K
KeithG
Guest
I have been looking at upgrading my divebuddy's ancient huge and heavy RCD8 and am slowly learning about the modern world of dive lights. I recently made 2 purchases: 1 really bad, 1 really good (thanks Jim Lapenta!).
This was done after a review of many old threads where people jumped up and claimed to be able to identify "the world's best" light. My conclusion was that 1 size does not fit all. Different lights for different uses.
BUT: Some features should prevail. Or not?
I thought it would educational (or maybe at least a little entertaining? especially if we can get some bickering going) if we had a different type of thread where people got to discuss dive light "features" as opposed to specific dive light "models".
So I ask: What is the best and worst dive light feature you have encountered?
I will start with a few of my own "opinions"...
a) Twist to turn on - worst feature ever, if it also unscrews the light in any way shape or form. My divebuddy has unscrewed everything I own when attempting to turn them on. Lefty loosy, righty tighty is too hard to remember. This feature is a non starter for any dive light for me. I require a light with a switch. My elcheapo light had a magnet operated ring that was way to easy to flip off.
b) 1 dive battery life - worst feature ever. Her RCD8 use 8 D cells (approx 97 lbs weight?) and can last a whole week of night dives on a single set of batteries with no visible drop off in light. So around 7 hours. We open it once per trip. Unfortunately, most of the new small LED jobs seem to run around 1 hour at high power. I am not sure that high power is required?
c) Battery power indicator - What? Why? Okay, very useful if you do not expect to get a full week out of 1 battery charge. So YES! Required on the new generation of "compact" lights that will not go the whole week.
d) Selectable light levels - very useful if your light puts out too much light. Or you need a light for different conditions. Even in high viz caribbean diving we can use 2 different light levels: watch the fish & where's the boat? So selectable light levels becomes a nice to have, but not a deal killer.
Discuss...
This was done after a review of many old threads where people jumped up and claimed to be able to identify "the world's best" light. My conclusion was that 1 size does not fit all. Different lights for different uses.
BUT: Some features should prevail. Or not?
I thought it would educational (or maybe at least a little entertaining? especially if we can get some bickering going) if we had a different type of thread where people got to discuss dive light "features" as opposed to specific dive light "models".
So I ask: What is the best and worst dive light feature you have encountered?
I will start with a few of my own "opinions"...
a) Twist to turn on - worst feature ever, if it also unscrews the light in any way shape or form. My divebuddy has unscrewed everything I own when attempting to turn them on. Lefty loosy, righty tighty is too hard to remember. This feature is a non starter for any dive light for me. I require a light with a switch. My elcheapo light had a magnet operated ring that was way to easy to flip off.
b) 1 dive battery life - worst feature ever. Her RCD8 use 8 D cells (approx 97 lbs weight?) and can last a whole week of night dives on a single set of batteries with no visible drop off in light. So around 7 hours. We open it once per trip. Unfortunately, most of the new small LED jobs seem to run around 1 hour at high power. I am not sure that high power is required?
c) Battery power indicator - What? Why? Okay, very useful if you do not expect to get a full week out of 1 battery charge. So YES! Required on the new generation of "compact" lights that will not go the whole week.
d) Selectable light levels - very useful if your light puts out too much light. Or you need a light for different conditions. Even in high viz caribbean diving we can use 2 different light levels: watch the fish & where's the boat? So selectable light levels becomes a nice to have, but not a deal killer.
Discuss...