Hi Dr. Ben! My wife and I have been using your exact setup shown here, Sofirn SD01 and the Orcatorch modified Goodman handle for about a year and 130 dives now! Not a SINGLE issue! We are now looking to purchase our first canister lights (our GUE Fundies instructor highly prefers a can light) but thank you so much for introducing us to this budget friendly setup!
Thanks! Yeah I don’t say that you always should go cheap and I understand when people buy premium brands. But I started diving when I was a student and I know how many hours working as a bouncer go into one dive light 😉. So I try to find solutions for people with a tighter budget, because they are not always bad!
DoktorBEN You are my kind of diver not hung up on brands but practically of the device. We dive in quarries 3 to 10 ft visibility so we need that light.
Really enjoyed that. I'm pointing more friends at diving now so these reviews are really helpful! I've found the QC on some of the cheaper dive lights variable. Some are fine, some leak randomly and die. I think sometimes that reassuring feel is something you pay for, especially with back up lights.
Yes I know what you mean. Especially Backup lights aren’t used regularly. So very likely you notice that they don’t work when it’s too late anyway. Very forgettable, still worth checking the backups before every dive
Hi, I have that light and use it a bit more than one year. The first dive was a bit extreme experience, it happened during descending, on the depth of 20m when the light switched off. I used my secondary light. When I was back on the boat, it is worked again. That light is water resistant, at least up to 40m. The problem is in the magnetic swith, after replacing the magnet that torch works well.
Hi Ben, keep up the work - I really enjoy your videos! After this video i bought one and could test it yesterday. I can confirm it's definitely 40m+ waterproof, even the switch worked at depth better than I thought. IMHO it could be a 10° Spot but i think it has more than the advertised 5000K compared to the other lights we took with us. Nevertheless it is good for communication and of course diving in general ;-). We had some particles in the water so I used the high setting and in depth even medium was bright enough and did not blend. The final question to be clarified will be the durability ... . By the Way: The cells are used in parallel (all tips of the cells point in the same direction)
Yes you’re right. The cells are in parallel! Anyway, I’m happy with the light so far. Sure, the durability has to be tested but already working on this for a new video 😉
Thanks for these great, realistic reviews! I really like how more expensive isn't automatically better in all respects with your reviews :-) I really like how some of the affordable brands are more honest about their batteries than many of the more expensive ones. And by honest, I mean that they simply use 18650 or 26650 cells instead of using the same cells, packaging them in some plastic and charging a premium. The battery in my Metalsub handheld is literally two IMR 26650s with some plastic wrap and some connections on them. But when the cells are simply used as they come, like you said, you can buy an extra set to switch. And when the cells degrade, you can replace them cheaply. And when battery technology improves, you can give your light an upgrade by buying a few new cells. And when you already have some cells lying around, you can of course save some money if there's an option to buy the light without batteries :-)
As a student baulking at the price of tech diving, these "budget" reviews are so appreciated! Just a question - is this light GUE standard compliant? - I think I read that the magnetic switches are not allowed...?
Yes I started this as a student, too. That’s the reason I started this series. I don’t find anything in the standards that’s against magnetic ring switches. But I can bring the question up officially.
@@DoktorBEN Do you know the TillyTec light? What about their Mechanismen to switch on/ of by Screwing the battery tube? Would you make a Review of them if they are useable for GUE diving?
I personally use, or used for a long time a MOD light, which basically was a TillyTec. I don’t see any standard violations by this light and I think turning the tube is a simple an reliable mechanism to turn the light on and off.
Thank you for the informative videos as usual, keeping them coming. The goodman handled you shared is disconnected, any other recommendation you know it fits ?
Yeah I think after the video, many people got these. Think they never sold so many handles without anything else. Unfortunately I tried just this, but I think any other will work, too. I think the magnetic switch won’t interfere even with other handles.
Thanks! It’s a bit wider than on the Halcyon Flare. It’s a bit disadvantageous but I would say it’s ok for communication. And you have the boost mode that is extremely bright.
If I was doing lots of technical dive I would buy the EXP, however as I am only ADVOW diver, I would prefer to save the bux and instead buy myself some extra dives -J
I’m a little biased when it comes to primary lights because I think canister lights are mandatory for your hose management and I like that I can drop my light without loosing it. This said ... when I started, I wish O has cheaper options than going with the Focus 2 but I’m still using 2 years down the road.
@@DoktorBEN true ... I used one before I got my Canister... but why bother canisters are much more versatile... In Canada we dive cold dark waters most of the time... that power comes handy.
Sure! It’s the same in Germany and when it comes to heating a canister can be nice. On the other hand I often dive a handheld plus a canister just for the heating.
@@DoktorBEN The invoice for mine calls them 'hose retaining piece'. I also ordered a canister light (a budget friendly one, let's see how it holds up!), but don't want to be forced to bring it on dives that don't need it.
Thanks for the informative review. If you have the chance, could you measure the in-water weight of the SD01? Like in a bowl of water or something? The 750g dry weight is a lot, but I wonder how much is left of that under water. I have a similarly sized 4x18650 cheap video light, which weights almost 400-500g under water and it gets somewhat tiring holding it for long.
@@DoktorBEN Thanks. Out of curiosity, how would you measure it during a dive :) I personally don't have a waterproof scale, so at home I hang the object on a scale and put it in a bowl of water. Or without a good scale, I fill the bowl to the edge, put the object inside, and measure the quantity of water displaced, then calculate the weight.
Hi Benjamin do you have a link to the goodman handle you used? The one in the description doesn't work. thanks a lot. Also whats the spot angle ? looks very wide right? Cheers
I’m not sure what the angle is. I guess you can find the link on Amazon along with the technical data. I guess the handle is discontinued unfortunately
Hi Ben! What is the width of Goodman handle in an attachment point? I am trying to figure out whether my handle fits or not (does shifting mechanism affect or no). Thanks!
@@DoktorBEN It is a great video, I was persuaded to buy one of these, so have just picked one up and a folding Goodman handle (the orcatorch d620) , which will hopefully fit okay!
I like to get the light but I can't find the good man handle for it your link for is no longer available which model is it so I can order one too. Thank you
