Primary Light Choice

[Herbie]

I had my primary light converted from a 10watt HID to LED. Mainly to avoid spending about $90 for a replacement bulb when needed and also for extended burn time. What is your preference and why?

[SuPrBuGmAn]

LED, because I was on my 5th HID bulb...

[MORGAN]

HID so far, but the next time I need to replace a bulb I'll convert to LED.

Mike

[KarsticGator]

I demo'd an LED last weekend at Peacock. I'm currently using an 18W HID.

I found the beam of the LED to be way too diffuse. As for the color, I;ve heard some people claim that it is not as white as an HID. I didn't find that was the case with the light I used. It was whiter than my buddies HID.

That being said, I'll stick with my focusable HID.

[FW]

I don't really like the pattern of any of the *current* LEDs, but I have sold most of my HIDs. I got tired of replacing the bulbs! I am hoping the LED technology will improve in the not-too-distant future. FWIW, I have a "Mike" light (LED) now. I kept a 10W Sartek as a backup.

[Dark Eternal]

HID - the LEDs are just not as bright as the brighter HIDs. Im sure they will catch up in time, but until then...

[DA Aquamaster]

I used both a DR LED 700 and a DR 10W HID depending upon the conditions. I preferred the more intense spot of the MR11 head on the 10W HID in milky or tannic conditions, but over a year or so so I found I was using the LED most of the time anyway. So I had the LED 700 upgraded to an LED Lux and traded the 10W HID toward a Lightmonkey 12W LED as it had an intense center spot much like the 10W HID had. At the same time I also upgraded my DR LED 500 to a 700.

So essentially I now have a Lightmonkey 12W LED with a bright center spot and an LED Lux with a broader even beam, and a corded handheld 700 LED that makes a nice back up primary and travel light.

---

I have noted comments about light temperature relating to one diver with one brand or model and in my experience it varies from company to company and even within the same model of light, so exprience with one light is of limited use as it is a case study of 1, not a sample.

Focus also varies a bit as well. For example, both my orignal LED 500 handheld and LED 700 had a very nicely focused beam (consisting of three "squares" of light overlayed into a "round" 12 point star) with equally "white" light, slightly bluer than an HID. However, when I upgraded both of them, both came back with less well focused beams (you can see each of the three squares distinctly with less precise overlap and the light temp is different on each light. DR says it is not noticeable in the water, and it is less noticeable but I still notice the difference between before and after.

In comparison to the LED Lux, the 12W Lightmonkey has a bit more yellowish color and a very bright and tightly focused center spot. Overall, I think both put out roughly equal amounts of light but the Lux looks brighter due to the whiter color temp and wider but more even beam. But, if you like the bright center spot on the MR11 10W HID, the 12 W Lightmonkey is probably a better choice for you than other LEDs in the same class.

[argyris]

HID Of course. I had a Niterider HID II Dual Beam Dive Light. I never had a problem with the bulb(s). I only change bulbs when i upgrade the lights from 10w to 14w.

[Jim Wyatt]

HID only. I have 3 of these, 2 Dive-Rite and one Salvo. Over an 8 year span I have only had to replace one bulb. I like the way the HID lights focus into a tighter beam.

[Jay]

I am down to 2 10w HId's. A Salvo and a Sartek. I do want to go to LED soon, so I will likley sell one of them.