UW Technics Optima Underwater Strobe & Video Light

UW Technics Optima Underwater Strobe & Video Light

**More Details Supplied when Released by Manufacturer

The UW Technics Optima Underwater Strobe & Video Light is a comprehensive solution for underwater photographers and videographers seeking a highly reliable, high-performance lighting system. Precision-engineered and packed with advanced functionality, this hybrid lighting unit combines a powerful underwater strobe and an intense underwater video light in one durable, compact body. Designed for compatibility with UW Technics TTL converters, it delivers exceptional TTL and HSS performance, making it a favored tool among enthusiasts and professionals looking for the best underwater strobes and underwater video lights available.

This hybrid unit is a culmination of cutting-edge features tailored for both photography and videography in challenging underwater conditions. The integration of TTL and HSS exposure technologies means the strobe achieves seamless synchronization with camera systems—delivering fine exposure accuracy and high-speed sync capabilities with no visible banding, even at shutter speeds up to 1/8000s. These precision control features are accessed directly via the camera menu when used in combination with the UW Technics TTL converter, offering a streamlined and intelligent lighting workflow.

The Optima's light output is equally impressive. The strobe section delivers a powerful 150Ws flash with a natural daylight-balanced color temperature of 5500K. Thanks to its circular-shaped flash tube and spherical dome, the strobe offers uniform light distribution across the frame, reducing hotspots and shadows—ideal for wide-angle shots, macro subjects, and complex lighting scenes. The extremely fast strobe recycling time of 0.8 seconds ensures minimal downtime between flashes, making it ideal for fast-paced shooting environments.

For video applications, the integrated 18,000-lumen underwater video light offers a broad, high-CRI (92) beam at a balanced 5000K color temperature. This enables natural color rendering with excellent contrast, even at depth. Whether shooting in murky waters or capturing cinematic close-ups, the video light's continuous output ensures visibility and detail preservation across all shooting scenarios.

Beyond performance, durability is key. The Optima features a hard-anodized aluminum alloy body, making it corrosion-resistant and suitable for deep-sea exploration. Battery life and efficiency are optimized with a custom pack of four 18650 cells, integrated with intelligent cell balancing and protection electronics for safe and stable operation. The design also allows for rapid swapping and charging during long dive sessions.

Its modularity further extends its versatility. With a bayonet front mount, users can attach a variety of optional accessories such as snoots, reflectors, diffusers, and color filters—each designed to fine-tune the beam shape and color for specific shooting needs. External reflectors with adjustable beam width will also be made available, offering even greater customization for unique photographic styles.

For those who rely on continuous shooting modes, the Optima 18000 supports shooting up to 120 fps when paired with the UW Technics TTL converter, making it an excellent companion for action shots and wildlife documentation.

Combining robust build quality, fine control options, and high output, the Optima 10000 is a standout among underwater strobes and video lights—delivering the reliability, flexibility, and precision required for capturing vivid underwater imagery.

Key Features and Benefits of the UW Technics Optima Underwater Strobe & Video Light 

• < Best TTL accuracy. TTL control inside the strobe was created by experienced TTL manufacturer, supported by Underwater Technics TTL-Converters. 
• Best HSS quality. It allows shooting at shutter speeds up to 1/8000s and faster without banding on the image, – provided by the new methods of HSS control.
• Circular shape flash tube provides a very uniform lighting on the whole area of the shot, especially in combination with the spherical dome.
• Spherical dome is made of ultra-high temperature optical plastic. It has an anti-reflective coating of inner surface, just like the best optical dome ports.
• Extremely fast strobe recycling – 0.8 sec (after full flash dump).
• Flash light beam angle underwater – 140 degrees.
• Flash modes switching by the strobe knob: “TTL”, “HSS”, “M’.
• Intellectual flash control by camera menu via UWTechnics TTL-Converter, including “Flash Exposure Compensation (+/-)”, “Front/Rear curtain sync”, “Slow sync”, “TTL”, “HSS sync”, “M” (also available M flash power adjustment via camera scale / controls).
• Continuous (“serial”) shooting (under UWTechnics TTL-Converter control).
• “Multi-Flash” shooting at slow-speed synchronization (under UWTechnics TTL-Converter control.)
• Body and all parts are made of hard-anodized aluminum alloy,
• Flash power 150 Ws, Color Temperature 5500K,
• Pilot / focusing light 600 lumen with Auto-Off function during the flash. It also can be used as a comfortable torch for the night dive.
• Professional Video-light 18000 lumen, true colors CRI 92, Color Temperature 5000K.
• Video-light working time (at 18000 lumen): 45 minutes with large battery (8 cell), 18 minutes with small battery (4-cell).
• Logarithmic scale of video-light flux adjustment, which has advantages for professional video and human eye perception.
• Video-light adjustment range: 0….18000 lumen (8 steps).
• Video-light beam angle underwater – 140 degrees.
• Battery construction: 4 x 18650 cells (small battery), 8 x 18650 cells (large battery), including cell Balancing and Protection electronics.
• Battery level indicator on the strobe body.
• Protection Valve on the strobe body, – for safe Li-ion battery usage.
• Strobe weight (including standard battery) in air – 1.2 kg
• Strobe weight (including standard battery) in fresh water – 0.2 kg.
• Bayonet front mount, – for snoot, color filters, reflectors and other external accessories.
• Optional External Reflector (with bayonet mount) provides more narrow beam angle,- for different shooting tasks.
• Optical Snoot, External Reflector and Color Filters exist in the production plan in 2025.
• Branded case for the strobe and accessories, – for comfortable traveling and storage.
• Certification CE and FCC.

Detailed Feature Breakdown of the UW Technics Optima Underwater Strobe & Video Light

1. High-Performance TTL & HSS Capabilities

The integration with UW Technics TTL converters ensures precise TTL exposure, allowing photographers to achieve consistent results without manual adjustments. The strobe also supports high-speed sync (HSS) up to 1/8000s, eliminating banding and ensuring sharp, evenly lit images even when using fast shutter speeds.

2. Uniform Light Distribution

A circular flash tube paired with a spherical dome ensures smooth, even lighting across the entire image area. This design reduces edge fall-off and hotspots, making it particularly effective for wide-angle and close-focus wide-angle shots.

3. Powerful Video Lighting

The 18,000-lumen underwater video light delivers strong, wide-angle illumination with a color temperature of 5000K and a high CRI of 92, allowing for accurate color reproduction and detailed footage in low-light underwater environments.

4. Rapid Strobe Recycling

With a recycling time of just 0.8 seconds at full power, the strobe is optimized for rapid-fire shooting scenarios, enabling you to capture more frames in action-rich scenes.

5. Continuous Shooting Capability

Using the UW Technics TTL converter, users can engage in high-speed shooting up to 120 frames per second—perfect for capturing fast-moving marine life or high-speed underwater sequences.

6. Smart Pilot Light

A built-in 600-lumen pilot light aids in composition and focus in dark environments. It automatically switches off when the main strobe fires, conserving energy and preventing overexposure in close-range subjects.

7. Robust Build Quality

Constructed from hard-anodized aluminum, the Optima 18000 is corrosion-resistant, impact-resistant, and built for long-term durability, even in extreme conditions.

8. Efficient Power System

Powered by a removable battery pack consisting of four 18650 lithium cells, the strobe includes integrated protection circuitry and cell balancing features for safe and reliable use on multiple dives.

9. Modular Accessory Support

The front of the unit features a bayonet mount for accessories. Upcoming options include snoots for focused beams, color filters for creative lighting, and diffusers for soft light—all compatible with the Optima 18000’s modular front design.

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