Jerry Diver

This is perhaps my personal preference but the new Booster design is way too short... I couldn't use it as a handle to manoeuvre the strobes the same way as I could the first generation Booster which was about twice the length. The added length is a welcome addition, in my opinion. And looking at the spec sheet it looks the buoyancy is substantially improved as well. With the battery pack the strobe is now practically neutral without adding dry weight. It's the same length as the Backscatter Mini Flash, here is a clip from the hands-on video: null

$ per Wh is the same or currently even better when compared with the AA configuration: - 8xAA + Booster + chargers have around 20-22Wh and cost about $250 or $11-12 per Wh. - Battery pack has 40Wh and is currently $400 which is $10 per Wh. Potato patato... I choose the battery pack any day of the week for the practical charging, consistent performance and no more chasing loose cells on the floor and underneath furniture! Recycle time with these strobes on 8xAA is already not an issue and honestly I don't feel like deep frying the pupils of any marine life with my strobes, no thanks.

We can buy off-the-shelf batteries at a low price, but it's not as simple or cheap to make a safe and durable battery pack with multiple cells. When done right, each cell is measured for internal resistance and paired with similar ones. Off-the-shelf batteries don’t provide this info, but it’s crucial when combining cells. A battery pack should "die" when one cell fails, which makes it safer than the alternatives. I completely agree that proprietary battery packs are more expensive in many ways, but in my vie the cost is small compared to the potential risks of carrying high-capacity loose Li-ion cells and charging them on liveaboards, etc.

I have yet to come across a single reputable and popular land strobe manufacturer that uses loose Li-ion battery cells, such as 18650 or 21700, as the power source. Smaller strobes (speed-lights, etc.) typically use NiMH batteries, while larger strobes use proprietary Li-ion battery packs. The ongoing trend of using loose Li-ion cells in underwater strobes is driven purely by low-cost manufacturers who push these cells to enhance their spec sheets at minimal cost. When single 21700 or 18650 Li-ion cells are used in products, there is no issue. However, we are now seeing dual cells and potentially triple cells in the future to improve performance. This is a very slippery slope, as Li-ion batteries in configurations of more than one cell require careful monitoring during discharge. Different batteries have different internal resistances, which can cause them to overly discharge. Proprietary battery packs effectively solve this issue by internally balancing their batteries, ensuring safety for users.

I read somewhere (can't find the website now) they are coming out with pre-orders in early July and that the battery packs are proprietary standalone units, charged by a standard usb-c cable.

The absolute measurements on the Retra graphs may not perfectly represent how we perceive lighting underwater, but they do correlate well with the provided images of the light outputs without diffusers when strobes are aimed at a blank wall. Additionally, Retra has provided images of the strobe light output with diffusers, which clearly levels the playing field. If they wanted to showcase the supremacy of their strobe, they likely would have not shown those images. Conclusion: The Retra study highlights subtle differences between strobes (all are within +/- 1 F-stop range), though these differences may not be immediately noticeable when shooting underwater scenes with various colors and textures.

Reading their study, Zone 3 (Magenta) is 120 cm from the center of the test wall when the strobe is placed 60 cm from the test wall. In practical terms, this means Zone 3 (Magenta) has an angle of view of about 154º, and the light needs to travel about 130 cm. At this angle, the strobe's power is significantly weaker than at the center, and the increased distance explains the measured light output. The Retra light output study is the only test where all testing conditions are thoroughly detailed, allowing for replication if desired. All you need is a light meter (the exact type used is specified), a tape measure, and the strobes to test. While testing in air might not be ideal, the most crucial aspect is that all strobes were tested under identical conditions. This makes the comparison valid and verifiable. In contrast, the Backscatter study lacks detailed information about their testing conditions (distance, camera settings, etc.). The results show inconsistencies between the images, making them open to interpretation.

The presence of loose Li-ion batteries in an underwater strobe environment is a serious concern... I'm increasingly worried about the direction the UW strobe market is taking with these designs, which aren't endorsed by any land strobe manufacturer! All land strobe designs either utilize a proprietary battery pack or loose NiMh AA battery cells. Even the inexpensive designs of land strobes from China haven't embraced loose Li-ion cells due to the potential hazards associated with the technology. Many of us dive with liveaboards that will now accommodate more photographers carrying pockets full of loose Li-ion cells that will be charged overnight. The mere thought of this situation makes me extremely uneasy.

Hi! I've been a longtime follower of the Wetpixel forum and recently discovered that many users have migrated to the Waterpixels platform. Wishing the new Waterpixels community all the best, and I'm excited to be a part of the new forum.