Go from macro to wide angle and everywhere in between.
The RC165 has a powerful, perfectly diffused flash that can take your underwater photos from "blah" to brilliant. It's one of the only strobes that can truly go from macro to wide angle with fast and accurate TTL exposure for a wide variety camera systems.
A great strobe is your best investment.
Whether you're just getting started, upgrading, or down-sizing, the RC165 is a strobe that will support you through a lifetime of underwater imaging.
Trusted by professionals.
Our strobes are proven to perform in the harshest conditions on Earth: from the Arctic circle to Antarctica, and everywhere in-between.
MADE IN USA
Performance When It Counts, Every Time
There's a simple rule to underwater lighting: more is better. A fast and powerful strobe is the easiest way to improve your underwater photos.
KEY FEATURES
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TTL that works on every shot, for every camera system.
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Speed and power for professional grade performance.
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Large, hard-click dials free of obstruction.
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Perfectly diffused light without a diffuser.
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Daylight-balanced color temperature for accurate representation of corals, models, and reef life.
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Ultra-wide 120º beam angle.
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Travel-safe, airline friendly NiMH rechargeable batteries.
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No-lube, no-fuss positive cam lock.
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Fully compatible with legacy systems.
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USA-made.
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100m (330ft) depth rating.
- 2-year warranty.
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Light Quality
Our proprietary circular flashtube design and soft white powder coated reflector produce a quality of light that is widely accepted as the perfect choice for professional wide angle underwater photography.
A custom formulated ABS-PC blend make the strobe fundamentally corrosion-proof and over 1/2 lb (237 g) lighter than aluminum-body strobes.
The DS165 beam is designed for proper spread and color temperature without adding a light-reducing diffuser. The optional Dome Diffuser # 4069.2 is available to extend the spread of the light with only a half-stop reduction of apparent brightness.
Ergonomics
Change settings quickly without taking your eyes off the subject. Life moves quickly underwater and you need to be able to react instantly when your lighting needs change. Shooters who use manual strobe exposure settings prefer our large, click-stop dial controls which provide intuitive, tactical feedback of exposure setting.
The robust dial controls are now even larger and taller for comfortable use with even the thickest gloves. A slide lock prevents the strobe from accidentally being turned on when not in use.
High-Performance Power
Your strobe is only as powerful as the batteries that drive it. Commercially available batteries do not have the low internal impedance required for truly fast recycle times. Even the best rechargeable AA batteries are sluggish in high-powered strobes and only get slower and weaker as their charge drains.
Our custom rechargeable cells power high frame rate firing from the first shot to the last. These premium quality industrial grade NiMH cells have been proven to out perform alkaline and lithium cells in real world underwater conditions, including the temperature fluctuations and storage conditions of the photographer diver. While 5 years is the average lifespan of a rechargeable pack, we routinely talk to shooters who are happily using 10-15 year old NiMH battery packs.
The battery pack attaches quickly and easily with a unique toggle lock that prevents accidental floods. You don't even need to lubricate the o-ring. The strobe front is compatible with older NiMH Battery Packs # 4066.5 or the newer Battery Packs # 40066GY and 40066BK.
A Name to Trust
Ikelite was the first to introduce these underwater strobe technologies which are considered standard today: aiming lights, interchangeable cords, removable battery packs, smart charging, battery power indicators, wireless TTL slave sensors, built-in video lights, and TTL communication with digital cameras.
We have the longest track record in the design and manufacture of professional strobe lighting for underwater use. We offer the only underwater strobes designed and manufactured in the USA and distributed worldwide to over 95 countries.
TTL Compatibility
This strobe supports fiber optic TTL triggering with compatible cameras and TTL transmitters. Manual fiber optic triggering is supported with all other systems.
Ikelite Housing Models:
- Compatible housings for Canon cameras with TT5 Canon TTL Transmitter installed
- OM-System TG-7
- Olympus TG-3, TG-4, TG-5, TG-6
- Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III
- Olympus Stylus 1s
- Nikon TTL Transmitter COMING SOON
- Sony TTL Transmitter COMING SOON
Non-Ikelite Housing Models:
- Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II with FL-LM3 flash in Olympus or Nauticam Housing
- Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II with FL-LM3 flash in Olympus, Nauticam, or Isotta Housing
- Olympus OM-D E-M10 in Nauticam Housing
- Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II in Nauticam Housing
- Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III in Nauticam Housing
- Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV in Nauticam Housing
- Olympus Tough TG-3, TG-4 in Olympus, Nauticam, or Recsea Housing
- Olympus Tough TG-5, TG-6 in Olympus PT-059, Nauticam, Isotta, or Recsea Housing
- OM System Tough TG-7 in Olympus PT-059, Nauticam, Isotta, or Recsea Housing
- Panasonic LUMIX GH3, GH4 with DMW-FL70 flash in any housing that supports use of the DMW-FL70 flash
- Panasonic LUMIX GH5, GH5s with DMW-FL70 flash in Nauticam or any housing that supports use of the DMW-FL70 flash
- Panasonic LUMIX GX8 with DMW-FL70 flash in Nauticam Housing
In the Box
- DS165 Strobe Front # 40165X
- Rechargeable NiMH Battery Pack # 40066GY
- Battery Pack Cover # 0591.4
- Smart Charger for NiMH with USA Plug # 0083.92 (or 0083.93 Euro Plug / 0083.94 UK
- Plug / 0083.95 Australian Plug)
- 1" Ball Mount # 4081.4 (installed)
- Waterproof bulkhead cap # 9104.7
- 2 year limited warranty
