Backscatter MF-1 Mini Flash

Manufacturer: Backscatter
Type: Compact underwater strobe
Year introduced: 2019 (announced DEMA 2019, November 22, 2019)
Price: $399 (MF-1); $149 (OS-1 Optical Snoot); $499 (combo pack)
Guide number: GN 16
Successor: Backscatter MF-2 Mini Flash (November 2022)

Overview

The Backscatter MF-1 Mini Flash is a compact underwater strobe that created a new product category: an affordable, highly compact strobe system purpose-built for macro and close-focus wide-angle photography. Announced at DEMA 2019 on November 22, 2019, it began shipping in December 2019. (^[1])

The MF-1 was designed from the outset as a unified system with the OS-1 Optical Snoot, reflecting the growing community interest in snooted lighting as a creative macro technique. Unlike traditional snoots that were aftermarket attachments designed for full-sized strobes, the MF-1 and OS-1 were engineered together from inception, making the snoot beam precisely concentric with the built-in LED focus lights. (^[2]) This co-design approach was a key differentiator praised by reviewers and community members alike. (^[3])

Backscatter’s marketing positioned the MF-1 as “the ultimate compact strobe for compact cameras” while also serving as a dedicated macro strobe for mirrorless and SLR shooters wanting to reduce their rig size. (^[4])

Specifications

• Guide number: GN 16 (f/16)
• Depth rating: 100m / 330ft
• Battery: Single 18650 lithium-ion (rechargeable); recommended Nitecore NL1835HP ($21)
• Focus light: 500 lumen dual-beam LED, 3 power levels; over 1 hour runtime on high
• Modeling flash: Short-duration pulsing flash for checking snoot placement without disturbing light-sensitive subjects
• Flash power: 6-step power level dial with positive clicks
• Number of flashes: Up to 1,400 at full power (per recommended battery)
• Recycle time (full power): 2.5 seconds
• Sync: Fiber optic only (automatic pre-flash detection and cancellation)
• Seal: Dual O-ring battery compartment
• Material: Anodized machined aluminum
• Dimensions (with ball): 7.36 x 2.31 x 4.06 in (187 x 59 x 104 mm)
• Weight in air: 13.25 oz / 375g
• Weight in water: 5.29 oz / 150g
• Included accessories: 1-inch ball mount, YS mount, flat diffuser, spare O-ring set, O-ring grease

(^[5])

OS-1 Optical Snoot

The OS-1 Optical Snoot ($149) was the companion accessory that made the MF-1 system distinctive. Unlike conventional snoots that use tubes or baffles, the OS-1 used fiber optic delivery to create a focused beam, resulting in what Backscatter claimed was “brighter output than any other snoot on the market.” (^[6])

Key features:

• Aperture cards: Two included cards (one circular, one oval), each with four different-sized holes. The smallest projected a beam as small as 6mm. The oval card could be rotated to change the shape of the projected beam. (^[7])
• Quick-mount design: Click on / click off attachment, small enough to keep in a pocket for quick switching between macro and wide modes. (^[8])
• Concentric aiming: The LED focus lights projected through the snoot, showing exactly where the flash beam would hit the subject, a critical advantage over snoots used with strobes that had off-center modeling lights (such as the Inon Z-330 or Sea & Sea YS-D2). (^[9])
• Working distance: Approximately 4 inches (10 cm) from the subject, with beam visibility reaching about 36 inches (90 cm) in shaded conditions. (^[10])

The system could achieve exposures at ISO 64, f/32 when projecting through the 6mm hole, dark enough for inky black backgrounds even in bright ambient conditions. (^[11])

User Interface

The MF-1 used a deliberately minimal control scheme designed by Jim at Backscatter (likely Jim Decker or Berkley White). Power-on required 5 quick presses of the power button within 2 seconds, placing the strobe in standby mode. The oversized red power dial had positive click stops at each of 6 levels, making adjustments easy underwater without looking. The silver button toggled through 3 LED focus light power levels; a long press activated the modeling flash. (^[12])

Automatic flash synchronization: On first power-up, the MF-1 analyzed the camera’s built-in flash pattern (single or multi-pulse pre-flash) during the first test shot and stored the synchronization setting in memory. If the camera or settings changed, a simple power cycle and test shot would re-synchronize. (^[13]) However, the manual was sparse on details of this learning process, and users discovered that firing multiple rapid shots during the first second after power-on could confuse the sync detection, causing persistent misfiring. (^[14])

Reviews

Mike Bartick review (February 2020)

The first major review was by Mike Bartick, a professional underwater photographer and manager of Crystal Blue Dive Resort in Anilao, Philippines. Bartick tested the system across trips to Papua New Guinea and the Philippines with a Nikon DSLR system. (^[15])

Key findings:

• Power settings 1-3: No waiting between shots, suitable for fill light.
• Power setting 4: About 1 second recycle, excellent for super macro.
• Power setting 5: About 1.5 seconds recycle; could dump 3 rapid shots before falloff. Bartick’s recommended sweet spot for best overall performance.
• Power setting 6: 1.5-2 seconds recycle; “super strong and not needed for standard macro shooting.”
• The strobe’s color temperature matched well with Sea & Sea YS-D2J strobes, allowing mixed-strobe setups.
• Bartick gave workshop guests the MF-1/OS-1 kit and reported that “each person that I gave it to has come back with positive results on their first dive,” concluding it was the easiest snoot system he had encountered in years of teaching snoot photography.

Bartick disclosed that he was a local distributor for the MF-1 and OS-1. (^[16])

Morten Bjorn Larsen review (October 2021)

Danish photographer Morten Bjorn Larsen provided a second review from a European cold-water perspective, testing the system during pandemic-era coast diving in Denmark and Sweden. (^[17])

Key findings:

• The system was purchased based on recommendations from other underwater photographers, including Italian photographer David Salvatori who advised: “Buy it now, if you wait, you will spend the money on a dive trip when we are free to travel again.”
• The concentric aiming light was effective even in Denmark’s green, low-visibility waters.
• The oval aperture card worked well with elongated subjects like nudibranchs, tested with a 105mm macro lens and +10 SubSee diopter.
• For wide-angle use, even without the aperture card (widest possible beam), the strobe could not illuminate a full crab-sized subject, confirming its macro-focused design.
• Night dive snooting of squids in Swedish fjords at 30 meters depth was successful, with minimal backscatter compared to traditional twin-strobe setups.

Larsen’s review items were self-purchased (disclosed). (^[18])

Known Issues

Optical trigger sensitivity

The MF-1’s fiber optic sensor was notably less sensitive than competing strobes, particularly Inon models. Multiple community members reported that cables which worked reliably with Inon Z-330 or Z-240 strobes would misfire with the MF-1. (^[19])

Workarounds included:

• Using thicker (2mm diameter) fiber optic cable instead of standard multi-core cables. (^[20])
• Ensuring no air bubbles formed between the cable end and the sensor port. (^[21])
• UWTechnics updated all their TTL converters in September 2020 specifically to increase optical power and pulse duration for MF-1 compatibility. (^[22])

Charging circuit failures

A persistent reliability issue affected the MF-1: the “flash recycle charging circuit error,” indicated by a rapidly flashing red LED. Multiple users reported this failure across the Wetpixel forums. (^[23])

• User davehicks experienced three circuit failures in three years, describing the MF-1 as having “a high failure rate.” (^[24])
• User tdphoto had a replacement unit fail after just two dives. (^[25])
• UK-based user grant m had two units fail (the first after approximately 20 dives, the replacement on the third dive). (^[26])
• User Butch Can from the Philippines advocated for a recall, noting the issue was “not rare enough to be chalked to an act of God.” (^[27])
• Backscatter acknowledged a design defect and implemented “updated circuitry” in later production units. After receiving a replacement with updated circuitry, davehicks reported stable operation. (^[28])

Battery life limitations

When using the focus light continuously (as required for snoot mode), battery life was limited to approximately 150 shots, necessitating spare batteries for multi-dive days. Users recommended 3400 mAh or better cells from Nitecore or Titanium brands. (^[29])

Community Discussion

Positioning and use cases

The community generally agreed on the MF-1’s strengths and limitations. Forum contributor ChrisRoss characterized its restrictions as “low power output and limited coverage angle,” which were acceptable for macro but problematic for wide-angle work. He noted that with compact cameras and their small sensors, the MF-1 could work “sort of OK for wide angle” since less stopping-down was needed for depth of field. (^[30])

Veteran contributor davehicks, one of the most prolific MF-1 users on the forums, summarized the system: “You would be hard pressed to do better than the Backscatter MF-1+Snoot package. It is by far the best and easiest snoot you can use in my experience.” He consistently recommended it over snoots attached to larger strobes like the Inon Z-330 (which suffered from off-center aiming lights) or the Retra LSD. (^[31])

However, experienced forum members like TimG and ChrisRoss frequently cautioned budget-conscious buyers against using the MF-1 as a sole strobe, arguing that more capable strobes like the Inon Z-330 offered better long-term value across camera system upgrades. (^[32])

Dual MF-1 setups

Some users ran dual MF-1 systems. User bvanant used two Mini Flashes exclusively for macro shooting in Southern California with an Olympus OM-D EM-1 II and Nauticam LED trigger. User Dann-Oh purchased two MF-1 units with snoots for use with an Olympus PEN E-PL10 and 60mm macro lens. (^[33])

Mixed-strobe rigs

A popular configuration was pairing one MF-1 (or MF-2) with a full-sized strobe like the Inon Z-330 — using the large strobe for main lighting and the Mini Flash with snoot for selective macro illumination. Davehicks regularly used this combination: “I often shoot even wide angle with an Inon 330 and MF2 + Snoot. Put the snoot on a bungie+boltsnap and pop it on and off as needed.” (^[34])

Customer service

Despite the reliability issues, Backscatter earned consistently high praise for customer service. Multiple users reported free replacements even outside warranty, with typical turnaround of about one week. Davehicks gave “Backscatter an A+ for service and responsiveness” after multiple warranty replacements. User Butch Can from the Philippines received a free MF-2 upgrade as a replacement for a defective MF-1. (^[35])

Successor: MF-2 Mini Flash

The Backscatter MF-2 Mini Flash was announced on November 3, 2022, priced at $399 (excluding battery), with delivery from mid-November 2022. (^[36])

Key improvements over the MF-1:

• Automatic optical TTL for Olympus cameras
• High-speed sync (HSS) support
• Wireless remote power control — a new feature enabling one MF-2 to control the power level of another MF-2 remotely via optical communication
• 1,000 lumen focus light (doubled from MF-1’s 500 lumens), critical for snoot aiming in bright conditions
• Faster recycle time
• Larger battery: 21700 cell (same as the Backscatter Macro Wide 4300 video light) replacing the 18650, for longer runtime
• Improved optical sensor sensitivity, resolving the triggering issues that plagued the MF-1 with certain cables and triggers
• Test mode and safety beacon
• Remote lighting muck stick accessory ($49) for off-camera flash on sandy substrates
• Compatible with existing OS-1 snoots

(^[37])

The MF-2 introduced some compatibility issues with older Nauticam flash triggers (pre-2021 manufacture date), which Backscatter and Nauticam resolved by providing updated triggers to affected users. (^[38])

Forum consensus favored the MF-2 over competing snoot solutions like the Marelux SOFT, with user Jcro22 noting: “The main feature that makes the MF2 superior is the guide light. It is 1000 lumens vs 180 lumens.” Reviewer Matt Sullivan reported owning three MF-2 units with snoots. (^[39])

Industry Significance

The MF-1 created a new market segment for compact, budget-friendly strobes optimized for macro photographers, particularly travel divers who found full-sized strobes (like the Inon Z-330 or Sea & Sea YS-D2) unnecessarily large for close-focus work. It democratized snoot photography by offering a $499 integrated strobe-and-snoot system that beginners could use successfully on their first dive, compared to the steeper learning curve of aftermarket snoots on traditional strobes.

The system’s success spawned competitors, notably the Marelux Smart Optical Flash Tube (SOFT), which offered iris-based aperture control but required an external strobe, was larger and heavier, and lacked the MF-1/MF-2’s integrated design and remote triggering capabilities. (^[40])

Timeline

• 2019-11-22: MF-1 Mini Flash and OS-1 Optical Snoot announced at DEMA 2019 in Orlando. Priced at $399 / $149 / $499 combo. (^[41])
• 2019-12: MF-1 and OS-1 begin shipping. (^[42])
• 2020-02-05: Mike Bartick review published on Wetpixel, first major field review. (^[43])
• 2020-Q1: Color filters for the MF-1 announced for first quarter 2020. (^[44])
• 2020-09: UWTechnics updates all TTL converters to improve MF-1 triggering. (^[45])
• 2021: Backscatter issues replacements with “updated circuitry” to address charging circuit failures. (^[46])
• 2021-10-18: Morten Bjorn Larsen review published on Wetpixel, cold-water European perspective. (^[47])
• 2022-11-03: MF-2 Mini Flash announced as successor, with TTL, HSS, wireless remote control, stronger focus light, and improved sensor. (^[48])

References