Question Backscatter Hybrid Flash HF-1, recommended?

[FedeQ]

Hi everyone, I'm not having much luck searching the forum, I'm finding just the original reviews.
Do any of you have use the HF-1?
Do you recommend them?
I have a couple of Sea & Sea YS-D3 DUO and some small Sola video lights.
I shoot mainly photos, but I like to do some video as well.
The strobes are working well. They are in great condition and quite new so I could sell them.
At first, I was thinking of buying a couple of Macro Wide 4300 video light from Backscatter to improve over the ones I have.
But lately I'm considering switching to a couple of HF-1.
I'm not a pro. this is a hobby but I care for the results, I'm learning and improving.
I shoot wide and macro.
I have an OM-1 on an AOI housing, the 14-42 ez and the 60 mm macro.

What I'm looking to get:
- good strobes with better recycling time that what I have now.
- good enough (not pro) video lights for occasional video in clear water.
- less cumbersome than 2 strobes an 2 video lights (easier handling, less battery management)
- not much more heavy that two 4300 + the two YS-d3 DUO
- I'm planning to do the occasional blackwater dive, will these work?
- I might consider the MF-2 in the future, meanwhile is there any snoot for these strobes?

Thank a lot for any opinion / info on this !

 

[Barmaglot]

Have you considered Retra Maxi? Same price as HF-1 and very similar overall, but more neutral in the water, and Retra has more accessory options.

 

[davehicks]

The HF-1 will do what you want, and has the added benefit of actually being for sale today. They are very good and well reviewed.

The release date of the Retra Maxi strobes is not known yet.

 

[cerich]

Have you considered Retra Maxi? Same price as HF-1 and very similar overall, but more neutral in the water, and Retra has more accessory options.

but not RC TTL which as a OM shooter the OP may like, plus the Retra maxi is not even shipping yet

 

[Barmaglot]

The release date of the Retra Maxi strobes is not known yet.

Oskar from Retra posted on Waterpixels that shipments are expected to start in May.

 

[WS007]

I have two HF-1 since approx. 1 year and am fully satisfied (especially the 4500K flat diffuser gives excellent light quality; the light pipe for remote operation is ingenious (so far was using the triggerfish remote trigger, but still cannot remember how to switch it "ON/OFF" ))...

In the meantime the palette of flash/video hybrids became bigger (e.g. Retra Maxi). In case not the ultimate power, but even better light quality is an issue, one may consider a combination with circular flash tube, e.g. from AOI (I think there are more models around for sale now, but I do not check the market as I am set at the moment (here is one (in preparation?) that even has a 10k lumen videolight: OPTIMA-10000 - UWTechnics))): AOI | UIS-P1 Unterwasserblitz | PanOceanPhoto

I would not overrate a combination of flash/video light, especially the built in video light, that is no more but an "emergency" video light. Having both flash and video-lamp separate gives certainly the better quality, especially for video and most of the time I just need a flash, the video light is often not used during the entire dive (in case you are happy with your YS-D3 flashes, one or two really good video lamps in addition may be the better choice - but his is just my subjective and personal opinion)...


Wolfgang

 

[BoltSnap]

I would not overrate a combination of flash/video light, especially the built in video light, that is no more but an "emergency" video light. Having both flash and video-lamp separate gives certainly the better quality, especially for video and most of the time I just need a flash, the video light is often not used during the entire dive (in case you are happy with your YS-D3 flashes, one or two really good video lamps in addition may be the better choice - but his is just my subjective and personal opinion)...

The combined video/strobe light is for occasional video making when the primary activity is still photography. If the primary activity is video, I'd imagine that the videographer will be using a better-grade dedicated video light. I am thinking of adding a "GoPro" camera to my camera to shoot occasional video when the primary activity is still photography, so I'll use this type of video/strobe combination. This is how I think I'd use the combo in my understanding.