Archon D10u wa/ zoom review

[scorman]

Just ordered d10u through Amazon and received torch for scuba video and still recording application.
Unit is very well constructed and uses two o-rings for seal.
They supply two spare o-rings, but "supplied" silicone grease was missing from packaging.
Zoom is very tight, but no access to seal for zoom section.
Wide beam pattern of 68 degrees looks adequate and fairly uniform except for slight bright spot in center.
Supposed to be 6500K color, which should be ideal for daylight balance.
Torch has high, low, flashing modes, all activates by successive twisting tail section.
Their other model D11v is fixed wide angle at 110degrees (well suited for wa GroPro) and slightly brighter lumins overall by 20%,
but at 68 degrees beam angle, this one should be brighter lux for general scuba photography.
Narrowest beam shows square chip projection.
I will pressure test to 130ft diving spec to verify advertised design and will only post if I get a failure.
Uses (1) 18650 with built in protection circuit ...a 2100mAh (tested) battery last 55 minutes until "blinking", then another 10 minutes in low power mode. Battery after discharge showed 2.85volts, which is proper.
The unit at narrow handle gets quite warm on discharge (won't be a concern underwater). They claim 70 minutes on high setting, which is quite likely with a 2650mAh battery.

Note: although listed on Amazon for $46.80 USD w/free shipping, was shipped from China and took 4 weeks for delivery.
Have not been able to find a US distributor online or on eBay. Prices vary by as much as 3x.
I choose Amazon, so if I had any complaints, there is someone to complain too that might make it right and I didn't want to give
a company in China my CC number for security reasons.
I will post photos of inexpensive camera/torch bracket assembly shortly, as well as beam spread projected on wall.
Stew Corman

 

[EL Pistoffo]

Looking forward to your results. Will you be using this light for video? I have a pair of the D11V. Although I'd really like Sola lights, I wonder if the d10u would perform better for my macro video or night use.

 

[scorman]

Archon D10u hardware review

I am evaluating the Archon D10U zoom torch as used for video shooting in a scuba application with a Panasonic Lumix ZS25 in an underwater case. At 1x camera zoom, the camera is equiv to 24mm lens, 2x is 50mm, 4x is 100mm, etc. The torch has zoom capability from 8-> 68 degrees, whereby at narrow beam, it projects a square image of the LED emitter.

The test setup has the torch mounted in an eBay "bike" clamp mount on an inexpensive Tiffen Stroboframe aluminum tray mount, pivoting sideways with a #10 SS socket head cap bolt . The original top mount bar has been modified by replacing with SS bolts and locknuts, and to allow tilting of the arm slightly downward by a small horizontal groove and two #10 cap bolts. Test setup was with camera case assembly mounted on a tripod at 3ft distance from a wall, whereby at full torch zoom of 68 degrees, the round beam was 30 inches in diameter and showed a slight hot spot in center. When zoomed in to 20 inches, the beam was more uniform and slightly squared, and when only 14 inches wide was most uniform and more squared in shape, but limited in utility.

here is a photo of the hardware:


Photos of both the mounting hardware and beam patterns are located at the following Picasa album:
https://picasaweb.google.com/113529...&authkey=Gv1sRgCMXEmYTNuJifDw&feat=directlink

The image of the beam on the camera screen above can be viewed by zooming in on the album photos.

Conclusion:
I very rarely shoot at wide angle, but prefer to keep about two to three feet from subject and zoom in at 3x or 4x. The beam spread of this torch seems acceptable for these settings and quite bright, and with a color of 6500K, should provide good coloration, even at several more feet distance for larger subjects. The bright spot at the center may require placing a thin spot of petroleum jelly on the front of the lens to disperse the intensity. I will have the opportunity to experiment for real first week of May in Cozumel.

Stew

 

[scorman]

Finally did a submersion test to 140feet hydrostatic pressure for an hour and the D10U was waterproof...not a drop inside.
Ordered two sets of (2) 18650 from Xtar off eBay and they are performing well on high setting (cost under $5 each shipped).
The unprotected LG 4.35v/3200mAh (charged to 4.20v) tested at 2950mAh and lasted 70min (hot) and 80min (cold).
When in air, the aluminum case got to 130F ...and that is hot to the touch! Next test went into a tub of water.
The protected 3.7v/2600mAh Sanyo tested at/above their rating and lasted 68 minutes when cold.

The torch has a built in low v protection and blinks at the above times and would eventually shut off, but when I immediately switched to low power and they run another hour+.
The beam does get dimmer near the end, which surprised me because LEDs are current driven devices, but the circuits used here reduce the wattage as well....don't know if other manufacturers have better circuitry? Batteries were just below 3v when removed.

Can't wait to try out movies in Cozumel in two weeks.

Stew