Backscatter Hybrid Flash AF-1

Backscatter Atom Flash Underwater Strobe

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.

Compact, powerful, and travel-ready, the Backscatter Atom Flash delivers professional performance in a rugged, portable design—making it the ultimate strobe for photographers who demand maximum power in minimal size.

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

Specs

• 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: 830g (with battery)
• Weight in Water: 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): 154 x 145 x 85mm
• Material: Anodized Machined Aluminum and Glass Fill Fiber
• International Patents Pending

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.

Stay informed with super bright LCD Display

The Atom Flash features an LCD screen that clearly displays critical information in any environment, from bright shallow reefs to pitch black night dives. Photographers can instantly see mode, power level, remaining flash count, and battery life, with the display automatically rotating to match strobe orientation.

A streamlined menu system makes navigation simple, while customizable favorite functions make frequently used settings ready for easy access.

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.

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.

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.

Smart Control Modi

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.

Low Power Mode for subtle Lighting

Contrary to popular belief, darker, lower-light scenes require less light than bright, high-ambient ones. This means it is easy to overexpose dark scenes with too much light. The Atom Flash has a Low Power Mode that unlocks an additional ten flash outputs, starting at its native lowest flash power. Low Power Mode is well-suited for low-light conditions or any situation that calls for delicate lighting. This feature shines for sunset split shots, night diving, or other shooting scenarios where just a touch of illumination is needed.

Easy Wireless Off Camera Power Level Remote Control

The Backscatter Atom Flash features a remote transmit and receive function for both wireless remote power control and triggering off camera strobes. The Atom Flash makes off-camera, remote lighting easy and approachable for all photographers.

Forget reaching over to tweak power levels—your camera-mounted Atom Flash, Hybrid Flash, Mini Flash 2, or Mini Flash 3 can instantly beam new settings to other remote strobes, all with a single button press. The included Atom Flash Light Pipe plugs into the fiber optic mount of the remote Atom 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 spooking the critter.

The Atom Flash shares the same remote control protocol as the Hybrid Flash, Mini Flash 2 and Mini Flash 3, and all four strobes can be used together remotely. This works great for off-camera remote side lighting, backlighting, and snooting with the entire Backscatter lighting family from the Remote Lighting Muck Stick. Remote lighting has only gotten easier to deploy and a breeze to use with remote power control.

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.

Snoot 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.

Over 600 Full Power Flashes per Charge

Using twin 18650 protected Lithium-Ion batteries, the Atom Flash will fire over 600 flashes on full power (GN28) or a full day of diving with thousands of cycles when shot at lower powers. This means more time shooting and fewer battery changes.

Powered by two protected 18650 Batteries

Using two protected 18650 batteries, the Atom Flash is able to keep up with the most stringent power demands. Currently, the only approved battery for the Atom Flash is the Xtar 18650 4000 mAh battery. This battery meets the power demands of the Atom Flash and is loaded with safety features, such as built-in overcharge and overdischarge circuitry. Compatibility batteries can be purchased from Backscatter dealers or other outlets worldwide, making it easy to find spares and replacements.

Triple sealed Battery Cap

The Atom Flash is protected by two O-rings and a sand gasket to make sure the battery compartment remains dry. The double O-ring seal provides two lines of defense against hair and other leak-causing debris. Both o-rings are protected from fine sand build-up with a sand gasket.

Sealed Battery Compartment

The Atom Flash's battery compartment is sealed. In the unlikely event of a leak in the battery compartment, water will not enter the frontal circuitry compartment of the strobe. The Atom Flash also has two over-pressure relief valves, located on the strobe body and the battery cap.

SOS Mode

Holding either the Mode Light/Select or Mode/Enter buttons will activate SOS mode, which continually transmits an LED ping for several hours on a full charge. This setting allows the Atom Flash to be highly visible and easy to locate during emergency situations.

In the box

• Atom Flash
• White Flat Diffuser
• 1-inch Ball Mount
• YS Mount
• Light Pipe
• O-ring Grease
• Spare O-rings