Backscatter Hybrid Flash Underwater Strobe & Video Light HF-1

Please Note: Batteries NOT included (requires 2x 21700 5000mAh Li-ion batteries)

The Backscatter HF-1 Hybrid Flash combines powerful strobe output with a high-intensity video light in one versatile underwater lighting tool. Designed for underwater shooters who want to capture stunning stills and smooth video on the same dive, the HF-1’s bright flash and continuous light deliver performance that adapts to every scenario from macro to wide-angle exploration.

Why the HF-1 Is an Underwater Lighting Game-Changer

Whether you’re aiming to light colorful reef scenes, freeze fast-moving subjects, or film underwater video with professional quality, the HF-1 gives you:

• Exceptional flash power with an underwater guide number of ƒ40, providing reach and splash-free lighting even in bright ambient conditions.
• Integrated 5,000-lumen video light that doubles as a continuous lighting source, eliminating the need for separate tools.
• Smart Control Automatic TTL for Sony, Olympus, and OM System cameras, simplifying exposure in diverse conditions.
• High-Speed Sync (HSS) support for creative control with wide apertures and dramatic backgrounds.

Each of these features helps you nail the shot whether you’re shooting photos or motion content on the same dive, giving you more creative freedom and less gear to manage.

Key Features:

• ƒ40 Guide Number for exceptional brightness and reach
• 5,000-lumen wide-angle video light for seamless photo and video capture
• Selectable angle of coverage with flat and dome diffuser options (120°, 140°, 160°)
• Spot, Wide, and Red Lights
• Selectable color temperature (6500K, 5500K, 4500K) with optional warming filters
• Smart Control Automatic TTL Flash Power for Sony, Olympus, and OM System Cameras
• High-Speed Sync (HSS) compatibility for creative lighting control
• Depth rating of 100 meters (330 feet) for reliable underwater performance
• Wireless Off Camera Remote Control – Mix and Match with Mini Flash 2
• SOS and Emergency Signaling Modes
• Powered by two high-capacity 21700 lithium-ion batteries
• Compact, travel-friendly design with a medium-sized body

Mastering Underwater Lighting with the HF-1

The Backscatter HF-1 hyrbid strobe offers unparalleled control over your underwater lighting. You can adjust the coverage angle from 120° to 160° using the included flat diffuser or optional dome diffuser. This versatility allows you to capture wide-angle scenes with ease.

The HF-1's color temperature options range from 6500K to 4500K, giving you precise control over your image's mood. For warmer tones and richer blue backgrounds in shallow waters, the 4500K diffuser is ideal. The 5500K option provides a natural daylight appearance, perfect for model shoots and capturing vibrant skin tones. To match the surrounding water color, the Ambient Blue Filter optimizes your shots at depths of 10-35 feet.

With its powerful 5,000-lumen video light and additional spot, wide, and red light options, the HF-1 truly is a hybrid powerhouse for underwater imaging.

Dual-Purpose Lighting Solution

The Backscatter Hybrid Flash is not just a powerful strobe; it also boasts an impressive 5,000-lumen wide-angle video light, allowing users to seamlessly transition between still photography and video capture on a single dive. This dual-purpose functionality eliminates the need to carry separate strobe and video light setups, streamlining your underwater gear and simplifying the logistics of your underwater imaging expeditions.

You'll also appreciate the Smart Control Automatic TTL Flash power, compatible with Sony, Olympus, and OM System cameras. This feature ensures accurate exposures, taking the guesswork out of your shots. The HF-1 also supports High-Speed Sync (HSS), allowing you to use faster shutter speeds beyond your camera's sync speed limit. This opens up creative possibilities, especially for macro photography with shallow depth of field.

*HSS is attainable with Sony Mirrorless cameras by use of the Backscatter Sony Smart Control Trigger. With built-in RC compatible flash triggers in housings like the Backscatter E-M10 IV Octo Housing, or with internal and clip-on flashes, Olympus and OM System mirrorless cameras may achieve HSS. Third-party flash triggers that support HSS are available for Nikon and Canon, such the Turtle Trigger from TRT Electronics and UW Technics.

One standout feature is the Remote Lighting System. You can use a camera-mounted HF-1 to wirelessly trigger and adjust the brightness of remotely placed HF-1s or Backscatter Mini Flash 2 units. This setup is perfect for achieving side lighting, backlighting, or remote snooting without having to manually adjust each flash. The HF-1's versatility shines through its compatibility with various accessories, like the Backscatter IR Filter, which eliminates visible light from the trigger strobe in remote lighting scenes.

Automatic flash synchronization: Pre-flash cancellation is easy to set up. All you have to do is plug in a fiber optic connection and try it out. On the first flash after powering up, the Backscatter Hybrid Flash will automatically detect and save the camera's internal flash shooting mode in memory during your first test shot. Simply switch the hybrid flash on and off again and snap another test picture to update the settings if the camera or flash change. You don't have to be concerned about the strobe's incorrect setting. If the internal flash is set to manual or a manual flash trigger is being used to activate the hybrid flash, this function can also be turned off.

Rugged and Reliable Design

Designed with durability and reliability in mind, the Backscatter Hybrid Flash features a robust, anodized aluminum and glass-filled fiber construction, with a depth rating of 100 meters (330 feet). The strobe's battery compartment is triple-sealed, with dual O-rings and a sand gasket, ensuring reliable performance even in challenging underwater conditions. With the ability to deliver over 375 full-power flashes (using the GN of 40)(up to 1000+ flashes using the standard setting) or 90 minutes of continuous video runtime on a single charge, the Hybrid Flash is built to withstand the demands of the most arduous underwater imaging expeditions.

The Backscatter Hybrid Flash is a video light and strobe combined into one medium-sized device. The strobe's compact size allows it to be carried along without sacrificing performance, and it also removes the need for an additional strobe or video light, which simplifies packing. The Hybrid Flash, complete with diffuser, ball mount, and batteries, weighs 1.1 kg (2.5 lbs) in the air. With batteries, ball mount, and diffuser, the Hybrid Flash weights 227 grams, or 0.5 pounds, in water.

The Hybrid Strobe has a 3 level integrated LED indicator shows battery level remaining in 3 levels: green, yellow, and red.

Who the HF-1 Is For

The HF-1 is ideal for:

• Underwater photographers who shoot both stills and video
• Dive professionals needing reliable, powerful light packs
• Advanced enthusiasts upgrading from single-purpose strobes
• Photographers and filmmakers who want one tool instead of multiple lights

Whether you’re shooting vibrant reef portraits, detailed macro subjects, or cinematic dive footage, the HF-1 adapts with ease.