Backscatter Atom Flash Underwater Strobe AF-1
SKU: bs-af-1
Meet the Backscatter Atom Flash — a small flash with big power! With a guide number of ƒ28 and a wide, even beam, it’s perfect for everything from wide-angle scenes to detailed macro. Designed to pair with the Optical Snoot OS-2, the Atom Flash delivers pro-level lighting in a compact, travel-ready package.
Shipping Mid December
Backscatter Atom Flash Underwater Strobe 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.
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.
CRAZY BRIGHT TINY FLASH
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.
Though small and travel friendly, the Atom Flash has plenty of power to illuminate big scenes with ease, even at ƒ18
Canon EOS R1 | Canon 8-15mm Lens | 1/200 | ISO 200 | ƒ18
With plenty of power to spare, the Atom Flash can light motion blur images in bright conditions when using a stopped down aperture and low ISO.
Canon EOS R1 | Canon 8-15mm Lens | 1/3 | ISO 320 | ƒ22
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.
The Atom Flash is more than just a compact bright strobe, its beam is also extraordinarily even from the center to the edge of the image. This image was captured using the included flat diffuser to further spread the beam.
Canon EOS R1 | Canon 8-15mm Lens | 1/60 | ISO 200 | ƒ10
Two tiny Atom Flash strobes have the power to light huge scenes with ease.
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.Shooting at 10 frames per second or higher allows you to pick the perfect frame as the fast recycle times of the Atom Flash will keep up with the action.
Canon EOS R1 | Canon 8-15mm Lens | 1/100 | ISO 500 | ƒ8 | 10fps
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.
The Atom Flash has the same power as a Hybrid Flash set two clicks below maximum power, while being smaller and more than a half pound lighter.
CREATIVE LIGHTING
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 Atom Flash and Optical Snoot OS-2 were designed together for the best transmission of light between the strobe and snoot.
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 white and red focus 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. Get the Atom Flash and Optical Snoot OS-2 togerther and save with the Atom Flash Snoot Combo.
With OS-2 Snoot
Without Snoot
The Atom Flash and Optical Snoot OS-2 will light subjects in high ambient light and when using low ISOs with high apertures without breaking a sweat, thanks to the extremely bright, and concentrated flash power.
OM System TG-7 | 1/100 | ISO 160 | ƒ18
The Optical Snoot OS-2 locks securely onto the strobe via the strobe's bayonet mount, making attachment and removal quick and easy, even mid-dive. The Optical Snoot OS-2 is also compatible with the same Backscatter OS-1 Filter Holder as the Optical Snoot OS-1 for colorful, creative macro lighting. A built-in loop allows for convenient storage with a double ender when not in use or during entry and exit from the water.
With color filters you can create dramatic, colorful backgrounds that make your images pop, standing out from normal snooted photos.
Sony a9 III | Sony 90mm Lens | 1/500 | ISO 125 | ƒ16
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.
Even lighting a huge coral bommie like this is easily achievable with a pair of Atom Flashes using dome diffusers.
Canon EOS R1 | Canon 8-15mm Lens | 1/80 | ISO 250 | ƒ8
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.
With a variety of flat and dome diffusers, the Atom Flash has the flexibility to change angle of coverage and color temperature at the demand of the photographer. The Atom Flash IR Filter is used in remote mode to mask the transmitting strobe's light from appearing in the image.
Natural Looking Light with Ambient Diffusers
Traditional strobes use light that is significantly warmer than the much cooler blue light of the ocean. The Ambient Blue Diffusers match the color temperature of the surrounding water, making the strobe match the color of the surrounding ambient light. When shot with the Ambient Blue Diffusers, the Atom Flash is filling shadows of the image, but not adding a different color to the scene. The Ambient Blue Diffusers are optimized for shooting at depths 10-35 feet / 3-10 meters.
Sony a9 III | Canon 8-15mm Lens | 1/200 | ISO 400 | ƒ11
PRO LEVEL FLASH MODES
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.
Just position your strobes and let Smart Control TTL take care of taking the perfect exposure, even in complicated wide angle scenes.
Olympus E-M10 IV | Olympus 8mm Lens | 1/125 | ISO 200 | ƒ8
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.
SC Macro easily and automatically exposes macro subjects, while other TTL systems struggle with this close-up shooting.
Olympus E-M10 IV | OM System 90mm Lens | 1/160 | ISO 200 | ƒ22
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.
The Atom Flash control dial has 11 different power levels, each clearly displayed on both the control dial and by the LCD info screen. In short, the Atom Flash goes to 11🤘!
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.
Low Power Mode (LP) provides access to a lower range of flash outputs which is invaluable for lowlight scenes like this dark swim-through, which easily becomes blown out by brighter flash powers.
Canon EOS R1 | Canon 8-15mm Lens | 1/30 | ISO 800 | ƒ8
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.
Remote mode is perfect for off-camera lighting techniques like backlighting.
OM System TG-7 | 1/50 | ISO 100 | ƒ13
The Atom Flash is cross compatible using remote mode with the Hybrid Flash, Mini Flash 2, and Mini Flash 3. This means each strobe can be mixed and matched for off camera remote shooting.
Combined with the Backscatter Remote Lighting Muck Stick, the Atom Flash is ready for any remote shooting scenario.
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.
High Speed Sync
Olympus E-M10 IV | OM System 90mm Lens | 1/2,000 | ISO 200 | ƒ3.5
Regular Speed Sync
Olympus E-M10 IV | OM System 90mm Lens | 1/160 | ISO 200 | ƒ3.5
Open apertures create stronger bokeh blur for macro images, but introduce more ambient light resulting in a brighter, less bold background. Using HSS, higher shutter speeds can be used to knock down ambient light, creating a black background while keeping the shallow depth of field, strong bokeh style.
Key Features
Feature | Description |
Guide Number | Bright ƒ28 Underwater Guide Number |
Flash Beam | High Quality, Even, & Wide Flash Beam |
Focus Light | White & Red Focus Light Modes |
Size | Travel Friendly Size |
Optical Snoot | Easy Bayonet Mounted Optical Snoot OS-2 |
Angle of Coverage | Selectable Angle of Coverage with Included Flat Diffuser & Optional Dome Diffuser |
Color Temperature | Selectable Color Temperature with Optional Warming Diffusers—6400K, 5500K, 4500K & Ambient |
TTL Support | Smart Control Automatic TTL Flash Power for Sony, Olympus & OM System Cameras |
Low Power Mode | Low Power Flash Mode - Delicate Lighting for Darker Scenes |
Remote Control | Wireless Off Camera Remote Control - Mix & Match with the Mini Flash 2, Mini Flash 3, & Hybrid Flash |
Display | Super Bright Display & Menu LCD Screen |
Custom Modes | Two User Programmable Custom Modes |
HSS Compatibility | HSS Compatible with Backscatter Smart Control TTL Trigger & Third Party Triggers |
Power Source | Powered by Two Protected 18650 Batteries |
Battery Life | Shoot All Day with Over 600 Flashes at Full Power |
Emergency Mode | SOS Emergency Signalling Mode |
Technical Specifications
Specification | Value |
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 (L×W×D) | 6.1 × 5.7 × 3.3in / 154 × 145 × 85mm |
Material | Anodized Machined Aluminum and Glass Fill Fiber |
Patents | International Patents Pending |