KR-S80 Flash

Description

Download the manual: KR-S80 Manual

Experienced underwater photographers shoot manual. TTL might sound convenient, but manual gives you predictable, repeatable results — the same exposure every shot, regardless of what’s in the frame. The KR-S80 delivers 80Ws of controllable power at a price well below comparable strobes with “smart” modes you won’t use once you know what you’re doing.

80 watt-seconds. 1-second recycle. ~800 flashes per charge.

The KR-S80 is Kraken’s mid-range underwater strobe — a fully manual unit built for underwater photographers who want reliable, predictable output without the complexity of TTL. It’s manual-only, which is exactly what experienced underwater shooters want: you dial in your power, it fires at that power, every time. No hunting, no guessing.

The 1.0-second recycle to full power is genuinely fast for 80Ws — fast enough for most shooting situations including moving subjects and multi-strobe setups. At ~800 flashes per charge, you’re not going to run out mid-dive. The circular flash tube produces even, wrap-around illumination with soft edges — no hot spots, no hard shadows. The 140 degree+ coverage angle is wide enough to work with most fisheye and wide-angle wet lenses without vignetting.

The built-in 3000-lumen video light (100 degree beam) doubles as a focus light for low ambient conditions, and is independently controlled — useful for video work or as a modelling light to preview your coverage before you fire.

Key Features:

• 80 Ws, Manual Power Control: 6 levels (2 / 5 / 10 / 20 / 40 / 80 Ws). Rotary dial — straightforward to adjust mid-dive.
• Fast Recycle: 1.0 second to full power. Quick enough for most action and wide-angle work.
• ~800 Flashes Per Charge: 2x 21700 batteries (4000mAh each), USB-C rechargeable. Strong battery life for multi-dive days.
• S1 / S2 / Multi Optical Slave Modes: Syncs optically with your camera’s internal flash or another strobe as master. No sync cord required if your housing supports it.
• 3000-Lumen Video Light: 100 degree flood beam, independently controlled with 5 brightness levels. Also works as a focus/modelling light.
• Fiber Optic Port: 7mm hole port + M11 threads. Compatible with standard fiber optic cables.
• 180 degree Rotatable Display: 7-segment LED — readable from any mounting angle.
• Includes: Ball mount, YS adapter, fiber optic port cover, white diffuser, blue diffuser, PD charger, USB-C cable, spare O-rings.

Technical Specs:

• Power: 80 Ws
• Color Temperature: 6000K
• Coverage Angle: 140 degrees+
• Recycle Time: 1.0 sec to full power
• Power Levels: 6 (2 / 5 / 10 / 20 / 40 / 80 Ws)
• Flashes at Full Power: ~800
• Battery: 2x 21700 (4000mAh), USB-C rechargeable
• Video Light: 3000 lumens, 100 degree beam, 5 levels — burn time 50 min at 100%
• Sync Modes: S1 / S2 / Multi (optical slave — manual only, no TTL)
• Depth Rating: 100m / 330ft
• Dimensions: 72mm x 73mm x 182mm
• Weight: 980g (land) / 375g (underwater)

S80 or S80+: choose the beam for the way you shoot

Both strobes deliver 80 Ws; the difference is how they direct that flash. The KR-S80 uses a round flash tube for broad coverage. The KR-S80+ uses a straight flash tube and a more directed beam, allowing a snoot to capture the light more effectively. For photographers building a setup around snooted macro, that is a practical reason to choose the S80+—not simply a higher guide number on a specification sheet.

Choose S80+ when snoot efficiency and directed lighting are priorities. Choose S80 when broader native coverage better suits your shooting. The S80+ offers over-60° flash coverage, expanding to 100° with a diffuser, compared with the S80’s over-140° coverage. Neither replaces the other: choose the beam pattern for your subjects and lighting accessories.

Both are manual strobes with a built-in 3000-lumen video light. The S80+ is US$599. The KR-SN07 optical snoot fits both the S80 and S80+ directly, with no different adapter required. They share the same body; the S80+ differs in its internal flash tube and LEDs.

Accessories:

• Optical Snoot for KR-S80 — precision spot lighting for macro and creative shots
• KR-FB08 Float Collar — dedicated buoyancy collar for the KR-S80, makes the strobe neutrally buoyant underwater
• Dome Diffuser — softens and spreads the beam for even, flattering light
• Warming Filter — shifts colour temperature for warmer tones on portraits and coral
• RC02 Remote Control — connects via fiber optic cable and lets you adjust power on two strobes simultaneously or independently, right from your camera tray. No reaching out along the arms to dial in exposure mid-dive. Compatible with all Kraken strobes.