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A pair of Ikelite Ecko Fiber strobes provides plenty of power to light up a large sea fan, even against the bright Caribbean sun (f/8, 1/250s, ISO 100)
 

This past October, I snuck off with some dive buddies to Roatán, Honduras for some lazy Caribbean diving. Over a week at an “old Caribbean” locale, I was lucky enough to try Ikelite’s newest underwater strobe, the Ecko Fiber. Over my years of shooting, important considerations for me with regards to strobes include power-to-size ratio, ease of use, and of course, overall performance. This has held true for me whether shooting a compact system, a DSLR, or a mirrorless camera. I confess that I am not much of a macro shooter these days, but if a guide shows me a cool creature four inches or larger, I’ll certainly try and capture a photo of it!

My camera of choice for this visit to Roatán was a Canon EOS R100 in an Ikelite 200DLM/D underwater housing with a six-inch dome port (which is available from Ikelite in a handy kit). The dome conveniently accommodates both of my Canon lenses: the RF-S 10–18mm and RF-S 18–45mm. Both focus close to the dome—and focus extremely fast. Both are also very lightweight, perfect for travel.
 

Great TTL exposure is a breeze with the Ecko Fiber, even when your subject is resting on a sandy bottom (f/8, 1/60s, ISO 200)
 

The Ecko Fiber offers ample light to bring out all the colors and details on this sleeping redtail parrotfish (f/8, 1/125s, ISO 200)

Powerful, Easy to Use, and Travel-Friendly

My first impression of the Ecko Fiber strobes was just how very small they are. They are rated at 50 watt-seconds, which is more than enough power for medium fish shots and close-focus wide angle, and they are, of course, also well suited for macro photography. The Ecko Fiber’s beam angle without the included dome diffuser is around 120 degrees, providing sufficient coverage for my 10–18mm lens at its widest. At 10mm, the Canon R100’s APS-C sensor captures a field of view equivalent to that of a 16mm lens on a full-frame camera, so larger creatures, divers or scenics can be properly lit with a pair of Ecko Fiber strobes.

The images in this article were all shot without diffusers. Adding the dome diffuser widens the Ecko Fiber’s beam to about 140 degrees, but of course that does cut down some light—approximately one stop. The dome diffuser, which is included with the strobe along with a 1-inch ball mount, has a unique patterned surface for effective diffusion and light transmission.

The Ecko Fiber is powered by four AA batteries, which I find to be very convenient, as you can always buy AA batteries anywhere in the world should you need spares. I used Eneloop Pro rechargeable NiMH batteries, which are safe for checked luggage (not being lithium-ion). In the rare event of a battery compartment leak, it is reassuringly independently sealed from the rest of the strobe, providing peace of mind for any traveling underwater shooter.
 

Automatic TTL exposure easily balances images that have a mix of ambient and strobe light (f/8, 1/160s, ISO 200)
 

Even at night, the TTL capabilities of the Ikelite Ecko did not blow out white highlights on this Caribbean reef octopus (f/8, 1/125s, ISO 200)
 

 Compact and powerful, the Ecko Fiber was perfect for photographing this beautiful longsnout seahorse (f/8, 1/200s, ISO 200)
 

Fast automatic flash response for quick critter encounters, as with this green sea turtle, makes framing and shooting very easy when you don’t have to worry about your strobes (f/8, 1/80s, ISO 200)
 

The Ecko Fiber strobes produce vibrant colors and don’t blow out the highlights of this scrawled cowfish (f/8, 1/60s, ISO 200)

Final Thoughts

I found the compact Ikelite Ecko Fiber punched well above its weight, while Ikelite’s TT5 Canon TTL Fiber Optic Transmitter worked flawlessly with the strobe. For shooters wanting a small pair of strobes for travel capable of macro, fish photos and close-focus wide angle, the Ecko Fiber make it a breeze to get perfectly exposed photos.

Being a Midwesterner, I appreciate that Ikelite products are made just next door in Indianapolis, Indiana, and their excellent support via phone or Internet is a big benefit, too. I encourage beginners to check out Ikelite’s online equipment videos, which will help any shooter get up to speed producing great images to share with family and friends.
 

The author and his Ikelite Canon EOS R100 system with dual Ikelite Ecko Fiber strobes
 

About the Author: David Haas began diving in 1970, heading to the Florida Keys in the winter of 1971. The hook was set for a lifetime of underwater adventure the minute he stuck his head underwater. Over the next decades, he became a scuba instructor, co-owned a scuba retail store, and licensed images through agencies and direct sales plus illustrated text books with his underwater images. Today, David hosts dive trips with Seasick Productions to top ocean locations, sharing tips on evolving gear and techniques.