Backscatter Hybrid Flash HF-1 Underwater Strobe & Video Light

Backscatter Hybrid Flash Underwater Strobe & Video Light HF-1: Most Powerful Strobe & Video Light Combination Ever Created!

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 Temp with Optional Filters—6500K, 5500K, 4500K
• Smart Control TTL Flash Power for Sony, Olympus, & OM System Cameras
• HSS Compatible
• Wireless Off-Camera Remote Control
• SOS and Emergency Signaling Modes
• Requires Two 21700 Lithium Ion Batteries

(Batteries, charger & fiber optic cable not included.)

Backscatter recommends:

• Nitecore 21700 NL2153HP 5300mAh Li-Ion. These are widely distributed in NZ.
• High-quality 613 core fibre optic cables such as Sea&Sea or Nauticam.

With the introduction of the Backscatter Hybrid Flash HF-1, underwater photographers can now capture stunning stills and video with a single versatile tool. With an underwater guide number of ƒ40 and a 5,000 lumen video light, the Hybrid Flash is the most powerful strobe and video light combination ever created. The Backscatter Hybrid Flash also includes a 1,500 lumen spot light and a red light mode.

The Hybrid Flash is packed with tons of features and is the first strobe to feature Smart Control Automatic TTL Flash power for Sony, Olympus, and OM System cameras. The Hybrid Flash is also HSS compatible and can be used for remote shooting alongside the Mini Flash 2.

This all comes in an easy to travel medium sized strobe package that is perfect for both wide-angle and macro shooting. 

Extremely Bright Guide Number ƒ40

The powerful guide number ƒ40 flash beam will easily illuminate subjects in high ambient light environments. Shallow brightly lit reefs, sunballs, and big scenes are easier than ever to light. The brightness of the Hybrid Flash has plenty of reach for more distant subjects in a scene.

With a max guide number of ƒ40, big scenes are breeze to shoot with the Hybrid Flash.
Sony a7R V | Canon 8-15mm Lens | 1/250 | ISO 100 | ƒ13

Built-in 5,000 Lumen 90° Wide Angle Beam Video Light

The Hybrid Flash features a 5,000 lumen wide beam video light that can be used to capture video footage between still shots, or use the Hybrid Flash as a dedicated video light. This makes it an extremely versatile underwater lighting tool.

With a guide number of ƒ40 and a 5,000 lumen video light, the Backscatter Hybrid Flash is the brightest strobe and video light combination ever created.

Super Wide, Even Flash Beam – Light Big Scenes with Ease!

From the center to the edge, the Hybrid Flash has even light intensity with minimal drop-off. This will result in larger scenes being lit more evenly, with no harsh hot spots of light or major gaps. The wide angle coverage of the Hybrid Flash makes strobe positioning much simpler, due to the light’s wide, even, and forgiving beam pattern.

The quality of light from the Hybrid Flash is extremely even from center to edge.
Sony a7R V | Canon 8-15mm Lens | 1/250 | ISO 640 | ƒ14

Dome Diffuser, Flat Diffuser - Choose Your Angle of Coverage

The Hybrid Flash is compatible with a variety of different diffusers. For brighter, more intense light, shoot the strobe without a diffuser to yield an angle of coverage of 120°. For wider, softer light, the included Hybrid Flash White 140 Flat Diffuser will expand the angle of coverage to 140° for bigger subjects and scenes. For the widest, softest, and most even lighting possible, the optional Hybrid Flash White 160 Dome Diffuser will expand angle of coverage to its maximum, at 160°.

Even when shooting with a 180° fisheye lens, dome diffusers provide complete edge to edge coverage.
Sony a7R V | Canon 8-15mm Lens | 1/125 | ISO 250 | ƒ14

Selectable Color Temperature – 6500K, 5500K, and 4500K

In addition to selecting the angle of coverage, the Hybrid Flash can be shot without a diffuser at 6500K, or the included flat diffuser for slightly warmer color. Optional 4500K and 5500K warming filters are available in flat diffused and dome diffused filters. 4500K is perfect for adding richer, blue backgrounds at shallower depths, while the 5500K filters and diffusers will provide a more natural daylight appearance. Warming diffusers are also perfect for model shoots, providing you with warmer, more saturated skin tones for your human subjects.

No diffuser:

Flat 4500K diffuser:

Choose the 4500K diffuser in green water to make backgrounds blue. Set your camera White Balance manually to 4500K to turn green water to blue in these sample raw images. The 4500K diffuser will correct your foreground to match the scene.
Canon EOS R3 | Canon 8-15mm Lens | 1/200 | ISO 200 | ƒ18

The Hybrid Flash has plenty of options for creative lighting with flat and dome diffusers in different color temperatures and angles of coverage. The Hybrid Flash IR Filter is used in remote mode to mask the transmitting strobe from showing up in the image.

Ambient Blue Filter for a More Natural Look

Traditional strobes use light that is significantly warmer than the much cooler blue light of the ocean. The Ambient Blue Filter matches the color temperature of the surrounding water, making the strobe match the color of the surrounding ambient light. When shot with the Ambient Blue Filter, the Hybrid Flash is filling shadows of the image, but not adding a different color to the scene. The Ambient Blue Filter is optimized for shooting at depths 10-35 feet.

No strobe, Ambient light only:

Hybrid Flash, no filter:

Hybrid Flash, Ambient Blue filter:

Warmer strobe light will lead to two different color temperatures in the scene. When shot with the Ambient Blue Filter the strobe and the ambient light are all one color.
Sony a1 | Canon 8-15mm Lens | 1/160 | ISO 200 | ƒ11

The Ambient Blue Filter even works in macro shots such as this jawfish shot, where bright reflective ambient light from the sand is mixing with the strobe light. With the ambient light being the same color as the strobe light, it blends together resulting in a more natural look.
Left: Sony a1 | Sony 90mm Lens | 1/250 | ISO 400 | ƒ11
Right: Sony a1 | Sony 90mm Lens | 1/400 | ISO 100 | ƒ11

PRO LEVEL SHOOTING - Redefining What Full Power Means on a Strobe

The Hybrid Flash is significantly brighter at maximum power than what most people are used to shooting. At guide number 40 it generates a lot of light but also generates a significant amount of heat if shot in rapid succession at that power level. The Hybrid Flash manages this with an aluminum flash head, internal heat sink, and multiple temperature sensors. These protections allow the hybrid flash to keep shooting without interruption, so you'll never miss a shot.

Full (GN ƒ29) is more than enough light to tackle most situations. Boost +2 (GN ƒ40) and Boost +1 (GN ƒ34) are only needed for extra large scenes or shooting with diffusers to spread the light while maintaining a very bright output with plenty of reach.

We recommend starting at Full power. Boost +2 and Boost +1 are there when needed for extra punch on big wide scenes.

Shoot 30 Frames per Second with No Flash Drop Out

The Hybrid Flash has incredibly fast recycle times for a flash with its size and power and is built for rapid fire continuous shooting. The Backscatter Hybrid Flash will fire at 10 frames per second at 1/4 to 1/8 power, 20 frames at 1/8 power, and 30 frames at 1 click below 1/8 power.

This video is actually a compilation of 332 shots in a row at 20 frames per second RAW, which is the fastest available shooting speed for the Sony a1 and Canon 8-15mm lens. Towards the end of the sequence, the camera became the limiting factor and reached its buffer limit.

Sony a1 | Canon 8-15mm Lens | 1/200 | ISO 200 | ƒ11

Fast Flash Duration to Sync with High Shutter Speeds

Flash duration is how long the flash tube is lit up when the strobe fires. This is measured in hundredths to thousandths of a second, making it relatable to the camera’s shutter speed. If the flash duration is slower than the shutter speed being used, the flash will be cut off by the shutter speed of the camera and will appear diminished in the photo. With a fast flash duration of over 1/400th of a second at maximum power, the Hybrid Flash is faster than the flash sync speed of any SLR or mirrorless camera with a mechanical shutter available today. At power level Boost +1 (GN 34) the flash duration is over 1/900th of a second, and will increase in speed as the power level is turned down. With such a fast flash duration, the Hybrid Flash gives the photographer with compact and global shutter cameras such as the Sony a9 III the freedom to shoot much faster shutter speeds to knock down high ambient light scenes.

Simple, Easy to Use Manual Mode

Only need manual mode? We’ve got you covered! The first mode on the dial is manual mode. The Backscatter Hybrid Flash has 12 power levels in ½ stop increments. For those only needing manual mode, it's conveniently located at the first position on the mode dial. Both controls have hard stops with different shapes making dial changes without looking a breeze. There are 12 power levels in ½ stop increments.

Automatic TTL Flash Exposure for Olympus, OM System, & Sony

The Hybrid Flash is the first production strobe to have Olympus, OM System, and Sony Automatic TTL Exposure using the Backscatter Smart Control System. Smart Control TTL exposure utilizes OM System RC mode and Sony’s native TTL protocol, which is much more accurate than mimic TTL systems. Standard Smart Control mode is perfect for wide angle and larger subjects, while Smart Control Macro will tailor the flash output for macro shooting. The Hybrid Flash also includes an underexposure warning, which sounds when the strobe has reached maximum output. If the resulting image is too dark, get closer, increase ISO, or open up the aperture to properly expose the image. Flash EV compensation is easily handled using the camera’s native menu system.

For subjects that are constantly changing distances TTL is a great tool for getting a correct flash exposure on the fly.
Sony a7R V | Canon 8-15mm Lens | 1/125 | ISO 400 | ƒ16

Most TTL systems are not able to expose macro subjects accurately such as this black pinnate juvenile batfish. SC Macro is optimized for perfect exposures even with the most challenging subjects.
Olympus E-M10 IV | OM System 90mm Lens | 1/160 | ISO 200 | ƒ5.6

High Speed Sync (HSS) for Open Apertures and Black Backgrounds

The Hybrid Flash is also equipped with HSS mode, which allows faster shutter speeds to be used beyond the sync speed limit of the camera. HSS allows for wider open apertures while still being able to maintain a darker background than otherwise would be impossible at slower shutter speeds.

Sony Mirrorless cameras can achieve HSS using the Backscatter Sony Smart Control Trigger. Olympus and OM System mirrorless cameras can achieve HSS through RC mode with internal and clip-on flashes or with built in RC compatible flash triggers in housings such as the Backscatter E-M10 IV Octo Housing. For Nikon and Canon 3rd party flash triggers that support HSS are available such as UW Technics (including Nauticam's HSS trigger) and the Turtle Trigger from TRT Electronics.

Without HSS

With HSS

Using a more open aperture allows for more creative control for bokeh blur while the fast shutter speed of HSS maintains a darker background normally associated with more stopped-down apertures. This HSS picture was shot at 1/1,250 of a second for the dark background.  

Backscatter Sony Smart Control Flash Trigger for TTL and HSS

The Backscatter Sony Smart Control Trigger is required for automatic Sony TTL and HSS with the Hybrid Flash. The flash trigger is placed on the hot shoe of the camera and is equipped with two LED lights to fit into a housing’s optical bulkheads. The Backscatter Sony Smart Control Trigger is universal and will fit most housings. The trigger is charged via USB-C.

The Backscatter Sony Smart Control Trigger is available in several versions. Sea Tech stocks the version for Nauticam FF housings, but we can get others. Contact us and we can help you out.

Wireless Off Camera Power Level Remote Control

The Backscatter Hybrid Flash features a remote transmit and receive function for both wireless remote power control and triggering off camera strobes.

A camera mounted Hybrid Flash or Mini Flash 2 can wirelessly beam over new power output levels to other remotely placed Hybrid Flash or Mini Flash 2 strobes with just a press of a button. The included Hybrid Flash Light Pipe attaches to the fiber optic mount of the remote Hybrid Flash optically receives the signal from the transmitting strobe without the need for a fiber optic cable or an electronic trigger.

No cables and no swimming over to a remote strobe to change power levels means less silt from moving around or potentially freaking out the critter.

Multiple Hybrid Flashes can be used in remote control mode. Use a camera-mounted Hybrid Flash or Mini Flash 2 to wirelessly beam over new power level settings and trigger remote strobes. No need to swim over to adjust the power on your remote strobes.

The Hybrid Flash shares the same remote control protocol as the Mini Flash 2, and both strobes can be used together remotely. This works great for off-camera remote side lighting, backlighting, and snooting with the both the Hybrid Flash and Mini Flash 2 from the Backscatter Remote Lighting Muck Stick. Remote lighting is now easy to deploy and a breeze to use with remote power control.

The Backscatter Hybrid Flash uses the same wireless remote control system as the Mini Flash 2, allowing the photographer to use both strobes to remotely control the power of the other.

Two Hybrid Flashes and a Mini Flash 2 with a Color Filter were used in the setup for this shot. The front light is shot with a Hybrid Flash with the forthcoming snoot. The colored backlight is shot with a Mini Flash 2 and color filter. Another Hybrid Flash was used as the remote controller with an IR filter to remotely control the power of the Mini Flash 2 at the back of the bottle.
Sony a1 | Canon 8-15mm Lens | 1/400 | ISO 400 | ƒ20

SOS Safety Modes

• The Backscatter Hybrid Flash SOS mode utilizes several safety signaling features utilizing the built in LED lights.
• The first mode in SOS sends an SOS signal, which is highly visible and internationally recognizable.
• The next mode activates Glow Mode, in which the Hybrid Flash ramps up and down the light, making it ideal to mark a location.
• Beacon functions similarly to Glow, but sends a shorter interval pulse rather than the slow, variable Glow.
  
  

Dedicated Test Button

The Backscatter Hybrid Flash includes a test button that allows the strobe to be fired at any desired power level. This is great to use for light painting, as a strobe freezes motion where a video light will not. The test flash can also be used as a signaling device. The test button can be used in all modes except for SOS and Video Mode.

Wide, Spot, and Red Focus and Target Lights

The Backscatter Hybrid Flash comes equipped with several different light modes for the target light in Photo Mode. The strobe can be set to wide for use as a general focus or target light, spot for more specific macro work, or red to sneak up at critters and to avoid the swarmies at night. Red, Spot, and Wide Mode are available in M, SC, HSS, REM modes.

Wide, Red, and Spot Light Modes are available in M, SC, HSS, REM modes

375 to 1000+ Flashes

With twin 21700 lithium ion batteries the Backscatter Hybrid Flash will allow for over 375 flashes on maximum power (GN40) or a full day of diving with over 1000 flashes when set to normal power. Professional photographers will be stunned by the full power brightness duration. Amateur photographers will appreciate only using one set of batteries for a full day of diving.

Sony a7R V | Canon 8-15mm Lens | 1/6 | ISO 100 | ƒ22

Up to 90 Minutes of Video Runtime

The Hybrid Flash is designed to optimize battery consumption in Video Mode. In Video Mode, the light can run continuously for 45 minutes at 5,000 lumens. After 45 minutes, the Hybrid Flash will gradually ramp down to the next lower setting, to give a total runtime of 90 minutes. This gives the Hybrid Flash plenty of runtime for long night dives. If power consumption is managed by shutting the light off or using a lower power level between scenes, the Hybrid Flash can easily last a whole dive at 5,000 lumens.

Powered by Two High Capacity 21700 Batteries

To keep up with the high performance needs of the Backscatter Hybrid Flash, high performing 21700 batteries with a 20A continuous discharge are required. Currently the Nitecore NL2153HP is the only 21700 battery that meets this specification. Nitecore batteries include built-in overcharge and over discharge protection circuitry safety features. Nitecore batteries are available at Backscatter Dealers and many other retail outlets worldwide. Only use approved 21700 batteries.

Automatic Flash Synchronization

Setting up pre-flash cancellation is a breeze. Simply plug in a fiber optic cable and take a test shot. The Backscatter Hybrid Flash will automatically detect the camera’s internal flash shooting mode on the first flash after power-up and store it in memory on your first test shot. If camera or flash settings change, simply turn the Hybrid Flash off and back on and take another test shot to update the setting. No need to worry about the wrong setting on the strobe. This feature can also be disabled if the Hybrid Flash is being triggered by a manual flash trigger or internal flash set to manual.

Ergonomic and Easy Control Layout - Change Power Levels without Taking your Eyes off the Scene

The Backscatter Hybrid Flash has two dials and two buttons. Mode is a black pointer style control while the flash power control is a red knurled knob. Both controls are large and raised and easily controlled with thick gloves. Each control has a different appearance and feel making both controls easy to differentiate by feel or with a quick glance. Both dials have hard stops, making finding the exact mode and full power easy and quick, without needing to look at the strobe.

The controls are radically different both physically and visually so the user will never be confused on what dial does what.

Photo and Video Lighting in a Medium Sized Body – Easy for Travel

The Backscatter Hybrid Flash is a medium-sized strobe and video light all in one. The size of the strobe makes it easy to travel with no compromise in performance, and eliminates the need for a separate video light or strobe making packing easier. In air, the Hybrid Flash is 1.1 kg / 2.5 lbs with batteries, ball mount, and diffuser. In water, the Hybrid Flash weighs 227 grams / 0.5 lbs with batteries, ball mount, and diffuser.

Triple Sealed Battery Cap

The Hybrid Flash is protected by two O-rings and a sand gasket to make sure the battery compartment remains dry. The double O-ring seal allows for two lines of defense against leak-causing debris, both of which are protected by a sand gasket, which keeps fine sand from building on the O-rings.

The double O-rings, sand protection seal, and a sealed battery compartment make sure the Hybrid Flash is always ready to go.

Safety Features

The Hybrid Flash has a sealed battery compartment, and in the rare event of a leak in the battery compartment water will not enter the front compartment of the strobe. The strobe also has two over-pressure relief valves, one on the strobe body, and one in the battery cap.

Battery Level Indicator

An integrated LED indicator shows battery level remaining in 3 levels: green, yellow, and red.

In The Box

The Hybrid Flash includes Hybrid Flash White 140 Flat Diffuser, 1-inch Ball Mount, YS Mount, Hybrid Flash Light Pipe, O-ring Grease, & Spare O-rings.