Backscatter Atom Flash Underwater Strobe AF-1

Backscatter Atom Flash AF-1: The Most Powerful Compact Strobe

Introducing the Backscatter Atom Flash — a small flash with BIG power. Underwater photographers can now capture pro-level lighting in a compact, travel-friendly package. With an underwater guide number of ƒ28, the Atom Flash packs serious flash power for its size, lighting everything from the biggest wide-angle scenes to tiny macro subjects. Its 110° flash beam delivers smooth, even coverage, while flat or dome diffusers expand and soften the beam further. Snap on the Optical Snoot OS-2, using built-in 1,000-lumen white and red focus lights make pinpoint macro lighting effortless.

The Atom Flash shares the same advanced flash modes as the bigger Hybrid Flash, plus some new tricks of its own. Enjoy 11 manual power levels, Smart Control TTL for Sony, Olympus, and OM System cameras, wireless remote triggering, high-speed sync, and a low-power mode with 10 extra steps of fine adjustment—perfect for dialing in subtle light balance.

A super-bright auto-rotating LCD clearly displays flash settings, shots remaining, and battery life. With over 600 full-power flashes on a single charge, the Atom Flash keeps shooting as long as you do. 

Bright Guide Number of ƒ28

With an underwater guide number of ƒ28, the Atom Flash packs a super bright flash into a travel-friendly body, easily illuminating shallow reefs, big scenes, and can easily light the foreground of stopped-down sunball shots. Its compact build also makes it perfect for macro work with the Optical Snoot OS-2, fitting effortlessly into tight scenes. 

Easy to Aim High Quality Light Beam

More than just a bright strobe, the Atom Flash's light beam is even from center to edge, with a gentle light drop-off, and no light-gaps or hotspots. All shooters from first-time strobe users to seasoned pros will appreciate just how forgiving and easy it is to light almost any scene.

Never miss the action with fast recycle times

The Atom Flash has an extraordinarily fast recycle time of just under a second at full power, with even faster times at lower powers. Fast recycle times allow the Atom Flash to keep up with rapid firing, ensuring every single frame is lit. Not only is this perfect for fast moving subjects and action, it also gives the photographer the choice to pick the perfect frame. 

Powerful Flash That Travels Light

Designed with ease of travel in mind, the Atom Flash’s low-profile body is fit for all underwater camera systems, from compact to full-frame rigs. The minimal footprint of the Atom Flash makes it an easy fit in carry-on luggage or tight packing spaces. It’s also an ideal choice for shore divers or anyone looking to downsize their lighting without sacrificing performance. Whether used for shore diving or for travel to weight-restricted remote destinations, the Atom Flash delivers powerful, professional lighting in a truly travel-friendly form.

Easy to Use Snoot

Just like the Mini Flash 3, the Atom Flash was designed with snooting in mind. Using its very own Optical Snoot OS-2, the Atom Flash delivers exceptional creative macro performance. Its compact size makes it not only easy to travel with, but easy to manage and aim in tight macro scenes. 

The Optical Snoot OS-2’s high-quality optics concentrate the flash beam, providing enough power to snoot even in bright, high ambient light conditions, like shallow reefs. Paired with the Atom Flash’s built-in focus white and red lights, it offers “what you see is what you get” accurate aiming—wherever the focus light points, the flash follows. Two included aperture cards, circular and oval, each with four different-sized holes, allow photographers to light subjects of varying shapes and sizes. 

Dome & Flat Diffusers to Cover All Scenes

The Atom Flash offers a range of diffusers that tailor the beam for any shooting situation. For maximum intensity, use the flash without a diffuser to achieve 110° of coverage and the brightest flash output. The included Flat White Diffuser widens and softens the light, delivering 130° of even illumination for larger scenes. For the softest light and broadest coverage, the Dome Diffuser expands the beam to 150°, spreading the beam across the widest area.

Selectable Color Temperature - 6400K, 5500K & 4500K

The Atom Flash gives photographers control over flash color temperature, with the ability to choose from a variety of looks instead of being locked into a single color temperature.

Shoot without a diffuser at 6400K, or use the included White Flat Diffuser for a slightly warmer color. Optional warming diffusers take things further, shifting the beam to 5500K or 4500K. The 5500K diffusers are closest to natural daylight, while the 4500K diffusers are ideal for creating richer blue backgrounds or shifting greenish water to a more pleasing blue, when the camera’s white balance is manually set to 4500K. Warming diffusers also deliver warmer, more saturated skin tones, making them great for model photography. 

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

The Atom Flash features the same easy-to-use, highly accurate, and proven Smart Control TTL system used by the Backscatter Hybrid Flash and Mini Flash 3. Supporting Olympus, OM System, and Sony, Smart Control TTL uses OM System RC mode and Sony’s native TTL protocol for precision automatic flash exposures, which is far more accurate than mimic TTL systems. (Note: Sony RX compact cameras do not support TTL with the Atom Flash.)

Smart Control TTL makes perfect exposures easy by automatically setting strobe power. Beginners and experienced shooters alike will love the ease of automatic flash output for moving subjects and quick settings changes. The Atom Flash includes two dedicated Smart Control modes tailored to different shooting scenarios. Smart Control is ideal for larger subjects and wide-angle scenes, while Smart Control Macro fine-tunes flash output for close-up macro work. Smart Control Macro works even through a snoot, making creative imaging easier than ever. Flash exposure compensation is easily adjusted through the camera’s native menu system, giving photographers the power to fine-tune output while shooting TTL.

The Atom Flash even provides an audible alert when maximum flash output is reached, letting the user know to move closer or adjust camera settings if the resulting image is underexposed. The LCD display also shows the last power level used in either Smart Control mode. It’s a great way to see how the flash adjusts to different scenes and subjects, giving novice TTL-only users a guide to understanding manual flash control, providing a pathway to graduate to manual shooting. 

Manual Mode for Direct Flash Control

With 11 power levels in ½ stop increments, each clearly displayed on the LCD screen, the Atom Flash has manual mode covered. The easy to reach dial adjusts flash power, while the output and remaining flash count are clearly displayed on the LCD screen. 

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

The Atom Flash is also equipped with High-Speed Sync (HSS) mode, which allows faster shutter speeds to be used beyond the normal sync speed limit of the camera. Many photographers believe HSS means rapid-fire shooting, when in reality, it’s about syncing the flash with faster shutter speeds rather than shooting faster bursts. With HSS, wider apertures can be used while still maintaining a darker background that would otherwise be impossible at slower shutter speeds.

Sony Mirrorless cameras can achieve HSS using the Backscatter Sony Smart Control Trigger or compatible third party triggers. Olympus and OM System mirrorless cameras can achieve HSS through RC mode with the Backscatter Universal Flash Trigger for Olympus and OM System, 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 and the Turtle Trigger from TRT Electronics. 

Shoot TTL, HSS & Manual with the Backscatter Smart Control Flash Trigger

The Backscatter Sony Smart Control Trigger is required for automatic Sony TTL with the Atom 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 Universal Flash Trigger for Sony is universal and will fit most housings. The Backscatter Nauticam Flash Trigger for Sony was custom-designed to fit directly into Nauticam full-frame Sony Housings, lining up flawlessly with the built-in optical adapters. 

White & Red Focus Lights to Guide Your Flash

The Atom Flash is equipped with two focus lights, each with three different power levels. The standard 1,000 lumen white light can be used as a general focus light, while the red focus light is perfect for sneaking up on light-sensitive critters or avoiding swarmies at night. The Optical Snoot OS-2 can use either white or red target light modes for maximum flexibility based on subject and shooting conditions. On a full charge, the white focus light can run up to 98 minutes, while the red light will operate up to 125 minutes. 

Fast Flash Duration at Full Power with Fast 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 1/400 of a second at full power, the Atom Flash is faster than the flash sync speed of any SLR or mirrorless camera with a mechanical shutter available today. With such a fast flash duration, the Atom Flash gives photographers with compact and global shutter cameras such as the Sony a9 III the freedom to shoot faster shutter speeds to knock down high ambient light scenes. 

Key Features:

    Bright ƒ28 Underwater Guide Number
    High Quality, Even, & Wide Flash Beam
    White & Red Focus Light Modes
    Travel Friendly Size
    Easy Bayonet Mounted Optical Snoot OS-2
    Selectable Angle of Coverage with Included Flat Diffuser & Optional Dome Diffuser
    Selectable Color Temperature with Optional Warming Diffusers—6400K, 5500, 4500 & Ambient.
    Smart Control Automatic TTL Flash Power for Sony, Olympus & OM System Cameras
    Low Power Flash Mode - Delicate Lighting for Darker Scenes
    Wireless Off Camera Remote Control - Mix & Match with the Mini Flash 2, Mini Flash 3, & Hybrid Flash
    Super Bright Display & Menu LCD Screen
    Two User Programmable Custom Modes
    HSS Compatible with Backscatter Smart Control TTL Trigger & Third Party Triggers
    Powered by Two Protected 18650 Batteries
    Shoot All Day with Over 600 Flashes at Full Power
    SOS Emergency Signalling Mode

Specifications:

    Depth Rating: 100m/330ft
    Guide Number: ƒ28
    Maximum LED Output: 1,000 Lumens
    Power: Two 18650 10A Li-Ion Batteries
    Recycle time at FULL: 0.95 seconds
    Number of Flashes at FULL: Over 600
    LED Run Time: Minimum of 98 minutes with managed power decline curve
    Weight in Air: 1.8lbs / 830g (with battery)
    Weight in Water: 5.6oz / 160g (with battery)
    Sync Cord: Fiber Optic
    Seal: Dual O-rings with additional Sand Seal Gasket
    Exposure Control: Flash: 11-step Power Level, LED: 3-step Power Level
    Dimensions With Ball (LxWxD): 6.1 x 5.7 x 3.3in, 154 x 145 x 85mm
    Material: Anodized Machined Aluminum and Glass Fill Fiber
    International Patents Pending

In the box: White Flat Diffuser, 1-inch Ball Mount, YS Mount, Light Pipe, O-ring Grease, and Spare O-rings.