Torch Advice...

[Okeanos]

Since buying a decent torch it has enabled me to see things others don't, not just big things but little things that small lights aren't bright enough to be able to distinguish. I used to use a UK light cannon, they are very good, I still have 2 for backups! They are no way good enough for finding the small stuff like a big HID would.

I use the Greenforce Impact 100 HID with F2 battery pack. The pack lasts 2 dives. Using a Goodmans handle on the head allows me to use the camera without having to worry what happens with my torch, you can easily use the torch and camera together.

That said it is an expensive combination, but well worth it.

p.s. If GF torches were fragile they wouldn't last 5 minutes with me, I treat mine like crap and it's done well over 300 dives without missing a beat.

[msd dan]

My mates got a Beaver Plasma LED costs £149 and is great!!!

In the process of buying one!

Dive safe

Dan

[Rob Dobson]

Originally Posted by msd dan

My mates got a Beaver Plasma LED costs £149 and is great!!!

In the process of buying one!

Dive safe

Dan

I'd never heard of that so I've just looked it. Wow - that looks truly *awful*, but if anyone has one and wants to meet up for splash I'd like to see one in the water.

[deepestandy]

Originally Posted by Rob Dobson

That looks truly *awful*, but if anyone has one and wants to meet up for splash I'd like to see one in the water.

Rob, It seems you have an opinion on everything. Can you tell me why this looks so awful? If you ask me it looks fairly robust. Not everyone can afford the £780 needed for a Salvo 21w. There are lots of products out there that look a bit crappy but actually perform... Jetfins spring to mind, as do big blue smurf/fish gutting (dry) gloves.

Andy

[alistairb]

HI.....iv just bought myself a new torch.....JMD technol...........50 xenopot lamp and VERY VERY Bright...........they also do an unbilical for £290 squid the same as mine jus the umdilical range im very impressed by it.....Try them.........bout it from www.ydiving.co.uk in whitby............very very good bit of kit............

Happy diving......

alistair...

[Rob Dobson]

Originally Posted by deepestandy

Rob, It seems you have an opinion on everything. Can you tell me why this looks so awful? If you ask me it looks fairly robust. Not everyone can afford the £780 needed for a Salvo 21w.

It looks resilient or at least the light array ought to be as it's LED. It certainly has that going for it but then so does every other LED out there.

It looks big, bulky and heavy. If you want a lantern style torch then there are plenty of good ones out there such as the Darkbuster 21W or UK Light Cannon.

The light array is 3 X 3 Watt LEDs which probably won't amount to much in the water as combining the different emitters is tricky. I used to have a 50W LED FaMi and it wasn't much cop in UK waters so a 9W doesn't look too promising. The FaMi was pretty compact for a primary and almost small enough to use a back/up (but not quite). I think the Beaver will be bigger (therefore more cumbersome in the water) and less effective than the FaMi whilst being more expensive. An opinion based on just looking at it and reading the spec so I may be wrong.

For less money you could buy a single LED light array which is probably more effective in the water, lighter in the hand and easier to stow (such as the Salvo 3C Rat, PT LED or Heser).

Not everyone needs a powerful HiD primary and not everyone wants a canister light but I think that there are better and cheaper solutions out there than this 3 LED array lantern.

I could be well off of the mark and this might be the best dive light in the world but somehow I doubt it.

[deepestandy]

Originally Posted by Rob Dobson

It looks resilient or at least the light array ought to be as it's LED. It certainly has that going for it but then so does every other LED out there.

It looks big, bulky and heavy. If you want a lantern style torch then there are plenty of good ones out there such as the Darkbuster 21W or UK Light Cannon.

The light array is 3 X 3 Watt LEDs which probably won't amount to much in the water as combining the different emitters is tricky. I used to have a 50W LED FaMi and it wasn't much cop in UK waters so a 9W doesn't look too promising. The FaMi was pretty compact for a primary and almost small enough to use a back/up (but not quite). I think the Beaver will be bigger (therefore more cumbersome in the water) and less effective than the FaMi whilst being more expensive. An opinion based on just looking at it and reading the spec so I may be wrong.

For less money you could buy a single LED light array which is probably more effective in the water, lighter in the hand and easier to stow (such as the Salvo 3C Rat, PT LED or Heser).

Not everyone needs a powerful HiD primary and not everyone wants a canister light but I think that there are better and cheaper solutions out there than this 3 LED array lantern.

I could be well off of the mark and this might be the best dive light in the world but somehow I doubt it.

This is what you should have said instead of 'It looks awful'.

Some good points

Andy

[Rob Dobson]

Originally Posted by deepestandy

This is what you should have said instead of 'It looks awful'.

You're quite right Andy - no excuse but I'm tired and ratty from having been up all night trying to prevent my street from flooding. I shouldn't take that out on a torch. I should get out more - oh hang on I can't...

[Scubee]

B... once you have decided which torch you want, have a chat with your dive school/LDS - many will be able to negotiate deals with suppliers for instructors for all sorts of equipment.

[Loneshark]

Originally Posted by rob lumb

loneshark can you please expand on what you said about the greenforce torches especially the fragile bit.if you are talking hids the 21 watt hid bulb is literally bombproof made by brightstar the same people that make salvo bulbs.i have only replaced 2 bulbs in six years of selling them.the 10 watt hid is more fragile because it is made by welch alleyn but i still dont sell hundreds of spare bulbs for them.as regards to the overpriced you have to pay for quality and any decent torch will be within a certain price bracket ie salvos kowalskis etc

rob

From my experience as a dive guide, The fragile HID bulb syndrome was particularly common with Dive Rite lamps.
The greenforce lamp issues I saw were primarily down to the lamp head/cable connections, which seemed very tempremental. These were on halogen lamp heads, though there were cable issues on lamps having done quite few dives (200+).
I have seen the display of hammering nails in with a lamp head, so I assume Greenforce have sorted/sourced some robust bulbs.
Whilst the component structure of the GF lamps seems a good idea, from my experience, it seems a weak point on "high mileage" units,of what is a highly thought of product.