Join The Backscatter Team

Interested in a career at the Backscatter Underwater Video & Photo? Get information about our employment opportunities.

Read More

Best Underwater Compact Strobe - Backscatter Mini Flash 2

The Backscatter Mini Flash MF-2 is a major upgrade to the MF-1, with tons of new features and performance upgrades, including Olympus TTL, remote strobe control, high-speed sync, test mode, emergency ...

Read More

Best Underwater Cameras of 2024: Compact Cameras

The Backscatter team spent hundreds of hours testing the best underwater cameras to find the best and not-so-good cameras for underwater photography. We publish this article annually from the results ...

Read More

Best Underwater Cameras of 2024: Mirrorless Cameras

The Backscatter staff have spent plenty of time shooting mirrorless cameras in the water around the world in all sorts of conditions, from our home waters of Monterey, CA, to the Caribbean, and the In...

Read More

Best Underwater Lighting of 2024: Strobes & Flashes

The Backscatter team has taken all of the best strobes for underwater photography and put them to the test to determine which strobe is our Top Pick for different applications and budgets. Whether see...

Read More

Guide for the Best Filter for your GoPro

The Flip Filter System by Backscatter provides you with the most comprehensive filter kit available. We've got you covered underwater with color correction, lens correction as well as topside len...

Read More

The Best Underwater Lenses for Compact Cameras 2024

From the Caribbean to the Coral Triangle, we've spent hundreds of hours shooting compact cameras underwater. We've shot and tested dozens of compact (a.k.a. point-and-shoot) camera lenses to...

Read More

Retra Flash Pro Max Underwater Strobe Review

The Retra Flash Pro Max is Retra's latest top-end strobe. It has a redesigned battery compartment and booster, as well as a rear OLED screen added to the back. This is an attractive upgrade for R...

Read More

Sea & Sea YS-D3 Duo Underwater Strobe Review

The YS-D3 Duo is the latest strobe from Sea & Sea. This strobe adds Olympus RC automatic TTL flash power, giving you the most accurate automatic flash power ever from a Sea & Sea strobe when s...

Read More

The Zen of Underwater Strobe Placement

Over the years I have taught thousands of people how to shoot underwater. By far the number 1 question I am asked is “Where do I put my strobes?” My simple Zen master answer to the student is always, ...

Read More

The Best Underwater GoPro Wide Angle Lens & Filter System

Get a significant upgrade in image quality from your GoPro camera with the Backscatter Sharp Wide Lens Pro (SWLP). This optical grade glass wide conversion lens will dramatically increase the sharpnes...

Read More

What Is The Best ISO For Underwater Photography & Video?

What is the best ISO for underwater photos and videos? During The Digital Shootout, we asked a panel of the world’s best underwater photographers and videographers this question to get their hot-take ...

Read More

What Is The Best Shutter Speed For Underwater Photography & Video?

What is the best shutter speed for underwater photos and videos? During The Digital Shootout, we asked a panel of the world’s best underwater photographers and videographers this question to get their...

Read More

What Is The Best Aperture For Underwater Photography & Video?

What is the best aperture for underwater photos and videos? During The Digital Shootout, we asked a panel of the world’s best underwater photographers and videographers this question to get their hot-...

Read More

Strobes vs. Video Lights for Underwater Photography

One of the most common questions at Backscatter is whether you can use video lights instead of strobes for underwater photography. The straightforward answer is that a strobe is always going to be bet...

Read More

OM System TG-7 Underwater Camera Review

Get ready to embark on new underwater adventures with the next generation of the world's most beloved camera for underwater photography.

Read More

Olympus OM-D E-M10 IV Underwater Camera & Housing Review

Excellent image quality, more affordable than similar rigs, and compact enough for travelers and novice shooters - is this the new Best Bang For Your Buck in underwater photography? That’s a 10-4, goo...

Read More

Complete Guide for GoPro HERO 11 & 12 Best Underwater Video & Photo Settings

The GoPro HERO 11 & 12 is one of our favorite action cameras yet because of the impressive built-in video stabilization, how easy it makes it to start capturing great looking 4K Ultra High Definit...

Read More

Nikon Z 8 Underwater Camera Review

In this article, we'll provide an in-depth review of the highly anticipated Nikon Z8 for underwater photography from our first-hand perspective. We’re going to explore and discuss the key aspects...

Read More

Sony a7R V Underwater Camera Review

The Sony a7R V is the newest full-frame mirrorless camera from Sony. It’s an all-around serious upgrade for α7 shooters and we dove deep to find what matters most to underwater photo and video shooter...

Read More

OM System 90mm Macro Lens Underwater Review

The OM System 90mm Macro Lens provides an all new, greater focal length to use on micro four thirds sensor and lens mount cameras than was previously available. What does this mean for underwater phot...

Read More

Nauticam EMWL Underwater Lens Review

The Nauticam EMWL (Extended Macro Wide Lens) is a wet-mounted accessory lens for capturing macro-sized subjects with a wide angle perspective. It features interchangeable objective optics for differen...

Read More

Canon R5 vs Canon R5C Underwater Review - The best underwater video camera?

Canon underwater shooters are spoiled for choice at the moment between two great full-frame mirrorless cameras with the Canon EOS R5 and Canon EOS R5C. While these cameras appear similar in both name ...

Read More

Sony a7 IV Underwater Camera Review

The Sony a7 IV boasts an all-new sensor and other significant performance upgrades from the previous Sony a7 III camera. The “middle” child of the a7 series, the base model has often been looked over....

Read More

OM System OM-1 Underwater Camera Review

The OM System OM-1 camera is the latest top-of-the-line flagship Micro 4/3 camera from OM Systems, formerly Olympus. We took the new OM System OM-1 mirrorless camera underwater to the Digital Shootout...

Read More

Nikon Z9 Underwater Camera Review

The Z9 is Nikon’s first foray into a pro-body mirrorless camera. Unlike the company’s pro body DSLRs which mainly concentrated on speed at the sacrifice of resolution, this is the highest resolution p...

Read More

Nikon Z7 II Underwater Camera Review

The Nikon Z7 II is a relatively minor - but very welcome - upgrade from the original Nikon Z7. The second generation of Nikon's full frame mirrorless camera has the same image sensor and will pro...

Read More

Sony a1 Underwater Camera Review

The Sony a1 on paper looks like the “one” camera to rule them all. With high resolution (50mp), speed (up to 30 fps stills), and 8K 30p/4K 120p video, can this camera live up to being a jack of all tr...

Read More

Sony a7S III Underwater Camera Review

The Sony a7S III camera looks and feels similar to other cameras in the a7 series, but under the hood, it is dramatically different. This camera was made for video shooters. The camera allows for shoo...

Read More

Best Buoyancy Solutions For Underwater Cameras

Diving with a camera system and shooting underwater images or video is difficult enough. Adding a camera and housing that is too negatively or positively buoyant can turn a fun dive into a challenging...

Read More

Sony RX100 VII Underwater Camera Review

On the surface, the Sony RX100 VII looks almost identical to the previous RX100 VI camera. Under the hood, however, it packs a new upgraded sensor and an improved autofocus system. The new autofocus s...

Read More

Backscatter M52 Wide Angle Air Lens Review

The M52 Wide-Angle Air Lens is a wet-mount wide angle conversion lens designed to work best with Olympus TG series cameras. The lens cancels out refraction and restores the camera’s topside field of v...

Read More

Olympus TG-6 and Backscatter Macro Wide 4300 Video Light Demo Reel—How it Was Shot

James Emery, manager of the Backscatter Authorized Photo Center at Lembeh Resort, recently shot an amazing demo reel with the Olympus TG-6 and the new Backscatter Macro Wide 4300 light. We sat down wi...

Read More

Introducing the Backscatter Color Filter System

Add a new dimension to your videos and photos with the Backscatter Color Filter System. The Backscatter Color Filter system is compatible with the Backscatter Mini Flash MF-1, Backscatter Macro Wide 4...

Read More

Best Underwater Video Light - The Backscatter Macro Wide 4300 Has You Covered

The Backscatter Macro Wide 4300 Video Light is the ultimate video light for any video or photo shooter. Its compact size is great for travel, it’s versatile for macro and wide shooters, and offers pra...

Read More

Backscatter Mini Flash Field Test—What is a Snoot and Why You Need One

The new Backscatter Mini Flash MF-1 and Optical Snoot OS-1 can turbo-charge your macro creativity by isolating subjects and creating a completely new perspective for your shots. We’ll look at side-by-...

Read More


Read more Articles by Choosing a Category: