Focus/video light

[antacid]

Hi guys, I'm shopping for a proper focus light that could probably double up as a video light in the future as well.

Been using several torches as a focus light in low vis and night dives, but they are more trouble than they are worth. Have yet to try to small fisheye LED one but my friends say it's not very bright.

I'm looking at these at the moment

L&M Sola 600 - US$579. 600 lumens, 75 degree coverage
http://www.uwimaging.com/sola600/sola-600

Good - the output is high enough for video, yet with lower power levels for focus. Also comes with built-in red LEDs for use with shy night creatures.
Bad - price is #@$~!@~! wtf?! Proprietary lithium battery.

Fisheye FIX500 - US$335. 480+ lumens, angle of coverage unknown
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/strobes-lighting/314116-review-fisheye-fix-led500dx.html

Good - slightly cheaper compared to Sola 600, uses 8x AA batteries.
Bad - Fisheye torches always have problems with flooding, weird battery drain, etc etc.

i-torch video - US$339. 600+ lumens, 80 degree coverage
http://www.divegearexpress.com/lights/itorchvideo.shtml

Good - strong output, with lower output available. Uses 4x AA batteries
Bad - hard to find any dealers around in case of warranty problems

Inon LE550W - S$345 (from local dealer).500+ lumens, 75 degree coverage
http://www.divervision.com/catalog/-p-1106.html?osCsid=suu48sj3nou0g0hni7qc80q0v3

Good - strong output, slim design. Uses 3x AAA (?) batteries
Bad - only on/off, no power adjustment. might be too bright for certain uses.

I'm looking at the Inon LE550W primarily because of price but I really like the Sola 600 in terms of features but it's close to 3x the price. I'm actually leaning towards the i-torch video because it's a good compromise between the 2, except i don't know where to buy it from!

Any other recommendations for a focus light?

 

[swee sin]

nice comparison ... i prefer inon though

 

[howeikwok]

I'm currently using the fantasea nano pro. 3W bulb with a darn good reflector that produces very even lighting. runs on 4 'AAA' batteries. plus it comes with a diffuser to further soften the light as well. I've been using it to shoot macro video on the canon S90. Plus it's relatively cheap.

http://www.fantasea.com/s.nl/it.A/id.265/.f?sc=2&category=496

There's also a HK manufacturer of dive lights you might want to consider. There're some local shops who sell this brand but not sure if they are the agents.

http://bossk.com.hk/index.html

 

[antacid]

alvin, is the nanopro bright enough? for macro at night? and how wide is the angle?

i'm having lots of trouble focusing with a dive torch thats about 100 lumens with roughly a 20-30 degree coverage. hence the shopping!

 

[howeikwok]

alvin, is the nanopro bright enough? for macro at night? and how wide is the angle?

i'm having lots of trouble focusing with a dive torch thats about 100 lumens with roughly a 20-30 degree coverage. hence the shopping!

hrm, not very wide but good enough for me haha. don't really night dive nowadays, older and lazier... :bsmilie:

 

[Nik-enduser]

i had been using 2x inon250 for a while until i got the sola600. never looked back since. its so much more compact and bright. no regrets. also much smaller package.

 

[howeikwok]

i had been using 2x inon250 for a while until i got the sola600. never looked back since. its so much more compact and bright. no regrets. also much smaller package.

i like the look and the functions of the sola. freaking expensive though. plus i'm not sure how long the wet contact charging terminals and contacts will last.

 

[Nik-enduser]

i had been using the sola600 for more than 40 dives now, still holding out fine. just make sure the contacts are dry before charging.

 

[antacid]

can i ask how much and where you got the sola 600 from? it's really like the BMW i really wish i could buy. haha

 

[Nik-enduser]

sorry, did not check earlier. bought from scubacam, as with rest of my gear, so they give good price.

 

[antacid]

Ok, here's an update on the search.

Had been pretty convinced to get the i-torch, and was searching around for dealers. Unfortunately there are none in Singapore, and the closest is in HK. Which was a shame because I was just in HK last week and could have gone down to take a look.

Turns out Scubacam is having clearance for the Fix500 at $350 so I went down with my friend to take a look. It was large, heavy, and not very impressive. Didn't like how the front and rear was aluminium, and the body was plastic. It was also tough to open the battery compartment.

In comparison, we fell in love with the Sola 600. It's roughly the size of a normal computer mouse, and very slick and polished. Much better designed that the Fix500 and less fiddly switches. Everything was factory sealed, so if there's a flood or it's not working normally, we just have to take it back under warranty. No "user-problems" here.

However, the battery pack was also sealed inside, so a concern I had was what do we do if it is out of warranty and the battery doesn't hold its charge anymore? After all its a Li-ion battery so there is a definite charge cycle limit (think laptop batteries). What I am afraid of is after it is out of warranty, L&M will take an Apple approach and say, "sorry we don't do battery replacement but we'll be nice and offer you a trade-in and you can buy a new one at US$400".

L&M's warranty is only for 1 year, so it's either use the crap out of it within 1 year so the battery pack dies, or slowly, carefully ration it so it'll last you a long time.

Still waiting for Sanah to revert on this issue. If L&M offers a reasonable battery replacement option, I'll definitely get one.

We also got an attractive bulk purchase offer from Scubacam for the Sola 600, so please let me know if you are interested? Planning to get mine before Friday as I'm leaving on a trip then.

 

[howeikwok]

Ok, here's an update on the search.

Had been pretty convinced to get the i-torch, and was searching around for dealers. Unfortunately there are none in Singapore, and the closest is in HK. Which was a shame because I was just in HK last week and could have gone down to take a look.

Turns out Scubacam is having clearance for the Fix500 at $350 so I went down with my friend to take a look. It was large, heavy, and not very impressive. Didn't like how the front and rear was aluminium, and the body was plastic. It was also tough to open the battery compartment.

In comparison, we fell in love with the Sola 600. It's roughly the size of a normal computer mouse, and very slick and polished. Much better designed that the Fix500 and less fiddly switches. Everything was factory sealed, so if there's a flood or it's not working normally, we just have to take it back under warranty. No "user-problems" here.

However, the battery pack was also sealed inside, so a concern I had was what do we do if it is out of warranty and the battery doesn't hold its charge anymore? After all its a Li-ion battery so there is a definite charge cycle limit (think laptop batteries). What I am afraid of is after it is out of warranty, L&M will take an Apple approach and say, "sorry we don't do battery replacement but we'll be nice and offer you a trade-in and you can buy a new one at US$400".

L&M's warranty is only for 1 year, so it's either use the crap out of it within 1 year so the battery pack dies, or slowly, carefully ration it so it'll last you a long time.

Still waiting for Sanah to revert on this issue. If L&M offers a reasonable battery replacement option, I'll definitely get one.

We also got an attractive bulk purchase offer from Scubacam for the Sola 600, so please let me know if you are interested? Planning to get mine before Friday as I'm leaving on a trip then.

To help John in his search for more kakis:

http://www.divephotoguide.com/underwater-photography-special-features/article/sola-600-focus-light/

:bsmilie:

 

[oxygn]

Hi guys, sorry for my ignorance, but can the video/focus light be used in place of a strobe? Thanks

 

[howeikwok]

Hi guys, sorry for my ignorance, but can the video/focus light be used in place of a strobe? Thanks

In certain cases maybe. But mostly no.

 

[oxygn]

In certain cases maybe. But mostly no.

Could you elaborate more on which situations you can and which you can't. thanks alot

 

[GRbenji]

Could you elaborate more on which situations you can and which you can't. thanks alot

Power of a torch/focus light is no where near that of a strobe.

 

[howeikwok]

Could you elaborate more on which situations you can and which you can't. thanks alot

A torch might work for some marco shots where u set the camera to auto mode? Or maybe settings with a lower f-stop and shutter speed? If not even powerful video lights cannot generate the power (Watts/sec) a strobe can in lighting up a scene.