Ikelite DS232 Underwater Strobe with Video Light

The Ikelite DS232 Underwater Strobe is the latest addition to the DS strobe series from Ikelite, including a 2500 lumen video light. The DS232 underwater camera flash boasts enhanced flash capacity, enabling it to effortlessly penetrate the water's depths and produce vivid, high-definition wide-angle photographs with a professional touch. Whether you're capturing images in a controlled pool studio environment or amidst the vast expanse of open water, the DS232 guarantees the power required to illuminate your subjects brilliantly.

Light Quality

When it comes to entry-level strobes, their primary goal is to unleash the raw brilliance from a conventional, linear flashtube, elevating the guide number to its maximum potential. However, achieving this radiance often demands the incorporation of light diffusers and filters. These crucial accessories work in harmony to infuse a soft, warm glow into your shots, while also eliminating harsh edges and unwanted banding effects. But, it's important to note that many supplementary modifiers can significantly diminish the overall light output, consequently diminishing the strobe's effective power.

Underwater photography presents distinct lighting requirements, which diverge significantly from those of surface photography. Standard flashtubes and reflectors, straight off the shelf, simply won't suffice. We have dedicated decades to refining and perfecting our circular xenon flashtube, meticulously crafting it to yield a perfectly graduated beam pattern and a warm, inviting color temperature. Operating at 5000K, this color temperature harmonizes seamlessly with the available underwater light, delivering richer hues and enhancing the deep blue water backdrop when capturing wide-angle shots. Notably, this meticulous engineering ensures that skin tones of your subjects appear true-to-life, while reds and oranges burst forth with vivid, eye-catching vibrancy.

Should you seek an even broader angle of coverage, consider the optional Dome Diffuser, which extends the reach of your light while only minimally reducing apparent brightness by a mere half-stop.

Intriguingly, our strobe boasts a custom-formulated ABS-PC blend, rendering it inherently immune to corrosion and remarkably lighter, weighing in at over 1/2 lb (237 g) less than its aluminum-bodied counterparts. This innovative blend not only enhances durability but also ensures that your underwater photography equipment remains reliable and lightweight for your adventures beneath the waves.

Ergonomics

Modify your strobe configurations seamlessly while maintaining focus on your subject. Beneath the swift currents of the underwater world, adaptability is paramount for instant responses to evolving lighting requirements. Photographers who opt for manual strobe exposure settings appreciate the user-friendly, substantial click-stop dials that offer instinctive and tactical exposure adjustments.

Our durable dial controls have been enhanced in both size and height to accommodate comfortable usage even with the bulkiest of gloves. Moreover, a secure slide lock mechanism has been integrated to prevent unintentional activation of the strobe when it's not in active use.

Performance

When it comes to strobe power, your equipment is only as good as the batteries driving it. Conventional off-the-shelf batteries just can't keep up with the demands of high-performance strobes due to their high internal impedance. Even top-tier rechargeable AA batteries struggle to maintain speed and strength as they gradually lose their charge.

Enter our game-changing custom rechargeable cells, engineered to fuel high frame rate firing from start to finish. Crafted from premium-grade industrial NiMH, these cells have not only outshone alkaline and lithium counterparts but have also proven their mettle in the challenging real-world conditions of underwater photography, enduring temperature fluctuations and storage challenges faced by diving photographers. While the average rechargeable pack lasts around 5 years, our users frequently report the satisfaction of using NiMH battery packs that are 10 to 15 years old!

Attaching the battery pack is a breeze, thanks to our innovative toggle lock mechanism, which ensures a secure fit while preventing accidental floods. No need for messy o-ring lubrication. Our strobe front is fully compatible with both older NiMH Battery Packs #4066.5 and the DS230 Strobe Battery Pack, offering versatile solutions for your photography needs."

Connectivity

• Fiber Optic Cable
• Electronic Sync Cable

Sample Underwater Images:

A silvertip shark photographed with dual DS230 strobes (same output as the DS232) without diffusers. There are no hotspots - only clean, soft light

Beautiful colors captured with a single Ikelite DS230 strobe (same output as the DS232). I absolutely love the 5000K color temperature!

A school of jacks photographed with a single Ikelite DS230 strobe (same output as the DS232). Using one strobe gives it a dramatic, gloomy look. Keep in mind, I was not using a diffuser here - look at that beam angle! f/13, 1/125, ISO 250

Related Underwater Gear Categories:

• Ikelite Housings, Strobes and Accessories
• Underwater Strobes & Flashes
• Underwater Video Lights
• Snoots for Underwater Strobes