Just found out that this manufacturer of lamps has gone out of business (https://lightandmotion.com/)

Trump tariffs on Chinese components won't help other US based manufacturers in the short term I assume

 

 

Quote

Dear customers,

Due to many factors, Light & Motion, a US manufacturer of dive, bike, photography and video lights is closing its operations. Over our 35 years in business, we have delivered some amazing products and enjoyed innovating to solve customer problems while building products in the US.

The challenges of being a US manufacturer are significant and the political winds, regardless of the talk, have been against US manufacturing, which continues its decline. We designed our lights to provide many years of continued use and we thank you all for your support over the years. We are not able to provide service, but some of our dealers are able to repair lights, including Backscatter.

Sincerely,
Daniel Emerson
CEO

 

 

 

That is a shame.

Wow thanks for the heads up and posting this unfortunate update.  

 

OK now the question is what brand of video light do people recommend?  I've been using the Sola 3800 lights for quite awhile now and have been happy.  I like to keep my underwater video rig small and compact using two lights.

 

Eventually I'll need to upgrade to something new.  Any thoughts?

OP:  How about we keep politics out of this forum?  Diving and photography are my refuge.  Please keep it that way.  

That's sad news. I liked their Sola lights.

1 hour ago, Troporobo said:

OP:  How about we keep politics out of this forum?  Diving and photography are my refuge.  Please keep it that way.  

Where did you see politic?

2 hours ago, CaolIla said:

Where did you see politic?

Probably where it says "Trump"?

Sorry I didn't read that... ( My mind problably errase this immediatly after read it... 🤣)

Let's move on, guys..... 

4 hours ago, humu9679 said:

That's sad news. I liked their Sola lights.

 

Yeah me too. Though I did find the charging mechanism a bit quirky. But sad news indeed.

Of course, the closure of a company is always bad news. For the loss of jobs, knowledge and less competition.

In this particular case, certainly economic factors such as labor costs, duties and so on were also influential, but I think there was basically an underlying lack of innovation. 15 years ago I had a couple of their lights and the current models were basically the same. As the competition moved on, their switches and charging system were identical and were already clearly their Achilles' heel 15 years ago.

 

 

I had a Titan housing for the Nikon D100. Excellent housing. Was able to convert for a Panasonic G7 and G85.

Sorry for the company"s demise.

So sad to read this 😞 .  My first video light with my compact system was from them.  Hope all the staff are okay.  Sad times.

Defiantly sad news for all those impacted.  And yes, I agree it was their lack of innovation that is the real underlying issue which caused people, including me, to move away from them over the years.  

 

While I have 3 of their lights, their "deep sleep" and trying to revive a battery that sits for a period of time has been problematic, for me at least.  I was able to resuscitate 2 of the 3, but despite all efforts with CPR and the paddles (taping the charger to the contacts 5 times), it has passed on to the great light sanctuary in the sky.

 

Better start saving for a pair of Keldans!

...that may take a little while....  🤣🤣🤣

 

6 hours ago, Davide DB said:

Of course, the closure of a company is always bad news. For the loss of jobs, knowledge and less competition.

In this particular case, certainly economic factors such as labor costs, duties and so on were also influential, but I think there was basically an underlying lack of innovation. 15 years ago I had a couple of their lights and the current models were basically the same. As the competition moved on, their switches and charging system were identical and were already clearly their Achilles' heel 15 years ago.

 

 

 

It is sad to see a US manufacturer close (and they are relatively "in my backyard" especially when I lived in the Bay Area) but I have to agree with Davide on this.

 

I used L&M lights for a while but had consistent problems with their switch mechanism. They were always very responsive and always fixed or replaced the lights, but it was a consistent problem (especially at depths > 40m or so) and I switched to other light manufacturers over 10 years ago.

 

Regardless, they will be missed and it is sad to hear about the closure. 

 

- brett

 

 

Last I had read, they were closed for designing and new direction, the newer Sola X is a fabulous creation, a completely new design. Customer service over the many years had always been outstanding.  Light & Motion was fabulously innovative and provided a variety of lighting options at many price points, hope the innovators from Light & Motion resurface!

17 hours ago, ChipBPhoto said:

Defiantly sad news for all those impacted.  And yes, I agree it was their lack of innovation that is the real underlying issue which caused people, including me, to move away from them over the years.  

 

While I have 3 of their lights, their "deep sleep" and trying to revive a battery that sits for a period of time has been problematic, for me at least.  I was able to resuscitate 2 of the 3, but despite all efforts with CPR and the paddles (taping the charger to the contacts 5 times), it has passed on to the great light sanctuary in the sky.

 

Better start saving for a pair of Keldans!

...that may take a little while....  🤣🤣🤣

 

 

This and the shoddy quality of their circuit boards...it was not a matter of if, but when the light will fail. When they worked, indeed were quite nice, definitely liked the switch as could change the power level even with my nose should hands be full 😉

But inevitably one by one they would break and the issue was usually the circuit board. What was worse, the company was not exactly helping past the warranty period - absolute refusal for sending any spare parts, demanding that light be always sent to their authorized service center and of course bill from those being as high as a cost of a new light.

 

And not sure they could be called US manufacturer neither - I think all the parts were made in China and merely assembled in US.

Edited January 6Jan 6 by makar0n

I think in the last few years, their main business was bike lights, not underwater. We had their video housings which were awesome and still use the Solas all the time.

Sorry to see them go.

Bill

 

that is too bad. My Sola 500 died after being dropped. I since then have replaced it with a Sola photo 800, which has been going strong the last 9 years.  Because other batteries have died on me before, there is a reminder in my diary to freshen up batteries every 6 weeks.

I think my first video lamp was the L&M sola 800. It worked well until it didn't (which is how my wife describes me).

I loved the design, and the compact size and the idea that it was all sealed - leaving less room for leaks.

 

Ajay