light choice

[aleksi]

I just got the Sartek 35W head with this upgrade deal and it's really good! The deal is also cheap, 350$ for the upgrade. I'd go with that.

-aleksi

[adam0321]

Can't beat Dr service they just fixed my 10w

[aainslie]

I feel like a stuck record repeating this but here goes.

Wattage comes at a cost - higher weight or lower burn time. My favorite light is a 9 w monkey. It lasts 7 hours and is tiny. And I've never wanted for light.

[phillip1]

Agreed, but I like the 12 w light monkey, it's super small and plenty bright. To tell the truth I've never seen the 9w, but I assume it's the same more or less

[Kelly Jessop]

I feel like a stuck record repeating this but here goes.

.

Andrew,you're showing your age,but then again saying a stuck CD or MP3 wouldn't have the same effect.

But,I have to agree. Having light bazookas I guess are great,but I prefer the 10watt area for the reasons mentioned. My eyes adjust,and I see well,even see those 2mm isopods 15ft away. More light in my opinion doesn't mean better unless we are shooting video.

[w ripley]

I can see "light bazookas" where there is ambient light, like quarries and/or off-shore, especially for signalling. Personally I like a more diffused, softer light in caves as I can see more of what's around me than something that has a pencil focus or is super bright. I undertand needing different lights for different tasks, like photography or instructing.

I read where some divers don't like the LEDs light beam (or whatever you call it), and their reasoning seems valid for what they are looking for, but it's hard to deny that LEDs can take a lot of abuse and are easy on the battery drain + the light industry seems to be building more and more of them. I've used one (Tilly) for a couple of years and like it in caves. Robust, 12-hour-burn time, does all I want. It's OK in the ocean during the day and perfect at night.

It's easier to say than do, but borrow or rent different lights and see which one you like the best for the type of diving you do. I went from HID (actually 3 of them) to LED and wouldn't turn back. Even with the Tilly I had the chance to test out different light heads to settle on the one I use. Lights are a big investment and nothing wrong with kicking the tires and taking them out for test drives.


BTW, the advice to talk to Carl at Sartec is good. I had a couple of his and was constantly pleased with the service, upgrading, and the customization he provided.

Good luck.

[phillip1]

I only use hid 21 or higher for when we film, i find the 12w light monkey more than enough for diving in any cave, i tried a few dives with the 21w Sartek and it's overkill, yes it's really bright but you really don't need that much light, the comparison would be kind of be like listening to music way too loud.
I also have a 10w Sartek hid and it is very small and light and has a nice bright focusable beam, i can't imagine you really need to dive with something brighter, unless filming.

Bobby had a 21w hid and i had the 12w led on a few dives and I swear i could light up the cave sufficiently enough, granted not as penetrating than the 21w but definitely comfortably enough, plus the 21w lights are overkill as far as weight and size, really bulky and the opposite of streamlining and efficiency.

IMHO unless you are shooting video a big 21w hid makes for extra weight and bulky gear you really do not need to see well in a cave, not to mention terrible burn times.

[Sludge]

I've been diving 10w HID for almost ten years. I stated many times I have no desire for a big light - I like the compactness of the 10w.

Then I made a dive with someone with a big light. Midway through the dive he insisted we change places so I wouldn't be behind him where he might not see my signal. So I went ahead and got a 24w HID for the sole purpose of using it when I dive with someone with a big light.

Yeah, yeah, that lasted a few months. Several weeks ago I used the 24w with a video reflector to shoot some amateurish video, but for the second dive I decided to use the 24w so I would have one fewer light to clean when I got home. D'oh. I really liked it.

[floridabob]

Bill,

Not exactly sure what the upgrades are you are contemplating...but: when I had a 50 watt HID (I use the 21 watt HID usually) I did not like the "backscatter" it had. It actually gave me a headache in reduced viz stuff. However, it was pretty darn cool in Dipolder when the viz was good! I'm sure this helps none, but there it is. PS: I have a buddy that plays with converting stuff to LEDs if you wanna play with that idea for pretty cheap. Call me.

Bob

[wingman]

Bill,

Not exactly sure what the upgrades are you are contemplating...but: when I had a 50 watt HID (I use the 21 watt HID usually) I did not like the "backscatter" it had. It actually gave me a headache in reduced viz stuff. However, it was pretty darn cool in Dipolder when the viz was good! I'm sure this helps none, but there it is. PS: I have a buddy that plays with converting stuff to LEDs if you wanna play with that idea for pretty cheap. Call me.

Bob

Bob, Thanks DR will convert my 24w back to a 24w or to a h1000...apparently sartek will convert it to a 35w for a similar fee. I have 3 10w (2 hid and 1 led) and my main 35w and thinking about what to do with the flooded 24w...appreciated all the advice here and am now leaning toward converting it to the sartek...like to get some more light for my camera work. Bill