Alec- i saw an interesting use of the goodman handle. Some tech types are mounting folding dive knifes to the palm side of the handle so they always have a blade ready to deploy. They connect the knife to the handle with small nuts and bolts.
Interesting use but what do they expect to find each dive that needs such a ready tool? If I pull my knife/tool out once in a hundred dives thats to cut/remove fishing line mostly. Good for them and thanks for sharing. A
I *just* bought an Ano CL 2300 canister light. Looking forward to trying it out tomorrow night. Looks like a very similar light and price, but with six 18650's and brighter / shorter run times. I hope it works out! Run times ranging from 12 to 3 hours, and high brightness for our silty Ontario lakes should be good for signalling. Its lowest brightness is still brighter than my old light's brightest setting! Great video Alec and Kevin!
I just read an article about dive lights getting too bright. It was interesting and had some good points. So, your light sounds good but try to be a good buddy by not using it to overpower your buddy or worse, blind him. I often found that Ontario lake were best explored without a light at all. When badly silted and low visibility, a bright dive light just shines back into your own eyes - like driving with high beams in the fog. Thanks for watching. Alec
Alec, thank you for interesting video. Having used canister lights for years I have to comment your point to use those for photo or videography. Canister lights definitely have lumens enough for video or photo but the distribution is not favorable. Any normal dive light (canister or not) has a bright narrow center beam and dimmer sides. When used for photo the center of the picture will easily burn while sides are under exposed. Therefore separated video lights exist. Those have wider smooth beam. I don't encourage anyone to rely on a canister light as light source for photo or video if she does not really know what she is doing.
Yep! You're quite right. Every light is different and I didn't see that hot spot with this light. It's so bright that one could use a diffuser and still have plenty of light for a GoPro. A super wide angle beam with no hot spot is what you need for video. Thanks. Alec
I have had 2 issues with my OrcaTorch D620. First it flooded but I got a new one. A few months later the LED burnt (the same for my two dive buddies, so 3 different OrcaTorch D620 with same issue!) But I got a new one, so thank you OrcaTorch for good service! It is a good light I think, but I became a bit worried with these issues....
LED lights should last a long time but many dive lights are over-powered to get more light. That will shorten their life and make them more susceptible to damage. It's the old compromise - you can't get more light from the same bulb without giving up something. Alec
Yeah. Archon, Brinyte, Thorfire and Orcatorch make solid dive lights. The Div10W is on my shortlist. Good batteries like Liitokala 26650s and chargers too are essential too.
I think a lot of these lights are from the same or related manufacturers. They certainly have got a lot better in the last 5 years. And the batteries too. Thanks QQ. Alec
Another great video. I love my canister lights as well and carry them on almost all my dives (mostly day dives). They are nice for signaling in low viz conditions here in Upstate NY. Also in the Carribean, brings the colors out of the coral.
Hi Alec Another good tip. But is it? Think how easily you can get dazzled and lose your sight temporarily. Then think of the critters that you shine this powerful light on. Many of them need their sight to survive! Suddenly, just for a few seconds, they have become easy prey! And, of course, the situation is worse at night! Don't get me wrong, good lights are necessary but, as with other divers, don't shine the light directly into their eyes. I was happy to dive with a GoPro, together with a very small, but powerful, lamp (Qudos by Knog), on the end of a 1.5m stick (Quikpod Ultra). I used this setup to film video until someone pointed out how close the light was to the eyes of the critters. I stopped doing this immediately, even though the lamp was at its lowest setting.
Divers generally are attracted to bright lights. They want the brightest they can afford. But often, as you've pointed out, you don't need nor even want too much light. And of course, your buddy will certainly agree. Get a bright light but do be thoughtful. Thanks Michael. Alec
Hi Alec. The new LED lights are so much better than the old waterproof "flashlight" types. However if you have an old one with an incandescent bulb and it still works you might consider replacing the old bulb with the drop in replacement LED types. The batteries will last much longer and it will be fine as a spare in your bcd pocket, or just give it to a new diver starting out. make sure you choose the 3 or 6 volt types (from amazon or other electronics store) to suit the old two or four battery flashlights. You could also carry a lighter to relight the candle in a jar when it goes out? Thanks Owen m
Ha. Tried that! Yep. You can often get an LED to replace an incandescent. It is certainly going to be an improvement but probably not as good as a new light that is engineered to place the LED in exactly the right spot. Good idea though. Thanks Owen. Alec
I tried replacing my regular light bulbs in workbench tools with LED 12v bulbs with same spring loaded contact and it was a disaster - cheap bulb from china (hard to find actually) wasn't bright at all (sure consumes tons less though).
Amazingly small power pack & head, good burn time. I looked up the $$$, compared to typical tech/cave lights, a FRACTION of the price. I'd love to dive one. Priced within budget of enthusiastical sport guys and ladies.
Hello and thanks again for a nice video! I have a question: Is the connector between the canister and the light standard? This would mean that you can connect canisters and lights from different manufacturers.
Hi Andreas, The power cable from the canister screw top to the light is one piece. Unless another manufacturer has the same threads, diameter, and power to the LED, cannot interchange the parts. But for the price, you could buy 2 or 3 vs some big name canister lights. Hope this helps.
No. Few dive light manufacturers have tried to standardize their connections. They prefer to hope that you will buy their products only. It took a while for scuba gear to reach the level of standardization we enjoy today. Alec
Hi Alec. I’ve got a GoPro camera. I wondered what you thought about Mcoplus le 200y led lamp that attaches just below the GoPro. I’m just a beginner underwater photography so would value your opinion. Ps your tips are brilliant 👌👌🤗
I don't know that light personally but it looks pretty good and it's certainly cheap enough. I have used the Light & Motion Sidekick light many times an it does a good job with the GoPro. I like the Spot/Flood Duo so you have some control over the light. Good luck. Alec
I got the Sidekick Duo recently and it worked pretty well for it's size with a GoPro on a recent dive trip (can't beat the compactness and shove the handle/floater in your waste strap when not filming). It worked great until I came into waters with lots of particles (like we get in monterey) and you get a tons of light scatter - not sure if the short arm to move it off would make a big difference - building a camera rack with bigger arms and stronger lights to see.
keep in mind the Sidekick is only 600LM - but real lumens not chinese ones. Just got a pair of chinese "3200LM" 4 LED that had good review on amazon (half price on aliexpress) and they are not as bright as the single LED Sidekick so they may go back... I generally find the many led arrays to be poor performance (they make up bad leds by packing a ton of them... I have a similar gopro array of led container (that takes gopro batteries) and it not bright and flooded first time (even after I lubed all seals).
So many of the D620s burn out with only a handful of dives on them. Way too many lumans for a cheaply made light. They promise a lot of lumens but those lumens do no good if they destroy the light.
Don't remember exactly what happened but Kevin's Kinston ship wreck trip with this light changed to Tobermory after this was scheduled for release so not included. I remember some clips he took on the "Alec G" wreck at night and its bright. A
An advertisement requires payment for endorsement. Please don't mistake my enthusiasm for a good diving product as an advertisement. If I wanted to make money endorsing a product I'd say yes to the many offers to put paid ads on my U-Tube videos. We actually paid to get this light into our hands after we heard about it and paid to make this video! There are darn few high power, good quality canister lights on the market for less than $300. I thought it a good idea to point out this one. It's not the best, not the brightest, not even the best made but, it it is high power, good quality for less than $300! Thanks for watching. Alec
Less than your car insurance for 1 year! However, I never suggest that anyone by something unless it's going to be used and useful. If it IS going to be used and useful, $1000 is cheap. Take care. Alec
Alec. been following your channel for a few years. I have to agree with other posters, orcatorch are poor value. Expensive, unreliable and not fit for purpose. 3 divers at my club have each had LED burn outs.
Some have great results, others not so much, like a lot of scuba gear. Mine still works with no problem but sometimes it is the post dive care that affects lights. Watch my video S06E12 Dive Light Care. The most important tip with any scuba light is to remove and dry the insides. See if you get ideas from this video Rob.
Haha disagree Rob. I have an Orcatorch D630 (same type as the one in the video). 4 years, well over 100 dives, no problems at all. It’s solid as a rock. The only key *with literally ANY brand of can dive light* is making sure you don’t yank or damage the cord. Make sure it’s streamlined and trim, and isn’t sticking out.
Anyway the Orcatorch D630 is 4000 lumens lasting 5 hours, and only costs $600 bucks. The Dive Rite’s similar light, EX-35, only lasts for 3.5 hours at 4300 lumens and costs $1200. So 30% less usage time, only 6% more lumens, and double the price. Yikes.
I can’t speak for your friends, but either 1) they were noobs and didn’t have the cable trim/taut and out of the way… OR 2) they, or you, own dive shops which sell competitor’s brands of light, and have a conflict of interest
