Backscatter
Type: Retailer, manufacturer, education Founded: 1994 (Monterey, California, USA) Key products: Mini Flash, Optical Snoot; retail of all major UW photo brands
Overview
Backscatter was founded in 1994 by Berkley White on Cannery Row in Monterey, California. It grew to become the largest underwater imaging retailer in the world, with east and west coast locations. The company serves as the official warranty repair center for most major underwater photography brands.
Beyond retail, Backscatter produces original content (reviews, tutorials, video comparisons), hosts 100+ instructional events, classes, and photo safaris annually, and develops their own products including the Mini Flash and Optical Snoot.
Product timeline
- 1994: Founded by Berkley White on Cannery Row, Monterey
- 2002: Showed MacroMate lens at DEMA 2002; Sea & Sea and Nexus dealer ([1], [2])
- 2003: Sold Sea & Sea, Subal, Nexus products; introduced Athena glass dome ports at DEMA 2003 ([3], [4], [5])
- 2004: Digital Shootout Fiji 2004 sponsor; carried Hartenberger strobes, MacroMate diopters, TopDawg brand ([6], [7])
- 2005: Digital Shootout Bonaire 2005 sponsor; MacroMate diopter maker ([8])
- 2005-06: Neutral density (ND) underwater filter system in development ([9])
- 2012-10: Appointed as Olympus distributor — becomes official Olympus UW sales channel. ([10])
- 2014-04: MacroMate Mini diopter launched. ([11])
- 2013-03: Releases the AirLock vacuum integrity check system. ([12])
- 2011-11: Releases Wahoo HD monitor housing. ([13])
- 2013-08: Expands Flip filter family for GoPro and compact cameras. ([14])
- 2012-05: Announces filter solution for GoPro. ([15])
- 2018-07: Ships TG-5 wide angle conversion lens — proprietary optic for Olympus Tough series. ([16])
- 2019-03: Ships wide angle lens for Olympus TG series cameras. ([17])
- 2019-11: MF-1 Mini Flash ($399) and OS-1 Optical Snoot ($149) announced at DEMA 2019. Designed for macro shooters, powered by single Nitecore 18650 cell, integral focus light. Combo pack $499. Ships December. Created a new category of compact, affordable strobe/snoot systems. ([18])
- 2020-02: MF-1 Mini Flash and OS-1 reviewed by Mike Bartick. ([19])
- 2020-11: Macro Wide 4300 video light announced — 4300 lumens, 85° beam angle, macro mode with 1400-lumen spot, compatible with existing OS-1 snoot. Introductory $399. ([20])
- 2021-10: MF-1 Mini Flash and OS-1 reviewed by Morten Bjorn Larsen on Wetpixel. ([21])
- 2022-11: Mini Flash 2 (MF-2) announced — major upgrade with optical TTL (Olympus), high speed sync, wireless control, compatible with existing snoots. $399. Mid-November delivery. ([22])
References
- [23] — editorial
- [24] — editorial
- [25] — editorial
- [26] — editorial
- [27] — editorial
- [28] — editorial
- [29] — editorial
- [30] — editorial
Sources
- Wetpixel article, Apr 16, 2002: Seaspace 2002 Report Truly Unsinkable ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 22, 2002: Dema 2002 Report ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 2, 2003: Backscatterd Slr Article ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 8, 2003: Backscatter Sea Sea Dx 100 Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 7, 2003: Dema 2003 Show Coverage1 ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 7, 2004: Digital Shootout Fiji Webcast 2004 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 15, 2004: Dema Show 2004 Report ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 31, 2005: Bonaire Digital Shootout 2005 Daily Webcast ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 17, 2005: Backscatter Neutral Density Underwater Filter System ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 17, 2012: Backscatter Appointed As Olympus Distributor ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 3, 2014: Backscatter Launches Macromate Mini1 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 1, 2013: Backscatter Releases The Airlock ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 1, 2011: Backscatter Releases Wahoo Hd Monitor Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 17, 2013: Backscatter Expands Flip Filter Family ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 16, 2012: Backscatter Announces Filter Solution For Gopro ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 25, 2018: Backscatter Ships Tg5 Wide Angle Conversion Lens ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 20, 2019: Backscatter Ships Wide Angle Lens For Olympus Tg Series Cameras ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 22, 2019: Backscatter Announces Mf 1 Mini Flash And Os 1 Optical Snoot ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 5, 2020: Review Mike Bartick On The Backscatter Mini Flash And Optical Snoot ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 27, 2020: Backscatter Announces The Macro Wide 4300 Video Light ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 18, 2021: Review Backscatter Backscatter Mini Flash And Optical Snoot By Morten Bjorn ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 3, 2022: Backscatter Announces Mini Flash Version 2 ↩
- Backscatter at Seaspace 2002 (article) ↩
- DEMA 2002 report (article) ↩
- Backscatter Athena dome ports (article) ↩
- Backscatter ND filter system (article) ↩
- MF-1 and OS-1 announcement (article) ↩
- MF-1 review by Mike Bartick (article) ↩
- Macro Wide 4300 (article) ↩
- Mini Flash 2 (article) ↩