Bluewater Photo announces the Release of the New Ikelite Ecko Fiber and Ecko DS Underwater Strobes

Bluewater Photo has announced the Ecko Fiber and DS Underwater Strobes, recently released by Ikelite, designed as a direct replacement for the Ikelite DS51 II underwater strobe, a long time popular strobe for close focus and macro photography. This strobe provides a reliable, compact lighting solution suitable for a variety of underwater environments. The Ikelite Ecko strobe offers several improvements over the DS51 II, with an upgraded power output and more efficient energy consumption. It features a durable construction and is fully compatible with Ikelite underwater systems, allowing seamless integration with all Ikelite underwater housing options.

As part of the Ikelite strobes lineup, the Ecko strobe provides balanced lighting, essential for capturing vibrant, high-quality images underwater. The Ecko DS delivers 50 watt-seconds of flash power, providing a 120° beam angle without the diffuser. Its color temperature is 5000K, daylight-balanced, suitable for both macro and wide-angle photography. The strobe features a hard-click power dial with settings for RC, full, and -0.5 to -2.5 manual exposure compensation. The recycle time ranges from 0 to 2.5 seconds, depending on power settings. For triggering, the Ecko DS utilizes an Ikelite electrical bulkhead, compatible with sync cords or optical converters. The Ecko DS is compatible with our full line of TTL accessories including DS Link TTL Converters for every major camera manufacturer and the popular RC1 TTL Receiver for OM System / Olympus / Panasonic. It is depth-rated to 100 meters (330 feet) and weighs 391 grams. The strobe operates on AA batteries, offering convenience and ease of replacement during travel.

The Ikelite Ecko Fiber Underwater Strobe, also a 50 Ws flash unit, integrates with underwater camera setups that include a fiber-optic connection between the camera’s flash and the strobe’s sensor. It does not provide TTL or manual output control from the housing but is designed to respond to the light signal from the camera's built-in flash. The Strobe works seamlessly with ikelite underwater housings, offering fiber‑optic TTL when paired with Ikelite’s TT5 transmitter or equivalent OM/Panasonic setups (see the Ecko Fiber page for more details).

For more details on compatibility or to purchase either the Ikelite Ecko Fiber Strobe or the Ikelite Ecko DS Strobe, visit BluewaterPhoto Store for $495. If you require any assistance or further advice, please do not hesitate to contact their sales team at sales@bluewaterphotostore.com.