Critique of Kraken KS-160 Strobe: A Comprehensive Analysis
Kraken's Badass KS-160 Strobe: A Game Changer
Let's talk about Kraken, baby! You know we dig their lights, monitors, and sweet ass lenses. But, did ya catch our slightly less than glowing review of the OG Kraken Strobe? While it boasted kickass recycle times and long-lasting battery, it missed the mark with a narrow beam. Fast forward a damn juice, and Kraken's back with the KS-160, a total redesign of the original strobe concept! This new bad boy features a powerful 160 Ws output, a 120-degree beam angle (no diffusers necessary), 5500k color temp, and a recycle time of 1.6 seconds at max power. At lower powers? You can expect a battery life of thousands of flashes and recycle times that can keep pace with 5 fps shooting!
We were stoked as hell to test the KS-160 prototype in the cold, dark waters of the Pacific Northwest. After just a few dives? Kraken introduced a badass competitor to some of the top strobes on the market - especially with the $850 price point at Bluewater Photo!
Grab Your KS-160 Strobe [Here]!
Kraken KS-160 Strobe Specs
- 160 Ws max output
- 400 shots per charge at full power
- 120-degree beam angle without diffusers
- 5500K color temperature
- Circular flash tube
- 1.6 second recycle time at full power
- 500 lumen LED modeling light
- No TTL (y'all tech heads already knew that, right?)
- 5 pin sync and fiber optic strobe triggering
- Slave mode with a slave sensor
- Dedicated battery pack (2x 21700 with USB-C charger)
- Anodized aluminum construction
- Depth rating: 300 ft (100 meters)
- Dimensions: 3.3" x 3.9" x 7.6"
- Weight: 1210g in air, 300g underwater
Why the KS-160 Strobe Rocks
1. The Killer Beam
Beam quality is the KS-160's standout feature. Its cool 5500 K color temp is reminiscent of Sea & Sea YS-D3, and the wide 120-degree beam angle produced by the circular flash tube is similar to Ikelite DS 230.
A. Color Temperature
I personally found the cooler color temp perfect for the green waters of the Pacific Northwest. Cool light from a strobe and green mixes up nicely. I usually dig warmer color temp strobes for bluer water since a lightroom white balance correction pushes both the warm subject and background color towards blue. However, I love colder strobes for macro photography, as it helps bring out the true colors of the subject without making the background look too warm. Check out the photo below.
B. Beam Angle
The wide, 120-degree beam on the KS-160 is ideal for wide-angle photography - even without using a diffuser. I found that this beam angle reduces backscatter while still covering the full scene I'm trying to shoot - even with just one strobe.
C. Power
The KS-160's max output of 160 Ws is strong enough for most wide-angle photography where you need a lot of strobe power to match powerful ambient light in clear, bright conditions. In the dark conditions of the Pacific Northwest, I only needed to set the strobes to 10% for most of my photography, allowing me to shoot with quick recycling times! In tropical wide-angle situations in shallow water, more juice would be needed.
2. Fast and Consistent Strobe Recycling
At full power, the KS-160 has a 1.6-second recycle time. I found this during my dives, though most of the time I used the strobes at lower powers. At half power, I tested the strobes and found that they could recycle much faster, around 6-10 flashes per second. Even at lower powers and fast recycle times, the KS-160s still put out consistant output!
3. Long Battery Life
The battery life of the KS-160 is 400 shots at full power. Although most folks won't need to fire 400 full dumps in a row, with normal use, I estimate the battery life is closer to 600 to 700 shots. I was easily able to get through a day of diving (three dives) with the modeling lights on the whole time, as I forgot my dive light. Most divers should be able to get through a day of diving and recharge their strobes at the end of the day via an easy-to-charge USB-C battery.
4. Durable Construction
The KS-160 is constructed from an anodized aluminum body. I put my strobes through some serious shit, diving through heavy winds and current, but the anodization only had minor scratches after multiple dives through surf over rock and pebbles. The strobes are built strong and should withstand any diving conditions.
A. Weight Concern and Solution
The downside of being built strong is that these babies are freakin' heavy. At 300 grams underwater, they are lighter under the waves than above (1.2 kg). That said, they were still quite heavy. Kraken reached out to us about my concerns and has responded with a promising solution - attachable floats! As long as you use float arms or attach floats to the strobes themselves, it'll solve the weight issue.
B. LCD Panel and Power Control
The LCD panel on the strobes is a nice touch. The KS-160 can show you the power setting on the strobe as well as how many shots you have left at your current power level. It's convenient as hell not to need to guess how much battery life you have on your strobes while shooting, so you can plan your day accordingly.
The power dial on the back panel sticks out quite far which makes it very easy to turn and manipulate, even under cold water and with thick gloves. In fact, this is my favorite strobe dial of all strobes on the market.
5. Flash Triggering, Slave, and No TTL
The Kraken KS-160 is compatible with Sea & Sea style fiber optic cables, which will probably be the most popular connection method. Shooters who prefer old-school or ultra-fast recycle times will dig the KS-160 as it supports 5-pin sync cords (the same kind of sync cord connection used by Sea & Sea and Inon strobes).
Finally, for those looking to trigger their strobes remotely, the KS-160 has an optical sensor that can be used as a slave and triggered by another strobe. I used just a single sync cord during my dives and triggered the second strobe via slave the entire day of diving. It worked great, as long as the optical sensor was within sight from the primary strobe. I'd expect the max distance for triggering to be around a meter.
For those who are wondering, the KS-160 does not have TTL circuitry on board. TTL is fancy-schmancy tech that allows the camera to communicate to the strobe what power level it needs to fire at with the camera settings. It makes strobe power adjustment automatic. Although it's a nice feature, the KS-160 is easy as hell to operate manually.
Who Should Buy the KS-160 Strobe?
The KS-160 strobes are for serious photographers who need a pro-level strobe without breaking the bank. It's a beast for wide-angle and macro photography. Other 160 Ws strobes are usually more expensive by about $200 to $500. When it comes to beam quality, recycle time, and battery life, the KS-160 definitely measures up to, and in some cases, surpasses these strobes. Although the weight of the strobe is a concern, it's easily resolved with float arms or new floats being designed for the strobe. In conclusion, the Kraken KS-160 strobe is the first strobe from Kraken that can compete with some of the top strobes on the market. It's a powerhouse for wide-angle and macro photography, even if it's a little heavy. So, are you gonna hop on this bad boy or pass? The choice is yours! The KS-160 strobe represents pro-level quality at a more affordable price point than other strobes on the market. The beam quality, recycle time, and battery life are more than adequate for wide-angle and macro shooters needing quick subjects. Although the weight of the strobe is a concern, it can be easily addressed with float arms and newer floats being designed for the strobe. Who the hell doesn't want a powerful, reliable, and reasonably priced strobe, right? At the end of the day, the Kraken KS-160 strobe is a solid choice for underwater photographers seeking a professional-grade tool that won't require a second mortgage on the pad!
- The Kraken KS-160 Strobe, a game-changer in underwater photography, showcases impressive features like a powerful 160 Ws output, a 120-degree beam angle without diffusers, and a 1.6-second recycle time at full power.
- The KS-160's 5500K color temperature is well-suited for green waters, making it ideal for macro photography as it helps bring out the true colors of the subject without making the background too warm.
- For wide-angle photography, the KS-160's wide, 120-degree beam angle reduces backscatter while still covering the full scene, even with just one strobe.
- The Kraken KS-160's battery life of 400 shots at full power translates to a practical estimate of 600 to 700 shots with normal use, making it efficient for a day's worth of diving.
- Constructed from anodized aluminum, the KS-160 is built to withstand diving conditions, despite being heavy, but Kraken offers a solution with attachable floats.
- The LCD panel and power dial on the KS-160 provide convenience in tracking power settings and battery life, while the power dial's design facilitates easy adjustment under cold water.
- The Kraken KS-160 supports Sea & Sea style fiber optic cables and 5-pin sync cords, catering to shooters who prefer various connection methods and fast recycle times.
- The KS-160 is designed for serious photographers on a budget, offering pro-level quality and performance in wide-angle and macro photography, while the weight concern can be addressed with the upcoming float designs for the strobe.
