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The compact build of the AOI Q1 RC strobe allows for working in very close to subjects like this cleaning goby
 

Photography is all about light. Whether terrestrial or aquatic, lighting is everything. For underwater shooters, more important than the camera or the housing or the lens, are the strobes. Adding strobes to an underwater photography setup is an investment that will dramatically improve your imagery and reveal the underwater world’s vibrant and dynamic colors.

For the past year and a half, I have been using a pair of AOI Q1 RC strobes for my OM System OM-1 rig here on Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands. They have quickly become an essential tool for my photographic style. And despite their modest cost, they have surprised me with just how capable a flashgun they are.
 

The AOI Q1 RC strobe
 

Despite their small size, the Q1 RC strobes have plenty of power for lighting up big animals like this hawksbill turtle
 

Boasting an ultra-compact design, the Q1 RC strobe is made from polycarbonate and fiberglass with a built-in 1-inch ball mount. Available in either black or white, the strobe is rated to 200 feet (60 meters) and offers a guide number of 22. The beam angle is relatively narrow at 85°, but this increases to 110° with the optional dome diffusers. The recycle time is quite impressive at a mere 0.85 seconds at full power.

The Q1 RC has a relatively cool color temperature of 5600K, but it can be warmed up a bit to 5000K with diffusers. The strobe is powered by dual 18650 lithium-ion batteries and a fully charged set of batteries will yield about 1,500 flashes at full power. On a two-tank boat dive, I have never had to even think about batteries, and I’ve been able to go two or three days before worrying about charging.
 

The Q1 RC produces a nice, natural quality of light. The strobe light blends perfectly with the ambient light on this perfectly posed Caribbean reef squid
 

The Q1 RC makes it easy to bring out stunning details in closeup shots, as with these coral polyps
 

The Q1 RC strobe features three settings: RC mode, I-Macro mode, and Manual mode. My preferred setting is RC mode, which works beautifully with the OM System OM-1’s RC mode for perfectly exposed TTL images. The I-Macro mode mimics the RC mode but for macro shooting. In Manual mode, you get six output settings at the following intervals: 1/1,1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/24, and 1/64. By utilizing the manual setting, you have full creative control over lighting for any scene. There is also a built-in LED light with an output of 700 lumens for a runtime of 130 minutes at full power. I have found the LED light beneficial for night snorkeling, but it does blink out when the strobe fires so you are in darkness for a half second—that’s supposed to happen!
 

While it obviously cannot compete with more-powerful, true wide-angle flashguns, the Q1 RC is no slouch and is still capable of lighting up big reef scenes, even with the sun in the frame
 

The Q1 RC ships with a standard diffuser. It also comes with a rubber control knob that fits over the settings knob on the strobe, which makes changing settings a breeze underwater, even when using gloves. The strobe is extremely compact, which is a huge benefit for my shooting, as I spend a lot of time freediving, and lugging around big strobes would be a pain. I find the portability and ease of handling to be invaluable. The Q1 RC is remarkably straightforward to set up and operate, making it a perfect strobe for beginners, but it still has plenty to offer experienced photographers as well.

Despite the compact design of the strobes, I find them to be a fantastically versatile imaging tool. I have used them for everything from fill flash on sea turtles during bright sunny days, to close-focus wide-angle scenes of sponges or corals, to macro pictures of blennies. Not a single time have my Q1 RC’s missed a beat: They have consistently handled every situation I have thrown at them. I am in the water a lot—usually four or five days a week—and they have proven to be impressively durable and reliable, despite being a low-cost strobe.
 

Fish portraits are a breeze: The strobe offers diffusers as well so reflective subjects like the pale sections of this beautiful masked hamlet are handled easily
 

Lighting macro subjects is incredibly easy thanks to the nice quality of light and the small size of the strobes. When working in tight spaces where bigger strobes could be a problem, the Q1 RC has no issues

Final Thoughts

Of course, I am under no illusions that the Q1 RC is the best strobe for every situation. However, for the style of imagery I focus on in my local waters around Grand Cayman, they have been a very valuable asset. From making my images more colorful to bringing out more detail and increased sharpness, the humble Q1 RC is easily among my favorite pieces of gear. The value-to-performance ratio is truly hard to beat, and these small flashguns will have a special place in my gear bag for the forseeable future.
 

Beautiful colors and details on this huge yellow vase sponge clump are brought to life by the AOI Q1 RC strobes
 

To see more of Andrew’s work, please check him out on Instagram and visit his website, www.andrewmclachlan.ca.
 

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