what focus light for a budget?

Hello,

I am looking for a focus light.

Which one would you choose for a budget? I saw some 44 led focus light availlable at $75, are they good choice?

thank you

If it’s the Fantasea then I have it. Its work well for modeling, very wide beam and uniform.

There are people that don't like the cold light of the leds for this purpose but until now it didn't disturbed me.

Yes, this one.

I did some research and found there was a new "flash" version. a bit overpriced. Do you know the difference?

OK, just found it myself. It is not a photo flash but some kind of SOS flash..

The Fantasea light work fine for macro. Not sure it would through out a beam good enough for DSLRs to shoot macro at a distance. There are two models, one has the "blinking light" feature.

Do a search here for it and other lights, there were some long threads.

Jack

Well I did some more search and I think I will probably buy a sea&sea LX-15 instead of the fantasea 44 led light. You can have a look at this thread and then scroll down to the middle of the page, there is a comparison of focus lights. The Fisheye HG20DX is clearly over the others but the LX-15 is pretty good too and still in my price range.

http://www.digitaldiver.net/yabbse/index.p...44927#msg144927

what I wonder now is if it's not clever to buy a second strobe instead of the focus light?

The S&S light looks much better. but one problem I see with the LX 15 according to Sea & Sea site is that it has a continuous burn time of 40 minute only, not enough for most of my dives.

Because he 44 led light burn time is few hours I can use it the entire dive as my main light (I have another small light if I need in to aim without the housing follow.)

that is true.

but the fantasea seems so underpowered..

Have you taken a look at our LED? It's not as affordable as the fantasea and the LX15 but our SLX is capable of a 4+ hour burntime and its light output has impressed a lot of the people who has tried it. Check it out here:

http://www.nocturnallights.com/underwater_...s_assist_light/

Let me know if you guys have any questions, I'll be more than happy to assist you.

After flooding two $400 lights on one dive trip, I was reduced to my back up. I'd seen this light on another diver and asked about it. He was using it for a regular dive light. So I ordered one just before my Indonesia trip.

After using it on 10 or so dives, I found it quite functional other than having to point it a little more precisely than a Fix light. ULCS makes a nice little cradle piece that will attach it to you ball arms.

50 hr. burn time, yes that's right 50 hours. Uses 4 AA batteries. And for $51.95 it's a price we can live with.

Coast LED Lenser

Rand

UK mini Q40 LED light. I think I paid like 40$. UCLS has a holder that it works with. Takes 4 AAs.

So far it seems to work fine. Though between the D2X and the 105 AF-S VR I haven't had to use it that much.

Re LX-15, continuous burn time with 4 x 2400mah rechargeable battery was around 25 min. in my experiance. I still have it but, I use Fish-eye FIX light now.

Sam

I too have a difficult time justifying a flashlight that costs more than some of my lenses. I've used the Coast LED that Rand has as well as the Fantasea 44 LED light, both throw a nice broad beam (Fantasea is wider) that is fantastic as night dive focus lights. I currently still use a UK SL4 light for my housing, mainly because I have 2 of the things. I will likely swap over to the Coast or Fantasea prior to my next dive trip so that I will only use AA batteries.

Stu

I too have a difficult time justifying a flashlight that costs more than some of my lenses. I've used the Coast LED that Rand has as well as the Fantasea 44 LED light, both throw a nice broad beam (Fantasea is wider) that is fantastic as night dive focus lights.  I currently still use a UK SL4 light for my housing, mainly because I have 2 of the things.  I will likely swap over to the Coast or Fantasea prior to my next dive trip so that I will only use AA batteries.

 

Stu

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Hello Stu,

Can you compare between the fantasea 44 led light vs. the Coast LED Lenser?

I have the Fantasea but thinking to buy a second modeling light.

Arnon,

Fantasea throws out a broader beam and is noticeably brighter but for clear tropical water, the Coast works great. It'll do as a back up as it is smaller than the Fantasea.

Stu