Backscatter Underwater Video & Photo

What Backscatter Underwater Video & Photo does

Backscatter Underwater Video & Photo is a Monterey, California-based specialty retailer and product designer founded in 1994 that serves amateur and professional underwater photographers and videographers. The company sells proprietary underwater strobes, video lights, flash triggers, and optical accessories through its direct-to-consumer e-commerce site (backscatter.com), a physical showroom and service center in Monterey, a sales/support office in New Hampshire, and a global authorized dealer network. It also distributes third-party underwater camera housings, lenses, and lighting from manufacturers including Nauticam, Ikelite, Sea & Sea, Gates, Retra, Keldan, Inon, AOI, Kraken Sports, Isotta, Aquatica, Seacam, Subal, Sony, Olympus/OM System, and GoPro, and runs underwater photography workshops and expeditions to destinations including Fiji, the Solomon Islands, the Philippines, Indonesia, and the Caribbean.

Backscatter's proprietary product line is anchored by the Hybrid Flash HF-1 (a combined F/40 guide-number strobe and 5,000-lumen video light with Smart Control Optical TTL), the Mini Flash 3 and Atom Flash AF-1 (compact macro- and wide-angle-capable strobes), and the Smart Control Optical TTL Flash Trigger that enables automatic flash exposure on Olympus, OM System, and Sony cameras. Supporting accessories include the Optical Snoot OS-1/OS-2/OS-3 for precision macro lighting, the Remote Lighting Muck Stick for off-camera strobe positioning, fiber optic cables, color filters, diffusers, batteries, and proprietary wide-angle and macro wet lenses for GoPro cameras. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time hardware unit sales priced from $49 for accessories up to $1,099 for the flagship Hybrid Flash, with a secondary revenue stream from paid underwater photography workshops, trips, and educational events.

The go-to-market motion is content-led direct-to-consumer: Backscatter publishes extensive how-to articles, gear reviews, and video tutorials on its website, runs an annual Digital Shootout and Monterey Shootout, and conducts US gear seminars, using the educational content and workshop experiences to drive hardware sales. Pricing is straightforward unit pricing with bundle discounts; there is no subscription or recurring revenue model. The company operates with a small team of 7 employees and has been self-funded — no funding rounds, ownership structure, or revenue figures are publicly disclosed in the source materials.

Name

Backscatter Underwater Video & Photo

Legal name

Backscatter Underwater Video & Photo

Website

https://backscatter.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Backscatter Underwater Video & Photo is a Monterey, California-based specialty e-commerce retailer and product designer founded in 1994 that sells proprietary underwater strobes, video lights, and accessories to amateur and professional underwater photographers, alongside third-party camera housings and underwater photography workshops.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Underwater Photography Equipment

NAICS

Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (33431)

SIC

Photographic Equipment & Supplies (3861)

akta.pro primary industry

Diving & Snorkeling Retail (Scuba Gear) (CRAMAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dive & Snorkel Equipment Rental, Retail & Boat Services (compressors, gear hire) (THAAAIAL), Underwater Photography & Videography Tours/Workshops (THAAAIAK)

Keywords

• Underwater strobe lighting
• Underwater video lights
• Underwater photography equipment
• Optical TTL flash trigger
• Underwater camera accessories

Headquarters

HQ city

Monterey

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of proprietary underwater strobes, video lights, flash triggers, and accessories. Also distributes third-party underwater photography equipment from manufacturers like Nauticam, Ikelite, Sea & Sea, and others. Revenue generated through e-commerce transactions on backscatter.com.
2. Training and Workshops: Underwater photography workshops and expeditions to destinations worldwide including Fiji, Solomon Islands, Philippines, Indonesia, and Caribbean. Includes educational content and hands-on training.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Backscatter Underwater Video & Photo designs, manufactures, and sells proprietary underwater strobes, video lights, flash triggers, optical snoots, and related accessories for underwater photographers and videographers. The company also operates as a retailer and authorized distributor of third-party underwater photography equipment from manufacturers such as Nauticam, Ikelite, Sea & Sea, AOI, Kraken Sports, Keldan, Inon, Retra, and Gates, and offers underwater photography workshops and training expeditions to destinations worldwide.

Product overview

Backscatter Underwater Video & Photo offers a comprehensive portfolio of underwater photography and videography equipment, centered on proprietary strobes and lighting solutions. The core product line includes the Hybrid Flash HF-1 (a combination strobe and 5,000-lumen video light), the Mini Flash 3 and Mini Flash 2 (compact macro-focused strobes), and the Atom Flash (compact wide/macro strobe). Supporting accessories include Optical Snoots (OS-1, OS-2, OS-3) for precision macro lighting, the Smart Control Optical TTL Flash Trigger for automatic exposure with Sony, Olympus, and OM System cameras, wireless remote lighting solutions (Muck Stick), fiber optic cables, color filters, diffusers, and batteries. The company also offers underwater optics including wide-angle lenses and macro converters for GoPro and other systems. Beyond proprietary equipment, Backscatter serves as a retailer for underwater camera housings from manufacturers including Nauticam, Ikelite, Isotta, Sea & Sea, Aquatica, AOI, Gates, Seacam, and Subal, covering cameras from Sony, Canon, Nikon, Olympus, OM System, Panasonic, Blackmagic, RED, Z Cam, GoPro, and others.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Backscatter: Primary brand name for underwater photography and video equipment including strobes, flash triggers, video lights, and optical accessories.

Products and services

• Backscatter GoPro Sharp Wide Lens Pro Wide-angle conversion lens for GoPro action cameras providing sharp wide-angle capability for underwater video and photography.
• Backscatter Hybrid Flash HF-1 Underwater strobe and video light combination featuring a guide number F/40 flash, 5,000-lumen video light, 1,500-lumen spotlight, and red light mode with Smart Control Automatic TTL for Sony, Olympus, and OM System cameras. Designed for underwater photographers and videographers who want a single hybrid unit for both photo and video capture.
• Backscatter Mini Flash 3 (MF-3) Compact macro-focused underwater strobe with automatic TTL for Sony, Olympus, and OM System cameras. Includes a 1,000-lumen built-in focus light, wireless remote control, high-speed sync, and compatibility with Optical Snoot OS-1 for precision macro lighting. Targets macro underwater photographers.
• Backscatter Atom Flash AF-1 Compact underwater strobe designed for both wide-angle and macro photography, featuring Smart Control Automatic TTL, optical snoot compatibility, and spot white and red target lights. Built for travel and versatility.
• Backscatter Mini Flash 2 (MF-2) Macro-focused underwater strobe with Smart Control TTL for Olympus and OM System cameras, wireless remote control, fast recycle times, and compatibility with Optical Snoot OS-1.
• Backscatter Macro Wide 4300 Video Light (MW-4300) Underwater video light with 4,300-lumen output and a wide 120-degree beam angle for macro and wide-angle underwater video shooting.
• Backscatter Octo 3500 Wide Video Light Compact underwater video light with 3,500-lumen output and a 100-degree beam angle, designed for action cameras and compact camera systems.
• Backscatter Smart Control Optical TTL Flash Trigger Flash trigger providing automatic TTL flash exposure for Olympus, OM System, and Sony cameras when paired with Backscatter strobes. Supports manual triggering, rapid firing up to 30+ frames per second, HSS, and is available in universal and Nauticam-specific models.
• Backscatter Optical Snoot OS-3 Precision light-shaping attachment for the Backscatter Hybrid Flash that transforms the wide-angle beam into a focused spot for macro and portrait lighting.
• Backscatter Optical Snoot OS-1 Precision light-shaping attachment for the Mini Flash series and Macro Wide 4300, enabling pinpoint macro lighting with adjustable aperture cards.
• Backscatter Optical Snoot OS-2 Precision light-shaping attachment for the Backscatter Atom Flash enabling pinpoint macro lighting.
• Backscatter Remote Lighting Muck Stick Adjustable anti-rotation sand anchor system for deploying remote underwater lighting, featuring a standard 1-inch ball mount for attaching strobes, video lights, or cameras.
• Backscatter Universal Fiber Optic Cable Fiber optic cable for connecting camera flash to strobes for optical triggering; required for Smart Control TTL functionality.
• Backscatter M52 Underwater Wide Angle Wet Lens Wet-mount 120-degree wide-angle lens for M52 thread underwater housings, providing 0.50x magnification for capturing wide underwater scenes.
• +15 MacroMate Mini Macro Lens for GoPro Macro conversion lens providing +15 diopter magnification for GoPro cameras, enabling close-up underwater photography.
• FLIP13 Color Filter System for GoPro Color correction filters for GoPro HERO 13 and earlier models, available in DIVE, DEEP, and combination kits to restore natural colors at various depths.
• Xtar 21700 Batteries and Chargers High-capacity 21700 lithium-ion batteries with 20A continuous discharge rating required for the Hybrid Flash, available in single, dual battery, and charger packages.
• Backscatter Wide Double Handle Tray & Arch Package Underwater camera tray with dual handles and arch mount for GoPro and action camera systems.
• Backscatter Color Filter Set Color filter set for Mini Flash and Macro Wide 4300, including bold and pastel color options for creative underwater lighting.
• Backscatter Hybrid Flash Diffusers and Filters Collection of diffusers including 140-degree flat and 160-degree dome options, plus color temperature filters (4500K, 5500K) and ambient blue filters for creative lighting control with the Hybrid Flash.
• Third-Party Underwater Equipment Retail (Nauticam, Ikelite, Sea & Sea, AOI, Kraken Sports, Keldan, Inon, Retra, Gates, Isotta, etc.) Retail distribution of third-party underwater camera housings, strobes, video lights, lenses, and accessories from leading manufacturers including Nauticam, Ikelite, Sea & Sea, Isotta, AOI, Kraken Sports, Retra, Keldan, Inon, Gates, Aquatica, Seacam, and Subal, covering cameras from Sony, Canon, Nikon, Olympus, OM System, Panasonic, Blackmagic, RED, Z Cam, GoPro, and others.
• Underwater Photography Workshops and Training Expeditions Hands-on underwater photography workshops and training expeditions to destinations including Fiji, Solomon Islands, Philippines, Indonesia, and the Caribbean, providing instruction in underwater photography techniques with Backscatter equipment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Guide Number F/40 maximum power output on Hybrid Flash - brightest underwater strobe available
• +4 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• NauticamcoreTechnology or IntegrationNauticam is a leading manufacturer of underwater camera housings. Backscatter products are designed to be compatible with and are sold alongside Nauticam housings. Backscatter offers Nauticam-specific flash triggers and accessories.
• IkelitecoreTechnology or IntegrationIkelite manufactures underwater housings and strobes. Backscatter distributes Ikelite products and their strobes are compatible with Ikelite housings.
• Sea & SeacoreTechnology or IntegrationSea & Sea produces underwater photography equipment including housings and strobes. Backscatter offers compatible accessories and distributes Sea & Sea products.
• Olympus / OM SystemcoreTechnology or IntegrationOlympus (now OM System) cameras are supported by Backscatter Smart Control TTL technology. Compatible products include OM System OM-1, E-M10 IV, and TG-7 cameras with dedicated TTL protocols.
• SonycoreTechnology or IntegrationSony mirrorless cameras are supported via Backscatter Smart Control TTL with native Sony TTL protocol. Compatible cameras include Sony a1, a7R V, a7S III, a9 III, and others.
• GoProcoreTechnology or IntegrationGoPro action cameras are a key product category. Backscatter offers dedicated accessories including wide angle lenses (Sharp Wide Lens Pro), macro lenses (MacroMate Mini), color filters, and housings for GoPro HERO cameras.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Nauticam: Leading manufacturer of underwater camera housings and accessories. Nauticam is one of Backscatter's core technology/integration partners and serves the same underwater photography customer across mirrorless, SLR, and cinema systems.
• Ikelite: US-based manufacturer of underwater housings and strobes. Ikelite overlaps directly with Backscatter on strobe products and is distributed through Backscatter, making it both a peer and supplier-adjacent competitor.
• Sea & Sea: Japanese manufacturer of underwater housings, strobes, and accessories. Sea & Sea targets the same compact, mirrorless, and SLR underwater shooter that Backscatter serves, with comparable product categories in strobes and TTL triggers.
• Inon: Japanese maker of underwater strobes and wet lenses, including the S220 strobe that Backscatter distributes. Direct overlap with Backscatter's strobe and accessory categories serving macro and wide-angle underwater shooters.
• Retra: Specialist manufacturer of premium underwater strobes (Flash Pro Max, Flash Maxi). Retra competes head-on with Backscatter's Hybrid Flash and Mini Flash lines in the high-end enthusiast segment.
• Kraken Sports: UK-based maker of underwater video lights, macro lenses, and accessories. Kraken's video light products compete with Backscatter's Macro Wide 4300 and Octo 3500 lights in the action-camera and compact camera segment.
• Keldan: Swiss manufacturer of high-output underwater video lights (4XR, 8XR series). Keldan competes with Backscatter's video light portfolio at the professional/prosumer end of the underwater video market.
• Gates Underwater Products: Manufacturer of professional underwater housings for cinema cameras (RED, Arri). Gates serves the same professional video shooter segment Backscatter targets with its Pro Video product category, though focused more on housings than lighting.
• AOI (Aquatic Optics International): Hong Kong-based manufacturer of underwater optics (wide-angle and macro wet lenses) and housings. AOI competes with Backscatter's own lens products and is also distributed through Backscatter.
• Isotta: Italian manufacturer of underwater camera housings for mirrorless, DSLR, and compact systems. Isotta targets the same enthusiast and pro shooter with comparable housing products distributed via Backscatter.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Backscatter Underwater Video & Photo