Streamlined gear is important to the traveling underwater photographer. Having one strobe that does it all - from macro to wide angle - with minimal maintenance is the holy grail. The RC165 combines a high energy flash with integrated fiber optic TTL exposure in a compact and durable form factor.
Integrated TTL
There's so much fanfare about TTL in strobes today that you would think it was just invented. Our in-house engineering team pioneered digital TTL with underwater strobes over 20 years ago. To this day, no other manufacturer comes close to matching the scope or reliability of our TTL support.
TTL communication between the camera and strobe allows the camera to adjust your strobe intensity automatically based on the amount of light needed in the scene. The best TTL systems are highly accurate in both macro and wide angle settings. TTL is not just a creature comfort (though it is incredibly convenient), it's also a necessity when shooting in fast-paced situations where your subject is moving in relation to the camera. TTL gives you a better chance of getting THE SHOT when photographing turtles, sharks, sea lions, and other larger sea life.
Our trusted TTL conversion algorithms are tailored to each camera manufacturer's flash protocol for highly accurate and dependable flash exposure in any situation.
Shooting TTL strobes is possible while using your camera's Manual exposure mode to select your ISO, shutter speed, and aperture. Exposure can be adjusted up or down using the camera's flash menu settings. This makes it the ideal combination for underwater photography, where our lighting requirements are different from the average surface shoot.
Low Power Threshold
There are many situations underwater - particularly in macro photography - where the lowest manual power setting on a strobe is still too much. TTL completely eliminates this issue. When used in TTL mode, the RS165 strobe is capable of firing at durations of mere fractions of a millisecond with effectively zero recycle time.
The RC165 supports TTL operation with compatible OM System, Olympus, and Panasonic cameras when firing the built-in flash in "RC" mode, and with compatible Canon cameras when using the TT5 Canon TTL Transmitter. Fiber optic TTL versions of our famous Sony and Nikon TTL protocols are coming soon and will be fully compatible with the RC165.
Perfectly Diffused Power
Many strobes rely on the addition of diffusers and filters to produce a useable beam pattern. These modifiers cut down on your strobe's light output and can be expensive and easy to lose.
Our 165-series strobes are designed to provide perfectly diffused, daylight balanced light right out of the box. Everything from the shape of the circular flashtube to the color of the reflector has been customized for the perfect light to bring out the best in models, reefs, and sea life. An ultra-wide 120º angle of coverage can cover a wide angle lens with either single or dual strobes.
RC165 strobes plus a compact mirrorless camera combine for a system that's more powerful than the DSLR cameras of yesteryear at a fraction of the size and weight.
Compared to cooler color temperature strobes, the RC165 strobe's 5000K color temperature produces brighter reds, oranges and pinks, deeper blues, and more natural skin tones.
The most published underwater photographers in the world have come to rely on our DS-series strobes for their warm tone and exceptionally smooth beam pattern. Its size and beam pattern is equally well suited for wide angle or macro photography and it can be used effectively in single or dual configurations.
The Ease of Fiber Optics
Fiber optic cords are not more reliable than electrical cords, but they may be more convenient. Fiber optic cords are extremely lightweight and easy to travel with. They can be removed and replaced with no sealing involved - meaning you can detach your strobes in a second on the boat between dives... even underwater.
The integrated fiber optic TTL receiver is flush to the strobe body and isolated from the strobe control dials, so cords won't get in your way when you go in to get the shot.
You don't have to worry about a single or dual version of a fiber optic cord- each strobe gets its own slim cable, making it easy to travel with spares. Choose our multi-core Fiber Optic Cable to provide reliable triggering with fewer missed shots and a secure fit in the strobe's built-in fiber optic port. The RC165 also excepts most high-quality universal type press-fit connectors.
The fiber optic port on the RC165 is flush to the strobe body and positioned far away from the strobe knobs to reduce interference with operating the strobe.
High Speed Burst Shooting
We introduced lightning fast recycle times to the world with our DS125 and our strobes consistently perform best-in-class for high speed shooting. When firing in TTL and at lower power settings, the RC165 is capable of recycling virtually instantaneously.
High speed burst shooting requires a tremendous power drain that that strobes performing on AA batteries - and even most rechargeable strobes - cannot survive. We’ve engineered a robust flash circuit and a custom battery pack specifically for high intensity strobe discharge.
The RC165 combine with the OM System TG-7 and FCON-T02 Fisheye Lens for the ultimate compact wide angle system.
Modeling Light
The RC165 features a bright LED modeling light for focus assist. The modeling light automatically turns off when you take a photo to avoid hotspots. The LED modeling light has minimal power drain, making it useable as a navigation light when night diving.
Waterproof Integrity
The front of the RC165 is completely factory sealed and independently waterproofed from the battery pack. Gold plated contacts are highly conductive and impervious to corrosion in the event of accidental water intrusion.
Our unique toggle lock mechanism is the fastest and most confident way to install a strobe battery, meaning less time managing gear in between dives. The RC165 is capable of delivering over a thousand flashes per charge depending on power setting, and the average shooter rarely need to change batteries during a day of diving.
Travel-Safe Battery Pack
Lithium batteries are increasingly becoming a challenge to travel with even as they become ubiquitous in electronic devices. They've been confiscated at airport security checkpoints and blamed for deadly fires. Traveling with lithium batteries requires special precautions including limits to where you can pack them, how you can pack them, and how many you can bring.
The RC165 runs on a high-quality nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery pack. They are safer and more environmentally friendly than lithium alternatives. Since they don't need built-in thermal cutoff protections, they tend to outlast their lithium counterparts and we've seen customers continue to use our NiMH strobe batteries for 10+ years.
The RC165 is constructed out of lightweight materials with a rechargeable battery pack that is more travel- and environment- friendly than lithium alternatives.
Unlike AA batteries, the rechargeable NiMH battery park produces constant voltage over the charge cycle, meaning your recycle time and performance on the last shot of the day will be just as good as the first.
A battery test position shows remaining battery life using a series of LEDs on the side of the strobe.
Mode & Power Knobs
The mode and power knobs are conveniently located on the side of the strobe. Hard click detents let you feel when you switch between power settings and the knob’s unique shape lets you know where it’s pointed without looking. The large knobs are easy to grip with a glove and feature a sliding lock to prevent the strobe from accidentally turning on when not in use.
The DS-series signature, un-cluttered interface features power and exposure dials that are easy to turn even with thick gloves... Or just set-it-and-forget-it with TTL exposure.
LED Indicators
When the strobe is turned on, the center LED acts as a ready light indicating that the strobe is capable of firing a full power flash. The strobe can still be triggered at a lower power before the ready light comes on.
Build Quality
The materials are chosen to be the lightest possible without sacrificing durability. Like all of our strobes and housings, the RC165 was designed ground up by our team of in-house engineers and is manufactured at our single factory location in Indianapolis, USA.
Our staff is here to support you with everything from sales and service to phone support and photo advice. We're divers and underwater photographers, and we know what it means to travel across the world for once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunities. In fact, we've been doing it for over 60 years.
Comparison to Legacy Strobes
This next generation of 165-series strobes is an improved upon and refined version of our famous DS160 II.
The new model provides a significantly wider 120º angle of coverage - without the need of a diffuser. A sleek, redesigned front makes the RC165 even smaller than the DS160 II, while maintaining compatibility with legacy battery packs. The fiber optic port is built seamlessly into the strobe body, reducing the number of seals you need to worry about and eliminating the need for an add-on fiber optic converter.
The RC165 is three times the power of our DS51 II strobe with nearly twice the angle of coverage.
The full line-up of professional strobe options (left-to-right): DS232 strobe with video light for hybrid shooters, the high powered DS230 strobe, and the RC165 fiber optic TTL strobe.
Included Accessories
Ikelite products are made in the USA by a team of divers and photographers. Our strobes are depth rated to 100 meters (330 feet), and warranted for 2 years. The RC165 ships with a smart charger, protective battery pack cover, and universal 1" ball mount attachment. An optional dome diffuser is available for purchase separately.
The RC165 Strobe is an investment that will continue to grow throughout your underwater photography career.
If you have any questions about the RC165 or just want to share the latest photo you snapped underwater our inbox is always open, send us an email today!
Alternative Options
The DS165 Strobe has all the same features as the RC165, except the fiber optic port is replaced with an electrical bulkhead for increased flexibility in triggering options and compatibility with legacy systems.
The DS230 Strobe is 33% brighter with the same form factor for serious wide angle shooters and photographers who need maximum light output.
The DS232 Strobe is 33% and includes a built-in 2500 lumen video light for hybrid shooters.
Additional Viewing
Why You Need Strobes Underwater
DS230 Strobe Features // The Perfect Wide Angle Strobe? [VIDEO]
DS232 Strobe Features // The ULTIMATE Strobe with Video Light All-In-One [VIDEO]
Manual Camera Exposure VS Manual Strobe Exposure for Underwater Photography [VIDEO]
