Princeton Tec Scuba Lights
Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 1:58 pm
So I've heard all the different opinions on hand-held versus canister, and have seen the difference. Yes, canister lights are the brightest by far... and you're getting what you pay for!!! I am getting a canister light, but had a chance to pick up some of the Princeton Tec lights, cheap. My brother works for REI and had a chance to pro-deal them. I got them all for less than $100. How could I say no?!
Impact XL - will be an excellent back-up or primary light in excellent vis. It feels good, is easily operated with gloves, good to 100 meters deep, has 50 hours of burn time from 4 AA batteries on it's 1 watt eLED. It's bright and the bulb won't burn out. Rated "Tester's Choice" and "Best Buy" by Scuba Diving Mag.
Shockwave LED - Sweeeeeeet. 8 C's power it for 20 hours or 12 hours on high power, it's also good to 100 meters. Very bright with triple bulbs each being 3-watt eLED's, easily handled with gloves and when wet, light weight (basically just the batteries). It's not a canister light, but has been rated "Tester's Choice" and "Best Buy" by SD magazine and it's sweet. You can find them on eBay for around $100... but mine was a lot cheaper than that!!!
Blast: Runs on 2 AAA's with a Xenon bulb... very bright for a tiny light. It makes another great back-up for that really bad situation or to lend to a buddy. It'd also clip onto a mask strap easily (that's what I'm going to try) - one on each side? Headlights!!! At $7 retail, it's a must have and good to 100 meters. In a perfect vacuum and in complete darkness, it shines 52 meters... that means you should get about 2 feet in the Sound (but that's enough to read gauges and signal the boat!).
Other than that, I picked up their "Aqua Strobe" which is kind of fun - we'll see, but there's an argument to be made for it's use on a night time boat dive. Flashes for 8 hours on 1 AA and floats up-right in the water. Can easily be attached on a BC next to a whistle. Totally not necessary, but a boy can't have too many toys right?!
Anyway, I just thought I'd let folk's know I'm playing with LED's - if anyone would like to take 'em for a ride, let me know.
Impact XL - will be an excellent back-up or primary light in excellent vis. It feels good, is easily operated with gloves, good to 100 meters deep, has 50 hours of burn time from 4 AA batteries on it's 1 watt eLED. It's bright and the bulb won't burn out. Rated "Tester's Choice" and "Best Buy" by Scuba Diving Mag.
Shockwave LED - Sweeeeeeet. 8 C's power it for 20 hours or 12 hours on high power, it's also good to 100 meters. Very bright with triple bulbs each being 3-watt eLED's, easily handled with gloves and when wet, light weight (basically just the batteries). It's not a canister light, but has been rated "Tester's Choice" and "Best Buy" by SD magazine and it's sweet. You can find them on eBay for around $100... but mine was a lot cheaper than that!!!
Blast: Runs on 2 AAA's with a Xenon bulb... very bright for a tiny light. It makes another great back-up for that really bad situation or to lend to a buddy. It'd also clip onto a mask strap easily (that's what I'm going to try) - one on each side? Headlights!!! At $7 retail, it's a must have and good to 100 meters. In a perfect vacuum and in complete darkness, it shines 52 meters... that means you should get about 2 feet in the Sound (but that's enough to read gauges and signal the boat!).
Other than that, I picked up their "Aqua Strobe" which is kind of fun - we'll see, but there's an argument to be made for it's use on a night time boat dive. Flashes for 8 hours on 1 AA and floats up-right in the water. Can easily be attached on a BC next to a whistle. Totally not necessary, but a boy can't have too many toys right?!
Anyway, I just thought I'd let folk's know I'm playing with LED's - if anyone would like to take 'em for a ride, let me know.