Backscatter Snoot System Review | Underwater Photography

In this video I review the Snoot System from Backscatter, the underwater photography and video suppliers. The system consists of the MF-1 flash unit
and the separate Optical Snoot unit that attaches to the MF-1. I provide my overall impressions and some tips on using it to create
different types of light control while shooting underwater. I am using the excellent Nauticam Z7ii housing for all the underwater images.
Hope you enjoy the images and photo tips. If you have any questions add them to the comment section and I’ll do my best to answer them.
Here’s a link to the previous video on underwater macro photography: • Underwater Macro Adven...
My Underwater Gear
Mirrorless camera - Nikon Z7ii
Wide angle zoom: Nikon 8-15mm
Macro lens: Nikon 105mm micro f2.8 G
Housing: Nauticam Z7ii with 140mm Dome and Macro port
Strobes: Ikelite DS161 strobes
Snoot system: Backscatter Optical Snoot and Mini Flash - MF-1
Nauticam SMC-1 wet diopter
Other Gear I Use
Wide angle zoom - Nikon 17-35mm f2.8
Medium zoom - Nikon 24-120mm f4
Telephoto lens - Nikon 70-200mm f2.8
Tripod - Gitzo GT1542 Mountaineer Series 1 Carbon Fibre
Home microphone - Rode NTG4+
Video: iPhone 13, DJI Osmo Pocket
Music:
Music: Adventure by DarkMoloko bit.ly/3cPTk16
Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0):
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
Music promote by Copyright Free Music: bit.ly/2VVosEz
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:30 Snoot system overview
03:58 Housing setup
05:20 Light operation
07:30 Comments in using the snoot
08:50 Snoot Images
10:15 Closing discussion

[@jamesposs3168]

Very thoughtful, well explained video, Jon. Thanks for posting - I learned a LOT!

[@jontibertsch]

Hi James, Thanks for watching and I'm glad it was helpful. Jon B

[@richardshippy2016]

Great video, very helpful!

[@jontibertsch]

Hi Richard, great thanks for checking it out.

[@eprohoda]

best ! Jon-

[@diverdown365]

Thanks for the video - it was helpful. I picked up the MF-2 and am using it in conjunction with the OS-1. Snooting seems less complex with this setup than with the other snoot systems I’ve seen.

[@jontibertsch]

Jeremy glad to hear it was useful for you. I found the system quite easy to use after a couple of dives and it allows you to create different types of lighting and images in a small package. Good luck with your photography.

[@breic]

Thank you. Do you ever take the snoot off? I'm curious how it is secured. (It looks like you might have a short lanyard tied to it?)

[@jontibertsch]

Hi @breic. I do take it off sometimes. I carry a small mesh bag attached to my BCD that it can fit into. You can also carry other things in the bag such as the small light modifiers. There's a lanyard that I attach to the arm clamp holding the snoot. You can also attach the light modifiers to the snoot using rubber bands.

[@jeanmarclevy9413]

hi, i have mf2 + snoot but too heavy for ball arm so i would like a more compact and stronger system
what is size of your single central arm ? is it enough for all light position you need for macro?
(for me it's essentially for thinny nudibranch research as iam close from subject difficult to place the light sometimes)

[@jontibertsch]

Hi I use the Ultralight ball arm sections. My central one is the 8 inch size. This can get into pretty much any macro position I've tried for close work, but it's probably not going to work for things close to infinity since they will be distant from the port. My macro lens is the Nikon 105mm and I also use close up adapters for super macro shots.