Ikelite DS165 TTL Underwater Strobe with Electrical Bulkhead

The right lighting is more important underwater than the right camera.

The DS165 is your entry-level entry to professional-quality underwater photos with any system, from compact point-and-shoots to full-frame mirrorless. It is simple to use, with a compact design and travel-friendly nickel metal hydride rechargeable battery pack.

A great strobe is your best investment.

The DS165 provides flexibility to adapt to any shooting scenario. It is expandable for TTL compatibility with every popular camera manufacturer, including Canon, Nikon, Sony, Panasonic, Olympus / OM System, and Fujifilm.

Trusted by professionals.

DS-series strobes are proven to perform in the harshest conditions on Earth, from the Arctic Circle to Antarctica and everywhere in between. Ikelite DS-series strobes are the long-standing choice of professionals who need a strobe that can be relied on to perform repeatedly.

Performance When It Counts, Every Time

There's a simple rule to underwater lighting: more is better. A fast and powerful strobe is the easiest way to improve your underwater photos.

KEY FEATURES

• TTL works on every shot for every camera system.
• Speed and power for professional-grade performance.
• Large, hard-click dials free of obstruction.
• Perfectly diffused light without a diffuser.
• Daylight-balanced color temperature for accurate representation of corals, models, and reef life.
• Ultra-wide 120º beam angle.
• Travel-safe, airline-friendly NiMH rechargeable batteries.
• No-lube, no-fuss positive cam lock.
• Fully compatible with legacy systems.
• USA-made.
• 100m (330ft) depth rating.

Light Quality

Ikelite's proprietary circular flash tube design and soft white powder-coated reflector produce a quality of light that is widely accepted as the perfect choice for professional wide-angle underwater photography.

A custom-formulated ABS-PC blend makes the strobe fundamentally corrosion-proof and over 1/2 lb (237 g) lighter than aluminum-body strobes.

The DS165 beam is designed for proper spread and color temperature without adding a light-reducing diffuser. The optional Dome Diffuser # 4069.2 extends the spread of the light with only a half-stop reduction of apparent brightness.

Ergonomics

Change settings quickly without taking your eyes off the subject. Life moves quickly underwater, and you need to be able to react instantly when your lighting needs change. Shooters who use manual strobe exposure settings prefer Ikelite's large, click-stop dial controls, which provide intuitive, tactical feedback on exposure settings.

The robust dial controls are now even larger and taller, making them comfortable to use with even the thickest gloves. A slide lock prevents the strobe from accidentally being turned on when not in use.

High-Performance Power

Your strobe is only as powerful as the batteries that drive it. Commercially available batteries do not have the low internal impedance required for truly fast recycle times. Even the best rechargeable AA batteries are sluggish in high-powered strobes and only get slower and weaker as their charge drains.

Ikelite's custom rechargeable cells power high frame rate firing from the first shot to the last. These premium-quality industrial-grade NiMH cells have been proven to outperform alkaline and lithium cells in real-world underwater conditions, including the temperature fluctuations and storage conditions of the photographer diver. While 5 years is the average lifespan of a rechargeable pack, Ikelite routinely talks to shooters who are happily using 10-15-year-old NiMH battery packs.

The battery pack attaches quickly and easily with a unique toggle lock that prevents accidental floods. You don't even need to lubricate the o-ring. The strobe front is compatible with older NiMH Battery Packs # 4066.5 or the newer Battery Packs # 40066GY and 40066BK.

A Name You Can Trust

Ikelite was the first to introduce these underwater strobe technologies, which are considered standard today: aiming lights, interchangeable cords, removable battery packs, smart charging, battery power indicators, wireless TTL slave sensors, built-in video lights, and TTL communication with digital cameras.

Ikelite has the longest track record in designing and manufacturing professional strobe lighting for underwater use. Ikelite offers the only underwater strobes designed and manufactured in the USA and distributed worldwide to over 95 countries.

In The Box

• DS165 Strobe Front # 40165X
• Rechargeable NiMH Battery Pack # 40066GY
• Battery Pack Cover # 0591.4
• Smart Charger for NiMH with USA Plug # 0083.92 (or 0083.93 Euro Plug / 0083.94 UK Plug / 0083.95 Australian Plug)
• 1" Ball Mount # 4081.4 (installed)
• Waterproof bulkhead cap # 9104.7
• 2 year limited warranty

Specifications

• Controls: 10 stops in 1/2-stop increments
• Strobe Connector: Ikelite Bulkhead
• Aiming Light: Spot 205 Lumens
• Color Temperature: 5000K
• Depth Rating: 100m (330ft)
• Weight: 1203 g
• Dimensions: 91mm dia x 183mm