Ikelite DS-125

Manufacturer: Ikelite
Type: Strobe (SubStrobe)
Year introduced: 2001 (prototype), 2002 (production)
Power output: 125 watt-seconds
Recycle time: ~1 second (full power)
Battery: NiCad (original), upgraded to NiMH (2006)
Beam coverage: ~100° with diffuser ([1])
Manual power settings: TTL, Full, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8
Color temperature: ~4800°K ([2])
Weight: ~2.65 lb / 1.2 kg ([3])
Replaced by: Ikelite DS-160 (2008)

Overview

The Ikelite DS-125 was one of the defining strobes of the early digital underwater photography era and arguably Ikelite’s most important product of the 2000s decade. Designed specifically for digital cameras, which had different flash synchronization requirements and shooting cadences than film cameras, the DS-125 became the workhorse strobe that accompanied Ikelite’s rapid expansion into the digital housing market. Its combination of fast recycle time, reliable performance, affordable price point, and legendary Ikelite customer service made it the default strobe choice for a generation of underwater photographers transitioning from film to digital.

The strobe was first shown as a prototype at DEMA 2001 in New Orleans, described in the show gallery as the “Ikelite Digital Strobe 125 proto model” ([4]). It entered production in 2002 and remained Ikelite’s flagship strobe for six years until the DS-160 replaced it in 2008. Even after discontinuation, the DS-125 continued to see active use for years, and accessories including diffusers, snoots, and optical converters remained compatible with the strobe well into the 2010s and 2020s.

Design and Features

The DS-125 delivered 125 watt-seconds of power with a recycle time that James Wiseman described as “phenomenal” at Seaspace 2002: “Ike calls it ‘one second,’ well — that is the maximum recycle time. I’m sure this strobe will be ready to fire before your camera is finished writing to your memory card” ([5]). This fast recycle was critical for digital cameras, which could shoot far more rapidly than film cameras.

The strobe offered manual power settings at TTL, Full, 1/2, 1/4, and 1/8 power, controlled by a dial on the strobe head. It included built-in aiming lights, though forum users noted these were not strong enough for autofocus in murky water or night diving conditions, leading many to add supplemental LED focus lights ([6]).

The DS-125 used Ikelite’s proprietary strobe connector bulkhead, which was the same on both the strobe and camera housing ends. David Haas noted this was superior to the Nikonos V-style connectors used by other manufacturers, which he called “a definite Achilles heel over time” ([7]). Norbert Wu later confirmed this advantage in his multi-housing comparison, writing that “the Ikelite strobe bulkhead is far superior to the Nikonos TTL bulkheads on the other housings” ([8]).

A flat diffuser was included with the strobe, which most users kept on permanently for wide-angle work. Forum consensus was that the diffuser should remain on at all times except for night dives and dedicated macro shooting ([9]). With the diffuser installed, the DS-125 provided approximately 100 degrees of coverage, with light fall-off of less than one f-stop within the primary illumination zone ([10]).

Battery Pack Evolution

The DS-125 originally shipped with a NiCad battery pack. In July 2006, Ikelite upgraded the strobe to ship with a NiMH battery pack, which yielded an additional 100 full-power flashes per charge ([11]). The battery pack was a separate module from the strobe head, and forum users noted that “almost all of the electronics are in the battery pack and that is what fails,” leading some to carry a spare battery pack as “cheap insurance” at $125 ([12]).

Serial Number Revisions

The DS-125 underwent several internal revisions during its production run, tracked by serial number ranges. These revisions were significant because they determined compatibility with Ikelite’s evolving TTL conversion circuitry:

The strobe also remained compatible with the RC1 TTL receiver announced in 2018, which enabled fiber optic TTL triggering, but only for units with serial numbers above 5,000 ([16]).

TTL System Compatibility

One of the DS-125’s most significant features was its integration with Ikelite’s evolving TTL conversion circuitry, which enabled automatic flash metering with digital cameras at a time when most competitors required manual strobe control.

Canon E-TTL (2004)

In September 2004, Ikelite announced an E-TTL to TTL bridge that allowed the DS-125 and the smaller DS-50 to work with Canon’s E-TTL flash metering system, starting with the Canon 300D Digital Rebel housing ([17]). David Haas field-tested the system in the Galapagos Islands using a single DS-125, reporting that the TTL circuitry “works well” and allowed strobe power to be controlled from the housing back rather than reaching up to the strobe head. He noted the system provided E-TTL automatic exposure plus manual adjustment from full power down to 1/8 power in half-stop increments ([18]).

Canon E-TTL II (2005)

The eTTL2 converter extended compatibility to the Canon 20D. James Wiseman tested dual DS-125 strobes with the 20D eTTL2 system, finding that exposures were consistent within approximately half a stop across f-stops from f/2.8 to f/22. The TTL controller was built into the camera tray with flash compensation buttons. Use of the system required the newer sync cord with a blue band (rather than the older yellow-banded cord) for proper five-pin communication ([19]).

Nikon i-TTL (2005)

Ikelite developed i-TTL conversion circuitry for Nikon cameras including the D70, though this required upgraded DS-125 strobes (serial numbers above 2,500) and the blue-banded sync cord. Brett F. from Ikelite confirmed that the blue-banded cord was “necessary with newer iTTL, Olympus TTL, and eTTL housings due to the fact you need all 5 pins connected to allow proper communication between the camera and strobe(s)” ([20]).

Norbert Wu praised the i-TTL system extensively in his D200 housing comparison, noting it was “surprisingly useful” for low-light shooting at high ISO settings where manual strobes would overpower the exposure. He wrote: “With iTTL-enabled strobes, just the right amount of light comes from the strobes, making proper exposures in low light conditions much easier” ([21]).

Olympus TTL (2005)

Ikelite also developed TTL circuitry for Olympus cameras, with Ikelite staff posting on the Wetpixel forums in June 2005 that they were “working on E-300 TTL and getting very close” ([22]).

Pre-flash Interaction

A notable technical subtlety with the TTL system was its interaction with pre-flash behavior. When the housing’s conversion circuitry was set to TTL mode, the camera would command a pre-flash. If the strobe was simultaneously set to manual full power on its own dial, the pre-flash would trigger a full-power dump, and the strobe could not recycle in time for the main exposure flash. This caused severe underexposure at the full-power setting, while lower power settings (1/2, 1/4, 1/8) allowed fast enough recovery. The solution was to either use the strobe in TTL mode (controlled from the housing) or switch the housing’s conversion circuitry to manual mode before using the strobe’s dial ([23]).

Manual Strobe Controller

At DEMA 2002, Ikelite introduced a manual strobe power controller alongside the DS-125, which allowed remote manual strobe power adjustment with more power levels than the on-strobe controls provided, plus slave triggering capability. This was part of Ikelite’s broader innovation in strobe control during the digital transition ([24]).

Accessories

Diffusers

Ikelite shipped a standard flat diffuser with the DS-125. In 2015, Ikelite released dome diffusers compatible with the DS-125, DS-160, and DS-161. These increased and softened the beam spread while maintaining the strobe’s ~4800°K color temperature, with “high transmissivity which allows the strobes’ full output through” ([25]). Third-party dome diffusers were also available from CM Diffusers, made by photographer Clark Miller, in 60% opacity (wide-angle) and 40% opacity (macro) versions ([26]).

Optical Slave Converter

In 2014, Ikelite released an Optical Slave Converter compatible with the DS-125 (as well as DS-50, DS-160, and DS-161 strobes). The converter attached to the strobe’s electrical bulkhead in place of a sync cord and provided approximately 90 degrees field of view for remote triggering. It automatically configured itself for compatibility with both pre-flash and non-pre-flash camera modes, and could also accept a fiber optic cable for optical triggering. The converter supported manual exposure modes only (not TTL) and was priced at $125 ([27]).

Snoots

ReefNet planned to release a fiber optic snoot compatible with the DS-125/160/161 in 2010, featuring 150 x 0.75mm fibers per arm with a strobe adapter to prevent stray light ([28]). The Seahorn snoot system, launched the same year, was also compatible with the DS-125 ([29]).

Notable Users

The DS-125 appeared extensively across the Wetpixel archive, used by a wide range of photographers from beginners to professionals:

Competitive Landscape

The DS-125 competed primarily with the Sea & Sea YS-90DX and later the YS-110 in the mid-range digital strobe market. When the Seacam Seaflash 150 was announced in 2007, comparison photos were taken alongside the DS-125, showing the two strobes at approximately the same weight (~2.65 lb / 1.2 kg). However, the Seaflash 150 was priced at approximately three times the cost of the DS-125, prompting forum commenter “steph” to note: “1800 euros, it’s really really expensive: 3x times the price of the DS125” ([38]).

In James Wiseman’s 2002 beginner’s guide, the DS-125 was recommended alongside the Sea & Sea YS-90DX as one of “two popular strobes” for digital underwater photography, priced at approximately $450 at the time ([39]).

Replacement by the DS-160

In June 2008, Eric Cheng reported that Ikelite had “informally announced” the DS-160, which replaced the DS-125 in their product line. The DS-160 offered significant improvements: 160 watt-seconds of power (vs. 125), a built-in 5-watt LED modeling light, TTL plus 10 manual power levels (vs. 4), 1.5-second recycle time, and 225 full-power flashes per charge. Critically, it used the same battery pack, charger, sync connection, and mounting system as the DS-125. However, Ikelite stated explicitly that “it is NOT possible to upgrade an existing SubStrobe DS-125 to SubStrobe DS-160 specifications” ([40]).

At DEMA 2008, Eric Cheng saw the DS-160 in person for the first time, noting it looked “nearly identical to the venerable DS-125 strobe.” Alex Mustard commented that the DS-160 was “a worthwhile upgrade for many DS-125 users, given how batteries etc are interchangeable” ([41]).

The DS-125 continued to be available while supplies lasted after the DS-160 announcement. The subsequent DS-161 (announced November 2009) added 500-lumen LED continuous lighting for video work, but Ikelite specifically noted it would “offer an upgrade for existing DS-160 owners, but not for DS-125 owners” ([42]).

Community Discussion

The DS-125 generated extensive discussion on the Wetpixel forums, with threads covering strobe positioning, diffuser use, troubleshooting, and comparisons.

Reliability

Community experiences with DS-125 reliability were mixed but generally positive. One user reported owning three DS-125 strobes and two DS-50 strobes that had “all been working great for the last 3-1/2 years” after initial issues in 2002. Another had approximately 300 dives on one unit and 150 on another with “no serious problems.” However, some users reported occasional failures, with one noting “that’s why I own 3, so I will always have one that works” — though he added that “price, power and performance combined is unbeatable” and would “not consider switching” ([43]). Ikelite’s customer service for strobe repairs was consistently praised as “one of the best in the industry” ([44], [45]).

Strobe Positioning

Forum discussions provided practical guidance on DS-125 positioning for wide-angle photography. User “bobf” provided detailed coverage measurements, demonstrating that with the diffuser installed and strobe arms approximately 20 inches from the port, a pair of DS-125 strobes could evenly illuminate an area approximately six feet across ([46]). Eric Cheng advised users to position strobes higher when shooting near sand bottoms to avoid overexposure of areas close to the strobe ([47]).

Legacy

The DS-125 represented a pivotal moment in the transition from film to digital underwater photography. As Ike Brigham’s company embraced digital technology earlier and more aggressively than most competitors, the DS-125 became the strobe that proved digital underwater photography was ready for serious use. Its fast recycle time matched the rapid-fire capabilities of digital cameras, while its TTL compatibility with an ever-expanding range of camera systems (Canon E-TTL, E-TTL II, Nikon i-TTL, Olympus TTL) kept it relevant across multiple camera generations.

The DS-125’s design DNA continued through the DS-160, DS-161, and later DS-200, all of which maintained backward compatibility with the DS-125’s battery pack and mounting system — a testament to the original design’s soundness.

Timeline

References

Sources

  1. forum (forum) ↩
  2. Wetpixel article, May 20, 2015: Ikelite Ships Dome Diffusers ↩
  3. Wetpixel article, Nov 6, 2007: Seacam Seaflash 150 Strobe ↩
  4. Wetpixel article, Jan 14, 2001: Dema 2001 Gallery ↩
  5. Wetpixel article, Apr 16, 2002: Seaspace 2002 Report Truly Unsinkable ↩
  6. Forum thread: Ds 125 Diffuser ↩
  7. Wetpixel article, Sep 25, 2003: Ikelite D100 Housing ↩
  8. Wetpixel article, Sep 30, 2007: Norbert Wu Reviews Nikon D200 Housings ↩
  9. Forum thread: Ds 125 Diffuser ↩
  10. Forum thread: Ds 125s Are Here ↩
  11. Wetpixel article, Jul 18, 2006: Improvements On Ikelite Strobes ↩
  12. Forum thread: Ds 125 Strobe Failure ↩
  13. Forum thread: D70 Ittl Housing Problems With Ds 125 ↩
  14. Forum thread: D70 Ittl Housing Problems With Ds 125 ↩
  15. Forum thread: D70 Ittl Housing Problems With Ds 125 ↩
  16. Wetpixel article, Jul 30, 2018: Ikelite Announces Rc1 Ttl Receiver ↩
  17. Wetpixel article, Sep 6, 2004: Ikelite Does Canon Ettl ↩
  18. Wetpixel article, Nov 13, 2004: Ikelite 300d Housing With Ettl Converter ↩
  19. Wetpixel article, Feb 13, 2005: Ikelite 20d Housing With Ettl2 Converter Conversion Circuitry Enables Ettl2 ↩
  20. Forum thread: Upgrade Ikelite Ds 125s ↩
  21. Wetpixel article, Sep 30, 2007: Norbert Wu Reviews Nikon D200 Housings ↩
  22. Forum thread: Upgrade Ikelite Ds 125s ↩
  23. Forum thread: Weird Problem With A Ike 125 Anyone Has A Clue ↩
  24. Wetpixel article, Jul 22, 2002: Dema 2002 Report ↩
  25. Wetpixel article, May 20, 2015: Ikelite Ships Dome Diffusers ↩
  26. Wetpixel article, Apr 27, 2014: Review Cm Custom Strobe Diffusers ↩
  27. Wetpixel article, Aug 11, 2014: Ikelite Offers Optical Slave Converter ↩
  28. Wetpixel article, Nov 1, 2010: Reefnet Plans To Release Fiber Optic Snoot ↩
  29. Wetpixel article, Jun 8, 2010: Seahorn Snoots Launched ↩
  30. Wetpixel article, Jul 7, 2005: Confessions Of A Nikon Traitor ↩
  31. Wetpixel article, Mar 26, 2007: Judas Returns Nikon To Canon And Back Again ↩
  32. Wetpixel article, Sep 30, 2007: Norbert Wu Reviews Nikon D200 Housings ↩
  33. Wetpixel article, Nov 13, 2004: Ikelite 300d Housing With Ettl Converter ↩
  34. Wetpixel article, Feb 13, 2005: Ikelite 20d Housing With Ettl2 Converter Conversion Circuitry Enables Ettl2 ↩
  35. Wetpixel article, Sep 5, 2005: James Wisemans Buoyancy Collar Review ↩
  36. Wetpixel article, Jun 15, 2004: Ikelite Sd10 Housing ↩
  37. Wetpixel article, Dec 28, 2006: Ike Brigham Founder Of Ikelite Passes Away ↩
  38. Wetpixel article, Nov 6, 2007: Seacam Seaflash 150 Strobe ↩
  39. Wetpixel article, Oct 31, 2002: How To Get Started In Underwater Digital Photography ↩
  40. Wetpixel article, Jun 28, 2008: Ikelite Substrobe Ds 160 Announced ↩
  41. Wetpixel article, Oct 25, 2008: Dema 2008 Ikelite ↩
  42. Wetpixel article, Nov 5, 2009: Ikelite Ds161 Movie Substrobe Announced ↩
  43. Forum thread: Ds 125 Strobe Failure ↩
  44. Forum thread: Ds 125 Strobe Failure ↩
  45. Forum thread: D70 Ittl Housing Problems With Ds 125 ↩
  46. Forum thread: Ds 125s Are Here ↩
  47. Forum thread: Ds 125s Are Here ↩
  48. Wetpixel article, Jan 14, 2001: Dema 2001 Gallery ↩
  49. Wetpixel article, Apr 16, 2002: Seaspace 2002 Report Truly Unsinkable ↩
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  51. Wetpixel article, Oct 31, 2002: How To Get Started In Underwater Digital Photography ↩
  52. Wetpixel article, Oct 7, 2003: Dema 2003 Show Coverage1 ↩
  53. Wetpixel article, Sep 6, 2004: Ikelite Does Canon Ettl ↩
  54. Wetpixel article, Nov 13, 2004: Ikelite 300d Housing With Ettl Converter ↩
  55. Wetpixel article, Feb 13, 2005: Ikelite 20d Housing With Ettl2 Converter Conversion Circuitry Enables Ettl2 ↩
  56. Forum thread: Upgrade Ikelite Ds 125s ↩
  57. Wetpixel article, Jul 18, 2006: Improvements On Ikelite Strobes ↩
  58. Wetpixel article, Nov 6, 2007: Seacam Seaflash 150 Strobe ↩
  59. Wetpixel article, Jun 28, 2008: Ikelite Substrobe Ds 160 Announced ↩
  60. Wetpixel article, Oct 25, 2008: Dema 2008 Ikelite ↩
  61. Wetpixel article, Nov 5, 2009: Ikelite Ds161 Movie Substrobe Announced ↩
  62. Wetpixel article, Nov 1, 2010: Reefnet Plans To Release Fiber Optic Snoot ↩
  63. Wetpixel article, Apr 27, 2014: Review Cm Custom Strobe Diffusers ↩
  64. Wetpixel article, Aug 11, 2014: Ikelite Offers Optical Slave Converter ↩
  65. Wetpixel article, May 20, 2015: Ikelite Ships Dome Diffusers ↩
  66. Wetpixel article, Jul 30, 2018: Ikelite Announces Rc1 Ttl Receiver ↩
  67. DEMA 2001 Gallery (article) ↩
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  73. Ikelite Does Canon eTTL (article) ↩
  74. Ikelite SD10 Housing (article) ↩
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  76. David Haas Reviews Ikelite 300D with eTTL (article) ↩
  77. Ikelite 20D with eTTL2 (article) ↩
  78. Canon 10-22 and Ikelite 8” Dome (article) ↩
  79. Confessions of a Nikon Traitor (article) ↩
  80. James Wiseman’s Buoyancy Collar Review (article) ↩
  81. Sea and Sea YS-110 Strobe (article) ↩
  82. When To Jump (article) ↩
  83. Improvements on Ikelite Strobes (article) ↩
  84. Ike Brigham Passes Away (article) ↩
  85. Judas Returns (article) ↩
  86. Seacam Seaflash 150 (article) ↩
  87. Norbert Wu Reviews D200 Housings (article) ↩
  88. Ikelite DS-160 Announced (article) ↩
  89. DEMA 2008: Ikelite (article) ↩
  90. Ikelite DS-161 Announced (article) ↩
  91. ReefNet Fiber Optic Snoot (article) ↩
  92. CM Custom Strobe Diffusers Review (article) ↩
  93. Ikelite Optical Slave Converter (article) ↩
  94. Ikelite Dome Diffusers (article) ↩
  95. Retra Strobe Preview (article) ↩
  96. Ikelite RC1 TTL Receiver (article) ↩
  97. Upgrade DS-125s? (forum) (forum) ↩
  98. DS-125 Strobe Failure (forum) (forum) ↩
  99. DS-125 + Diffuser (forum) (forum) ↩
  100. DS-125s Are Here (forum) (forum) ↩
  101. Weird Problem with Ike 125 (forum) (forum) ↩
  102. D70 iTTL Problems with DS-125 (forum) (forum) ↩
  103. Olympus 4040/DS-125 Shots (forum) (forum) ↩