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The Atom Flash (AF-1) with Optical Snoot (OS-2) and the Mini Flash 3 weren’t the only new lighting products we saw at the Backscatter booth during DEMA 2025. The company also unveiled a new video light—the Octo 3500—primarily aimed at action camera and compact camera users. For shooters with bigger rigs, it could be used as a focus light or for creative lighting. Sporting Backscatter’s signature octopus tentacle motif, the new light delivers 3,500 lumens in a 100° beam via a COB LED array with a color rendering index (CRI) of 90 and a color temperature of 5000K. It’s powered by two 18650 batteries, giving a total runtime of 70 minutes—50 minutes at full brightness followed by 20 minutes gradually ramping down in power.

With users of cameras like the OM System TG-7 in mind, the Octo 3500 is ultra-compact and travel-friendly, while being a breeze to use with just a single button. Five presses powers it on (eliminating the chance of it accidentally switching on in your luggage) and subsequent taps cycle through the light’s three brightness levels and the standby mode. Hold the button and it powers off. There’s also an SOS mode that produces a bright, continuous light ping designed for emergency signalling or marking a location.

The Octo 3500 works with a couple of accessories initially designed for the Macro Wide 4300 (MW-4300) video light. Firstly, it’s compatible with the Backscatter Color Filter System, allowing creative users to produce colorful backlighting and sidelighting effects. Second, it’s compatible with Backscatter’s recently introduced video light excitation filter, giving shooters the opportunity to capture fluorescence effects when used in conjunction with suitable yellow “barrier” filters in front of the camera. Note that the Optical Snoot (OS-1), which is compatible with the MW-4300 light, cannot be used with the Octo 3500.

Shipping in December, the Backscatter Octo 3500 will retail for $350 but can be ordered now for a special introductory price of $300.
 

When purchasing underwater photography equipment like the products mentioned in this article, please support DPG by supporting our retail partner—Backscatter.com.