Underwater Focus & Video Lights
Lights are important for obtaining underwater content not only to provide light for your camera helping it to focus but to illuminate the reef and all its brilliant colors. Light & Motion, Kraken Sports, Big Blue and several other companies all manufacture focus and video lights. There are several to choose from for all budgets, some of which offer both wide and spot beams serving as both video and focus lights.
Video lights have wide, even lit beams to illuminate the entire scene where focus lights generally produce what’s called a spot beam. Spot/focus lights have a narrow beam and tend to not produce as many lumens as a video light.
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Underwater Focus Lights
Do I really need one?
Focus lights aren't necessary in all situations but are highly recommended especially with macro photography. Digital cameras focus the image by detecting contrast at the focusing point. Water absorbs light quickly, so using a focus light allows the camera to see the contrast. It helps the camera grab the focus andquickly take the image. Using a focus light is critical for shooting at night (it also serves as a primary dive light), for shooting supermacro and oftentimes for shooting macro. Many experienced photographers use focus lights while shooting wide-angle into bright sunlight as well. So, do you need to buy a focus light? Not necessarily... there are solutions:
Go without a focus light - many compact users do this, although focusing in low-light may be difficult.
Hold a dive light in your hand - easy to do if you can single hand your compact camera, and many people do
Mount an inexpensive dive light on your rig with creative DIY methods
Use the spotting light of your strobe, but we don't recommend doing this all the time. Strobes should not always be pointed at your subject since doing so causes backscatter in the final image.
Use a video light as a focus light.
Will I see the focus light in my images?
Strobes provide the light that illuminates your subject. Because critters are usually shot at fast shutter speeds and small apertures, the light from a focus light often doesn't show up in a photo. One thing is for sure: you'll have a higher chance of getting a hot spot if you're shooting macro at f/2.8, 1/60th than if you're shooting at f/16, 1/250th. Small apertures and/or fast shutter speeds block out most of the ambient light, including your dive light, especially if you are using the edge of the beam.
Underwater Video Lights
Video lights have a wider beam angle and higher lumen power than focus and standard dive lights. The reason is that divers shooting video want to achieve a wide swath of light that evenly illuminates the foreground or main subject in the image, instead of seeing two "headlights" in every shot.
Divers interested in buying a single light that can double as both focus and video light will want to find a powerful light with several power settings and wide beam angle. This brings the best of both worlds.
Which light should I get?
Focus and video lights differ in their burn time, beam width, size and intensity. Consider your intended use and budget before purchasing a focus/video light. Will you be using the light solely for focusing during daytime? If you do a night dive, then this light will probably become your primary dive light as well and you should look for one with plenty of lumens. If you plan to shoot video, you'll need to consider the beam angle (width) and lumens. You do not want to end up with a "hot spot" in the middle of your scene. An obvious fact is that longer burn times are better than short ones, and that lights with multiple power settings help lengthen burn times.
Most DSLR and Mirrorless underwater photographers mount a focus light on top of their housing via a cold shoe mount. This allows some flexibility in light positioning for different compositions. Compact users often do the same or use a triple clamp to attach a focus light at the first junction of their strobe arms. This doesn't allow as much flexibility in positioning, but is an efficient way to safely mount a focus light on your rig. Hand-holding is the last (and least desirable) option.
Below are some of our favorite options listed with their lumens, beam angle and burn time at full power:
Bluewater Photo Underwater Focus Light
The Bluewater Photo 1000 focus light features both a wide, white beam of bright light and a red light for focusing on skittish macro subjects. It can double as a night dive light or as a focus light with two mounting options, a 1” ball mount and YS Mount. It is easy to use with one on/off switch and a rechargeable battery.
Bluewater Photo 1000 Focus Light
- Lumens: 1000
- Beam Angle: 100 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 80min
- Modes: White, Red, SOS
SeaLife Video and Focus Lights
SeaLife products are widely found in dive shops and popular for their easy to use straightforward products designed for entry level photographers. The Sea Dragon lights are versatile with a 120 degree beam on land and 90 degree underwater ranging from 2000 – 5000 lumens.
SeaLife Sea Dragon 2000 Video Light
- Lumens: 2000
- Beam Angle: 90 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 60min
- Color Temp: 5000k
SeaLife Sea Dragon 4500 Video Light
- Lumens: 4500
- Beam Angle: 90 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 60min
- Color Temp: 5600k
SeaLife Sea Dragon 5000 Video Light
- Lumens: 5000
- Beam Angle: 90 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 50min
- Color Temp: 5600k
Light & Motion Sola Photo, Video and Focus Lights
Light & Motion lights are very popular for their small,light weight size, versatility and easy operation. The GoBe, Dive, Photo and Video lights allfeature a rechargeable integrated battery, meaning no fuss with o-rings. They also offer several ways to mount onto your system along with an optional wrist mount to carry as a general dive light.
See available Light & Motion lights here.
Light & Motion GoBe Lights
GoBe has many benefits. Aside from being affordable, it is lightweight and can be used as a dive light, focus light, red focus light, fluoro diving light, bicycle light and countless other topside activities. The fact that you can change the light heads (above water) makes it a great light for newer divers/photographers who will slowly add more heads and also for more seasoned divers/photographers wanting light for a specific application.
Read our detailed GoBe Light Review.
- Lumens: 800
- Beam Angle: 12 Degree Spot
- Burn Time at Full Power: 1.5hrs
- Modes: Low, Med, High, SOS, Extended life
- Lumens: 1000
- Beam Angle: 60 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 1.5hrs
- Modes: Low, Med, High, SOS, Extended life
Light & Motion Sola Dive Lights
The Sola Dive Light is great for those on a budget looking for an all-around dive light, focus and video light. Many of the Sola Dive lights offer duo beams, spot and flood. The 60degree flood light is powerful enough for video (depending on how wide of view your lens is) but compact and lightweight for travel.
- Lumens: 500/800
- Beam Angle: 12/60 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 110/70min
- Modes: Low, Med, High, SOS
- Lumens: 1200
- Beam Angle: 12 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 60min
- Mode: Low, Med, High, SOS
- Lumens: 500/1200
- Beam Angle: 12/60 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 70/70min
- Modes: Low, Med, High, SOS
Sola Dive 2500 S/F Fast Charge
- Lumens: 1200/2500
- Beam Angle: 12/60 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 60/50min
- Modes: Low, Med, High, SOS
Light & Motion Sola Photo Lights
Sola Photo lights are powerful lights ideal for underwater photographers with a 60 degree beam of white light and an additional red light, to help sneak up on shy critters (many marine creatures cannot see red light).
- Lumens: 226/800 SF
- Beam Angle: 60 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 65min
- Low, Med, High, SOS, Red
- Lumens: 300/1200 SF
- Beam Angle: 60 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 150/70min
- Modes: Low, Med, High, SOS, Red
Light & Motion Sidekick Video Light for Action Cams
The ultra compact Sidekick and Sidekick Duo are one of a kind dedicated action cam lights mounting seamlessly to your GoPro with the extender bolt kit. The 90 degree flood illuminates the reef with 60 minutes of burn time on high and is rated for a depth of 60 meters. And best of all they feature Light & Motion’s factory sealed design, without the hassle of O Rings you are ready to dive after it’s charged!
- Lumens: 600
- Beam Angle: 90 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 60min
- Modes: Low, Med, High
- Lumens: 400/600 SF
- Beam Angle: 23/90 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 90/60min
- Mode: Low, Med, High
Light & Motion Sola Video Lights
Sola Video lights are similar to the Photo and Dive models, but pack many more lumens needed for capturing vivid, colorful video. At the 2000 lumen level, Light & Motion offers a flood and a spot/flood light version. The 2500 lumen level offers a spot/flood version with fast charging. Mount a couple 3800s on your rig and watch the reef erupt in color right in front of you!
- Lumens: 2000
- Beam Angle: 12/60 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 55min
- Modes: Low, Med, High
Sola Video 2500 S/F Fast Charge
- Lumens: 2500
- Beam Angle: 12/60 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 60min
- Modes: Low, Med, High
- Lumens: 2500
- Beam Angle: 60 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 50min
- Modes: Low, Med, High
- Lumens: 3800
- Beam Angle: 90 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 50min
- Modes: Low, Med, High
- Lumens: 3800
- Beam Angle: 110 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 50min
- Modes: Low, Med, High
- Lumens: 12,000
- Beam Angle: 110 Degrees with dome
- Burn Time at Full Power: 40min
- Modes: Low, Med, High
- Lumens: 15,000
- Beam Angle: 110 Degrees with dome
- Burn Time at Full Power: 35min
- Modes: Low, Med, High
i-Torch Underwater Focus and Video Lights
I-Torch creates powerful lights in compact aluminum housings that are easy on the budget and great to travel with.
See available i-Torch lights here.
i-Torch Fish-Lite V12 Focus Light
i-Torch packs an awesome focus light into a very small package with the Fish-Lite V12. With 1,500 lumens of power, a 120 degreewide beam angle and an included red LED for the skittish critters, this will meet all of your focus light needs.
- Lumens: 1,500
- Beam Angle: 120 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 60min
- Modes: 3 steps White, Red
The new Venom 60 video light is a great option as a video light & a focus light and excels for underwater video, featuring 6000 lumens, 100 degreewide beam angle, 30 degree spot light, battery power level indicator and other great features. See the iTorch Venom 60 specs & recommended mounts.
- Lumens: 6000
- Beam Angle: 30/100 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 55min
- Modes: 10 steps White, 10 steps Red, spot White, spot RGB
The i-Torch Video Pro 8 light mimics natural sunlight with its 5000 – 6000 kelvin temperature and 3,000 lumens. Small, lightweight and easy on the budget the Video Pro 8 has 50 minutes of burn time on high and a depth rating of 100 meters.
- Lumens: 3,000
- Beam Angle: 110 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 50min
- Modes: White, Red, SOS
Keldan Underwater Video Lights
Keldan represents the apex of the underwater video light market. Keldan lights are known for their amazing color temperature (cooler lights don't have as much vibrant color as the warmer Keldan lights) and even light distribution. They are not only robust and durable, but reliable. For serious video content, these are the lights you want. The modular line allows the photographer to create their own vision in lighting with an array of LED modules and reflectors. The compact line boasts bright, broad light in the upwards of 30,000 lumens all packed into a compact travel sized light.
See all available Keldan Lights here.
Keldan Modular Video Lights
- Lumens: 8,000
- Beam Angle: 90 / 110 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 45min
- Color Temp: 5,600k
- CRI: 96
- Lumens: 9,000
- Beam Angle: 90/110 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 45min
- Color Temp: 5000k
- CRI: 83
Keldan Compact Video Lights
- Lumens: 9,000
- Beam Angle: 110 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 45min
- Color Temp: 5600k
- CRI: 82
- Lumens: 13,000
- Beam Angle: 110 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 40min
- Color Temp: 5600k
- CRI: 92
- Lumens: 15,000
- Beam Angle: 110 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 40min
- Color Temp: 5600k
- CRI: 82
- Lumens: 25,000
- Beam Angle: 110 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 40min
- Color Temp: 5600k
- CRI: 82
- Lumens: 30,000
- Beam Angle: 110 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 40min
- Color Temp: 5600k
- CRI: 82
Kraken Sports Underwater Video Lights
Kraken Sports offers high performance at a lower cost with unique options, making their lights ideal for all levels of videographers and photographers. Options include basic spot / flood lights, unique strobe like burst mode and ring lights that create nice, even lighting and are great for those hard to reach areas where strobes won’t fit.They also come with various mounting options providing you with lots of flexibility for attaching it to your underwater rig.
See available Kraken Lights here.
Kraken Hydra Lights
Kraken has a number of video lights in their Hydra line, starting from the 1200+ WSR up to the 5000S+.
The most basic option, the 1200+ WSR, features a flood, red and SOS beam. The 2500 Macro Edition is more specialized, featuring white flood, red and artistic blue & redbeams. It also has an innovative "burst" mode, which fires like a strobe when connected via a fiber optic cable, giving you a 4000 lumen strobe for taking macro photos. Read our detailed review of the 2500 macro light here.
The 3500S+features a brand new RGB mode with 9 different color settings for your creativity. The 5000S+ feature flood, spot, red and UV beams, making them truly universal lights. The 5000+ offers the highest color rendering index (CRI) of the series, at 90.
- Lumens: 800 spot / 1200
- Beam Angle: 100 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 85min
- Modes: White, Red, SOS
Hydra 2500 WRU Macro Edition with Strobe Burst
- Lumens: 2500/4000 burst
- Beam Angle: 100 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 55min
- Modes: White, Red, Blue, Burst
Hydra 3500S+ RGB WSRU with Strobe Burst
- Lumens: 800 spot / 3500 flood/ 4500 burst
- Beam Angle: 110 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 68min
- Modes: RGB, 9 color settings, burst
Hydra 5000S+ WSRU with Strobe Burst
- Lumens: 800 spot / 5000 flood/ 7000 burst
- Beam Angle: 110 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 60min
- Modes: Flood, Spot, Red, UV
Kraken Weefine Ring Lights
Kraken Sports offers two compact and useful ring lights. Ring lights allow you to get your camera close to a subject and still have nice even lighting without the struggle of trying to squeeze your strobes into a tight spot. Both lights have a 67mm thread which can be easily attached to your port and both produce a very soft and evenly diffused light. Perfect for your macro shooting needs. The original 1000 lumen offering is quite simple, while the newer Ring Light 3000 offers a continuous light source of 1800 lumens and burst mode of 3000 lumens along with 3 modes of continuous light; white, red and UV.
Read our reviews of the original Weefine 1000 and the newer, more powerful and feature-laden Weefine 3000.
- Lumens: 1000
- Beam Angle: 90 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 60 min
- Modes: 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%
Weefine Ring 3000 with Strobe Burst
- Lumens: 1800 / 3000 burst
- Beam Angle: 90 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 45min continuous
- Modes: Same as 1000 plus White, Red, UV
Kraken Solar Flare Lights
Kraken Solar Flare lights are perfect for professional underwater video - particularly wide angle video which requires a lot more light. The Solar Flare Max is a high quality video light packing 10,000 lumens with an extremely wide 160 degree beam angle (underwater). This allows a videographer to light a subject in just about any situation they might encounter. The Solar Flare Mini 8000 brings 8000 lumens and a 120 degree beam angle (underwater). Perhaps the most exciting addition to the Solar Flare line is the Kraken Solar Flare Mini 12,000. It offers 50% more output than the Solar Flare Mini 8000 for the same price! Of course, now the solar flare mini 8000 is on sale, so it's a good time to buy that light as well.
Kraken Sports Solar Flare Mini 8000
- Lumens: 8000
- Beam Angle: 120 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 66min
- Modes: 0-100%
- Color Temp: 5000k
- Lumens: 10,000
- Beam Angle: 160 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 50min
- Modes: 0-100% Dial
Kraken Sports Solar Flare Mini 12,000 with Burst Mode
- Lumens: 12,000 / 15,000 burst
- Beam Angle: 120 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 66min
- Modes: Flood, Burst
- Color Temp: 5000k
Big Blue Video and Focus Lights
Big Blue Video lights have a consistent, compact design throughout their large line of video and focus lights. The size and lightweight design is found throughout the series from the basic 1100 Focus Light to the whopping 33,000 lumen video light.They feature dual Oring seals and quick rechargeable batteries and fun accessories including adaptable snoots and color filters.
Along with our favorites below, be sure to check out the full line of Big Blue Lights here.
Big Blue 1200 Extra Wide Focus Light
- Lumens: 1200
- Beam Angle: 120 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 120min
- Modes: 4 levels of intensity
- Color Temp: 6500k
Big Blue 3800 Dual Beam Video Light
- Lumens: 1200 / 3800
- Beam Angle: 10 / 120 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 90min
- Modes: White, Red
- Color Temp: 6500k
- Lumens: 6500
- Beam Angle: 120 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 120min
- Modes: 4 levels of intensity
- Color Temp: 5000k
- Lumens: 8,000
- Beam Angle: 120 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 3hr
- Modes: Warm White, Cool White, 3 settings each
- Color Temp: 5500k, 6500k
- Lumens: 10,000
- Beam Angle: 120 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 120min
- Modes: 4 levels
- Color Temp: 6500k
Big Blue 15,000Warm Video Light
- Lumens: 15,000
- Beam Angle: 160 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 90min
- Modes: 4 levels of intensity
- Color Temp: 5000k
Big Blue 15,000 Mini Video Light
- Lumens: 15,000
- Beam Angle: 160 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 120min
- Modes: White, Red, SOS
- Color Temp: 6500K
- Lumens: 33,000
- Beam Angle: 160 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 90min
- Modes: White, Red, SOS
- Color Temp: 6500K
Fisheye Fix Neo Video and Focus Lights
Fisheye Fix created the Neo line with fine tuning levels of intensity packed into small, travel size video lights. They range from 800 lumens through 4000 and offer a wide 120 beam with the added dome on the 4030 models with a warm 5000k light that is sure to light the colors of the reef beautifully.
- Lumens: 800
- Beam Angle: 100 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 100min
- Modes: Fine tuning 1-100%
Fix Neo 1500 DX II Video Light
- Lumens: 1500
- Beam Angle: 30 / 100 Degrees
- Burn Time at Full Power: 55min
- Modes: Wide, Spot, Red
Fix Neo Premium 4030 DX II Video Light
- Lumens: 4000
- Beam Angle: 120 Degrees with dome
- Burn Time at Full Power: 50min
- Modes: 2 button dimmer dials for fine tuning, SOS
- Color Temp: 5000k
Fix Neo Premium 4030 EF II Video Light plus Strobe Mode
- Lumens: 3000/4000 strobe
- Beam Angle: 120 Degrees with dome
- Burn Time at Full Power: 50min Continuous
- Modes: Fine tune in 1% increments, SOS, Flash
- Color Temp: 5000k
In Conclusion
There are many great light options available these days, whether you’re upgrading focus/video lights or looking to purchase your first. One thing is for certain – all serious underwater photographers and videographers need to have at least one light. Consider your camera system, field of view with your lenses, weight, size and your budget before choosing which light is best for you.
Further Reading
RECOMMENDED ARTICLES
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
As a long-time Hawaii resident, Jenna moved to Maui in 2002 to pursue her interest in diving. Discovering the beauty of the islands and the desire to show it to the world led Jenna into her passion for nature photography. She pursued her education by attending hands-on workshops and conferences with respected educators mastering the camera topside before taking her photography underwater.
Jenna is a certified Hawaii Marine Naturalist and enjoys travel and adventure. Her images have been published in Forbes Magazine, Travel and Leisure, calendars and several other publications. She has been a professional contributor for Pacific Stock since 2012, the largest worldwide curated stock photography agency exclusive to the Hawaii and Asia Pacific Regions. You can find her images at www.jennaszerlag.com and on Instagram @seaofphotos.
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