Guest blog images and text by Frank Lewis
In the 14 years since DWF (Dive with Frank) first learned to scuba dive I’ve met a lot of great folks in the scuba world. One of the guys near the top of the list is Ken Kollwitz, owner of Ultralight Camera Solutions (ULCS). I met Ken in Southern California my very first year scuba diving and his optimism and great energy is simply contagious and really something I strive for.
ULCS has been around since the 1990s producing camera and lighting solutions, and Ken took over the reins in 2020 (after working with the previous owners for nearly a decade), continuing to innovate and come up with new ways to solve problems for underwater photographers. Their products are used by underwater photographers (as well as above water cinematographers) of all levels…from novices to seasoned professionals.
DWF has been using a SeaLife DC2000 Pro Duo setup (camera, enclosure, strobe, video light) for over five years and I have been pretty happy with the setup. Actually, I’m a big fan. But about a year ago I got my hands on a set of ULCS trays, arms, and clamps; basically a replacement for the tray and light setup for my SeaLife kit.
Before I started using my ULCS kit, I thought of it the same way I thought of the ice maker in my freezer. It's a little lavish and ultimately not necessary…but now that I have actually used it, it’s MANDATORY for me!
The utility and versatility of the ULCS setup is really head and shoulders above the standard kit I had been using. There are shots that I simply COULD NOT have gotten with my old kit. I took it down to Cozumel and Roatan and was able to get my lights and strobes into positions that just aren’t possible with the standard kit. My lights have a greater range of movement in general and the equipment is tough. I am not worried about the quality of this gear or damaging it.
DWF just got back from a photo workshop in Anilao, Philippines, and during that workshop, I was able to simply swap in a new clamp and longer arm to use my brand-new snoot. I was able to attach the snoot to my camera setup and use it with a minimum of hassle. I wouldn’t have been able to do that with my standard kit from SeaLife. My ULCS system can attach and utilize non-SeaLife strobes, remote strobes, extra video lights at “weird” angles and more.
I’ve really only scratched the surface with my current ULCS kit. The only thing that I know for sure is that when I upgrade my camera my ULCS kit is coming with me! It’s really nice to be able to incrementally upgrade my own kit and get full integration with new equipment.
If you’re looking for a new camera tray, clamps, or arms I really recommend that you give ULCS gear a hard look! You can find ULCS in select dive shops selling photography equipment as well as the ULCS website, Backscatter, and Blue Water Photo. They also have brand ambassadors all over the world, so you don’t need to take my word for it. I’m just a dude who likes taking photos underwater…and who keeps trying to get better at it!
As an added bonus, this gear is made in America, and they have a rock-solid warranty.
