Scubagirl62
Registered
Well I just returned from a 40 dive Indonesia trip taking with me both the D32VR and the newer W40VR. Here is a bit of a report. First some photos.
![IMG_6456c.jpg IMG_6456c.jpg](https://scubaboard.com/community/data/attachments/122/122167-a5495c29a9b1374962db455a0eb5df59.jpg)
![IMG_6455c.jpg IMG_6455c.jpg](https://scubaboard.com/community/data/attachments/122/122168-5ca6b6f974b75dfdc9488e7005e1e642.jpg)
![IMG_6453c.jpg IMG_6453c.jpg](https://scubaboard.com/community/data/attachments/122/122169-99e8581d1d6848282f87457c7d73a4ae.jpg)
The lights are compact and bright. The W40VR nicer with the magnetic switches controlling the lights vs. the D32VR where you have to twist the end to open and close an electrical contact. The W40VR also has added purple and UV lights in addition to the white and red that both lights have. The white light of the W40VR is also brighter. Both take the same battery. Now off diving.
D32VR
Good news first. The D32VR worked fine as advertised. The red and white lights are quite bright. I used it on all day and night dives. The flicker problem reported earlier when videoing on the low setting seems to have been solved. This YouTube link shows a brief video shot at night with the D32VR on low setting Night dive, Flores, Indonesia using Archon D32VR light - YouTube . The red light is bright enough to use at night to see.
Bad news. The on-off mechanism is by physically turning the body of the light in order to make or break the battery connection. At the point of contact, there is some aluminum to aluminum contact and I noticed some fine aluminum shavings starting to accumulate inside the battery compartment. Wiped it out with some cloth, but this can't be good news for long term use. The depth affects the ease of turning the body as well.
W40VR
Well, the light flooded on the first dive. Badly and it happened pretty shallow. And yes, I certainly did a number of sink and camera bucket tests first. The Chinese supplier has been contacted and the light is being returned. Standby for an update.
More later.
![IMG_6456c.jpg IMG_6456c.jpg](https://scubaboard.com/community/data/attachments/122/122167-a5495c29a9b1374962db455a0eb5df59.jpg)
![IMG_6455c.jpg IMG_6455c.jpg](https://scubaboard.com/community/data/attachments/122/122168-5ca6b6f974b75dfdc9488e7005e1e642.jpg)
![IMG_6453c.jpg IMG_6453c.jpg](https://scubaboard.com/community/data/attachments/122/122169-99e8581d1d6848282f87457c7d73a4ae.jpg)
The lights are compact and bright. The W40VR nicer with the magnetic switches controlling the lights vs. the D32VR where you have to twist the end to open and close an electrical contact. The W40VR also has added purple and UV lights in addition to the white and red that both lights have. The white light of the W40VR is also brighter. Both take the same battery. Now off diving.
D32VR
Good news first. The D32VR worked fine as advertised. The red and white lights are quite bright. I used it on all day and night dives. The flicker problem reported earlier when videoing on the low setting seems to have been solved. This YouTube link shows a brief video shot at night with the D32VR on low setting Night dive, Flores, Indonesia using Archon D32VR light - YouTube . The red light is bright enough to use at night to see.
Bad news. The on-off mechanism is by physically turning the body of the light in order to make or break the battery connection. At the point of contact, there is some aluminum to aluminum contact and I noticed some fine aluminum shavings starting to accumulate inside the battery compartment. Wiped it out with some cloth, but this can't be good news for long term use. The depth affects the ease of turning the body as well.
W40VR
Well, the light flooded on the first dive. Badly and it happened pretty shallow. And yes, I certainly did a number of sink and camera bucket tests first. The Chinese supplier has been contacted and the light is being returned. Standby for an update.
More later.