hotspots. All shooters from first-time strobe users to seasoned pros will appreciate just how forgiving and easy it is to light almost any scene. The Atom Flash is more than just a compact bright strobe, its beam is also extraordinarily even from the center to the edge of the image. This image was captured using the included flat diffuser to further spread the beam. Canon EOS R1 | Canon 8-15mm Lens | 1/60 | ISO 200 | ƒ10 Stay Informed with Super Bright LCD DisplayThe Atom Flash features an LCD screen that clearly displays critical information in any environment, from bright shallow reefs to pitch black night dives. Photographers can instantly see mode, power level, remaining flash count, and battery life, with the display automatically rotating to match strobe orientation. A streamlined menu system makes navigation simple, while customizable favorite functions make frequently used settings ready for easy access. The Atom Flash's LCD visual interface clearly shows strobe information and can be used for easy menu navigation. Powerful Flash That Travels LightDesigned with ease of travel in mind, the Atom Flash’s low-profile body is fit for all underwater camera systems, from compact to full-frame rigs. The minimal footprint of the Atom Flash makes it an easy fit in carry-on luggage or tight packing spaces. It’s also an ideal choice for shore divers or anyone looking to downsize their lighting without sacrificing performance. Whether used for shore diving or for travel to weight-restricted remote destinations, the Atom Flash delivers powerful, professional lighting in a truly travel-friendly form. The Atom Flash has the same power as a Hybrid Flash set two clicks below maximum power, while being smaller and more than a half pound lighter. CLICK HERE TO KEEP READING

Hey everyone — James from Backscatter here. We have not abandoned the Hybrid Flash Snoot. Please don't take the word of the coconut telephone call someone's brother's cousin's friend heard from somebody's dog walker at Retra about whether Backscatter is coming out with a snoot for the HF-1, or for whatever reasons of it being suitable or not. It is suitable and it is coming. It has taken longer than we thought because we want to make sure the product is right and works the best it can. We just don't slap on a tube with some glass in it and call it a day. (I'm not saying Retra does this, their snoot is quite nice actually.) We're working on it guys! Please stay tuned, it's coming soon! I promise!

Inon Z330's Sold.

Selling a few different Inon strobes, all in good working condition with accessories. Available Strobes: 🔹 2x Inon Z-330 – Includes Nauticam protective neoprene covers, 4600K warm diffusers, and fiber optic cables for Nauticam housings. Well-maintained and fully functional. $450 each or $800 for the pair. 🔹 1x Inon Z-240 – Includes dome diffuser, -0.5 flat diffuser, and -0.5 4900K flat diffuser. $300. 🔹 1x Inon D-2000 – Good condition, works perfectly. $200. 📦 Buyer covers shipping (or local pickup available, Monterey CA).

The release date of the Flash Trigger is approaching soon. We did not have a prototype of the snoot on display, and this item will be available next year. To clarify, the Hybrid Flashes do not use "slave TTL." Instead, they are designed to support true TTL for Olympus and Sony camera systems, ensuring more accurate and consistent exposure control. Slave TTL refers to a generic system where the strobe simply reacts to the camera’s built-in flash. It mimics the flash output but lacks a direct communication link to the camera’s TTL protocols, which can result in less consistent exposure as the strobe is essentially “guessing” the correct output. In contrast, systems like Olympus RC TTL are far more advanced. With Olympus RC TTL, the camera sends a coded signal directly to the strobe via a dedicated receiver, such as the Backscatter Flash Trigger. This allows for true TTL communication, enabling precise and consistent automatic exposure control based on the camera’s settings, like aperture, ISO, and distance. By using true TTL with the Hybrid Flashes for Olympus and Sony, we ensure the highest level of reliability and exposure consistency, far surpassing the limitations of standard slave TTL systems. In the future, we will look at options for other manufacturers. I hope this clears things up!

Inon S220 Underwater Strobe Review The Inon S220 is the latest flash from Inon, sporting a compact build, guide number f/22 flash power, and a dome diffuser system. The Inon S220 is the successor to the Inon S-2000, with a brighter, wider flash beam and larger improved controls, making this strobe much easier to use in cold water with gloves than its predecessor and easier to use in general. The Inon S220 is competitive with other entry-level strobes, making it an appealing option for macro, close focus wide angle, and smaller wide-angle scenes. In this video, we break down the Inon S220, everything you need to know about it, and how it compares to all the other strobes on the market right now. At Backscatter, we take the testing of strobes very seriously in order to provide our customers with the most accurate comparison between different models. As there isn't any industry standard for measuring strobe performance, we rely on our in-house testing process. Our testing process includes underwater testing of the strobe's guide number and beam pattern using a professional light meter inside a custom-made housing. We also conduct on-land testing of the strobe's color temperature, recycle time, and flash duration using a light meter and a spectrophotometer in a controlled environment. With this information, we are able to compare all of the strobes we sell on an even playing field. CLICK HERE TO KEEP READING AND WATCH THE VIDEO

Hi everyone, I wanted to give everyone an update: We have started shipping the Hybrid Flash today! Not all orders will be filled today, but they will continue in the next week or 2. If someone ordered through one of our authorized dealers, please check in with them, as some dealers are already starting to receive shipments or will be very soon. Here is a link to our support page that includes the instruction manual and informational and how to videos: backscatter.com/HF-1-SUPPORT

Key Features ƒ40 Guide Number 5,000 Lumen Video Light Spot, Wide, and Red Lights Selectable Angle of Coverage, with Included Flat Diffuser and Optional Dome Diffuser—120°, 140°, 160° Selectable Color Temperature with Optional Filters—6500K, 5500K, 4500K Smart Control Automatic TTL Flash Power for Sony, Olympus, and OM System Cameras HSS Compatible Wireless Off Camera Remote Control – Mix and Match with Mini Flash 2 SOS and Emergency Signaling Modes Requires Two 21700 Lithium Ion Batteries Read the full article here: Backscatter Hybrid Flash Review

Hey Kirsty, if you make it to Monterey, I will take out shore diving

SEA & SEA YS-D3 DUO UNDERWATER STROBE REVIEW The Sea & Sea YS-D3 Duo is the latest strobe model, and it comes with a few new features compared to its predecessor, the YS-D3. The most significant change is that the Sea and Sea YS-D3 Duo now supports Olympus and OM System RC Automatic TTL Flash Power. This is great news for those who use TG, Pen, and OM cameras. If you already have a YS-D3, the power and beam pattern are the same, so if you are not using an Olympus or OM camera, there is no difference in performance. At Backscatter, we take the testing of strobes very seriously in order to provide our customers with the most accurate comparison between different models. As there isn't any industry standard for measuring strobe performance, we rely on our in-house testing process. Our testing process includes underwater testing of the strobe's guide number and beam pattern using a professional light meter inside a custom-made housing. We also conduct on-land testing of the strobe's color temperature, recycle time, and flash duration using a light meter and a spectrophotometer in a controlled environment. With this information, we are able to compare all of the strobes we sell on an even playing field. Watch our first-look review of the Sea & Sea YS-D3 Duo Underwater Strobe. CLICK HERE TO KEEP READING

I have used the Remote Lighting Muck Stick successfully in a variety of environments - from soft and silty sand to hard rubble with no issues. Surprisingly, many people in the field are unaware that the Sand Anchor can adjust its position up or down to suit different sand types. Although I have encountered a few instances where the sand was excessively silty, which made it difficult to hold the muck stick in place, such occurrences were rare. I always carry a third MF2 attached to the muck stick and use a double ender to secure it to my BC D-ring. This way, it is always ready to deploy when I find a suitable subject to backlight or create fancy colored bokeh bubbles. Also, be sure to check out this video to give you more of an idea