So just how good is a 10W HID anyway? seriously?

[Craig]

I love my 10W Sartek HID umbilical. Its a fixed focus 6 degree head, if I were to replace it I would want a focusable head. Other than that its a great compact torch.

I had a 50w halogen before it and the 10W seems brighter than that but I don't know if it is or if its just the effect of having a whiter light.

HTH,

[applepie]

Thanks for the replies and the videos.

hmmm i find it difficult to judge using the videos, i'm one of those sad people that have to see it for real. gonna try and have a look around next time i'm out in the water to to a comparison.

but looking good, although I was wondering if I should do another random course instead of buying a torch.

[AlanP]

So are they bright enough for my normal diving range of 40m max?

[hebails]

Originally Posted by AlanP

So are they bright enough for my normal diving range of 40m max?

Definitely.
Had my 10w Salvo at 45m in Chepstow and I was amazed.
I also had it at 32m this weekend in the darkest (day) dive I've ever done off Weymouth and it was very impressive.
Paul

[AlanP]

I like the look of the Salvo lights, but now they are in LED the Halcyon Proteus 3 / 10W HID, Fixed Beam is now almost £100 cheaper.


£400 is an expensive mistake to make. I need some thing that will penetrate the gloom.. + I am scared of the dark

[hebails]

Originally Posted by AlanP

I like the look of the Salvo lights, but now they are in LED the Halcyon Proteus 3 / 10W HID, Fixed Beam is now almost £100 cheaper.


£400 is an expensive mistake to make. I need some thing that will penetrate the gloom.. + I am scared of the dark

are you anywhere near wraysbury? I can show you what they are all about on the next night dive.
I agree they are expensive but they are worth the cost if you're going to be UK diving in the 30-40m range. Phil at Nakkers will look after you if you give him a ring to discuss your options (once you have made up your mind of course)
Not seen the LED version yet but I reckon there will be a comparison test done by someone on here soon (Paging Mr Chase)
Paul

[Buoyant Babe]

Originally Posted by AlanP

So are they bright enough for my normal diving range of 40m max?

Originally Posted by AlanP

I like the look of the Salvo lights, but now they are in LED the Halcyon Proteus 3 / 10W HID, Fixed Beam is now almost £100 cheaper.


£400 is an expensive mistake to make. I need some thing that will penetrate the gloom.. + I am scared of the dark

I've had my 10w Salvo down to 36m in Stoney in January on a particularly dark morning and was impressed with it. I also did some particularly dark, no-viz 25-30m dives at the Farnes and Eyemouth last year, again with no complaints about the torch. I think I'd be happy with it at 40m.

[CMOT]

I've owned and used a uk light cannon 10w hid great torch and battery life,but heavy and after getting a dive rite 35 halogen cannister torch would not go back to a pistol style grip love the goodmans handle, but battery only 60 mins and no where near as bright as the uk 10 hid and a yellow beam,upgraded to a halcyon 10w with focusable head and by far the best yet ,very bright and good battery life ,and no floods and very robust so far !

[rossc]

Originally Posted by weazelz

I have a salvo 10w umbilical & am delighted with it. I went for the fixed-focus because I think it's a bit more rugged & compact - I can be a clumsy bugger at times. I lent it to someone at the weekend who'd had their 18w salvo die, & they were impressed with it too

It was me who Andy very very kindly lent his 10w salvo too, and i have to say i was very very impressed we dived to 38m and the 10w is a great torch nice and compact but still with a really nice beamfor signaling . I think i need one as a back up ...No i don't ...Yes i do ...No i don't ..Yes i probably do

[incapete]

A bit of necromancy going on.... Raising a dead thread here...

I think I've narrowed my choices down to a 24w HID Darkbuster (nicely affordable), a Greenforce umbilical with a Tristar LED head (a bit more expensive) or a second hand Salvo 10w (a little more than I wanted to spend but going to last a long time...right?)

I'd rather get an umbilical than a handheld (partly so that I don't have to worry about losing it if I drop it!) and it's mainly for lighting up things in front of me so that I don't get scared when it all goes dark in the lovely UK vis we get but I can see the bennefits of signalling with it so a tightish beam seems good.
Diving is mainly in the 20-40m range on the South Coast with the odd venture down to 50m.

I know that LED is controversial but I don't like the idea of paying through the nose for new bulbs. How fragile are HID's really?

Is the output on the 10w Salvo really worth the money? I've not used one but wouldn't a 24w Darkbuster be a lot brighter? I'll sacrifice having to hold onto it if I'm getting more light for my cash. I'm worried about buying an expensive Salvo only to decide that it's not bright enough!

I've read so many threads on here and I still can't decide what's best! I guess I'm suffering from not having actually tried any of them.
Any thoughts would be most welcome!