Info Backscatter Hybrid Flash HF-01: preliminary review

[WS007]

I was told the other day by Backscatter that the LM3 actually doesn't communicate with the HF-1 in RC/SC mode, which is unfortunate / surprising. It seems like the OM-1 / LM3 should be a good fit, but it isn't.

This is indeed surprising...

I was writing about my time with Oly (EM1II and EM5II), where I used both Nauticam trigger and the LM3 with Z330 and YS-D2.
I must admit, however, that I never did TTL, but Sea&Sea and Inon stated it was possible...

Wolfgang

 

[Germie]

I find them very very heavy and that is the reason I am very worried about buying these. I also need more lift then with my arms of the camera setup.

 

[jbarry_underwater]

Just want to clear up the battery debate. The Hybrid Flash requires 21700 batteries with at least 15A current. Currently Nitecore has 5300 and 6000mah batteries with a 20A draw, which is what we recommend and the only batteries we approve right now for the Hybrid Flash. The Xtar 21700 batteries only have a 10A draw which is fine for the Mini Flash 2 and Macro Wide 4300 video light. The Xtar batteries internal protection circuitry will shut down the battery when drawing more than 10A current. This will happen immediately when turning on the flash as it starts to charge the capacitors. The protection circuit prevents over discharge, and this is why you should always use protected Li-ion batteries in consumer devices!

So which batteries are safe to use in the MF-1? They used to come with the xtar and now nitecore I believe, looking to get some spares. Thank you!

 

[Germie]

As I needed another strobe and Inon still does not have the Z400 ready (my Z330 broke again, they are for sure not very durable), I decided to buy a Backscatter hybrid flash. Retra Maxi is still not on the market (april), so I had to choose now if I want to take pictures. Will use now 1 Z330 that is left and 1 Backscatter.
I don't know if I get color difference, but I really don't understand why you don't get the 5500k diffuser for free with the backscatter strobe. This is the best color for flash.
Then for sure I will not see any difference between my inon and the backscatter.

I haven't used it in the water, but only did some testpictures in my living room. It looks like it works fine with the Turtle trigger. They told me only manual will work. But I only take pictures with manually set lighting.

The other camera where the strobe absolutely must work is the OMD em5 mk 2 with the LF-FM3 flash. I haven't tested this yet. But here people write this does not work?
I use the backscatter macro without problems with the fm3 flash. Also manual, never TTL.

I hope the HF1 is not too heavy that I need to change my floating arms. I know the set will now sink where it floats normally with the Z330

 

[Backscatter::Jim]

So which batteries are safe to use in the MF-1? They used to come with the xtar and now nitecore I believe, looking to get some spares. Thank you!

This one works well for the MF-1 and is what we currently recommend:

Nitecore 18650 NL1836HP 3600mAh Rechargeable Battery

Nitecore 18650 NL1836HP 3600mAh Rechargeable Battery

www.backscatter.com

Jim

 

[jbarry_underwater]

This one works well for the MF-1 and is what we currently recommend:

Nitecore 18650 NL1836HP 3600mAh Rechargeable Battery

Nitecore 18650 NL1836HP 3600mAh Rechargeable Battery

www.backscatter.com

Jim

Thank you Jim, is there an issue with using the xtar in the MF-1, if I’ve been using them should I get rid of them?

 

[Backscatter::Jim]

Thank you Jim, is there an issue with using the xtar in the MF-1?

Depends on the Xtar battery. NEVER use an unprotected battery, they have some unprotected ones so make sure it is protected. Protected Xtar batteries with a minimum of 8A draw are ok to use. Anything less than 8A will trip the circuit protection of the battery will shut it down.

 

[jbarry_underwater]

Depends on the Xtar battery. NEVER use an unprotected battery, they have some unprotected ones so make sure it is protected. Protected Xtar batteries with a minimum of 8A draw are ok to use. Anything less than 8A will trip the circuit protection of the battery will shut it down.

Perfect, just wanted to make sure! Thank you again!

 

[Craig F]

The HF-1 underwater weight is 250g. My old Z240s (still going strong by the way) are 77g each underwater, for comparison.

I hope the HF1 is not too heavy that I need to change my floating arms. I know the set will now sink where it floats normally with the Z330

 

[Germie]

The HF-1 underwater weight is 250g. My old Z240s (still going strong by the way) are 77g each underwater, for comparison.

That is a very very very big difference. My Z330 are just 20 grams negative. So I am afraid my set will sink now. I don't see the option to make it more upward lifting as I cannot change the floating arms for the macro strobe every time I change a strobe. Also this will not fit in the luggage when flying. Adding foamblocks will not help for me too, as I am diving too deep (don't take foam blocks over 60m, and if you have been to 100m you can throw them away, haha).

It was that I had to buy this Backscatter strobe as Inon still has no Z400, and the strobe itself looks ok, but it is soo negative. The new Retra is sadly also not on the market (april).
And another thing I really don't like is to sell it with a very blue diffuser and not with the more normal 5500 diffuser. So you need to buy another diffuser. This makes the total price of the strobe higher. And it is here around the same as the Retra Maxi. And the Retra Maxi has a RN of 46.
But for now I hope I can use the Backscatter HF for over 5 years, that it is more durable than Inon which I found really not durable (bad magnetknobs to turn it on). Inon Z330 only lasts 3 years which is very short (The S2000 lasts much longer, but is not powerfull).

As soon as I have my own real experiences with the strobe I will write them online. As I think the results will be ok (I will use it together with the Z330 that is left).
Next weekend I will not test it as I want to do macro photography, so use the macro flash.

They say that the aftersales from Backscatter is better than from Retra, but I hope I will never need after sales.