What type of Focus light do you use?

I bought the Nocturnal SLX light after reading this post, sure hope its a good light! I have a UK Q40 LED which I use to poke around crevices with and will do a "scientific" comparison and post the results once the Nocturnal light gets here.

I'm Using Sea And Sea LX-15

it's cheap and it's very bright, using 4 AA 2700 re-chargeable battery can last u about 60 minutes.

the intensity of the light cannot be adjusted, it's Fix

Andree

I'm using a Scubapro small light:

http://www.scubapro.co.uk/products.asp?P=619

I use it as a focus light for macro work.

The advantages:

On/Off is easy with a rear button. This is useful with shy critters . The old one I had needed to rotate head (very hard to do when UW and atched to the housing...)

Small, compact

3 small AAA gets you trough all the day long

I found another advantage to using the modeling lights on my DS125s on the weekend. I was trying to get shots of a gurnard and the pre-flash for the iTTL kept spooking it and it was move before the main flash. I turned the modeling lights on and this lit is with a more uniform light making the pre-flash less of a problem.

I've just bought a Fixeye 48 light which uses 8 replaceable AA batteries to power its LEDs - rather than the Fixeye 20 which uses a rechargable power pack which some Wetpixelers seem to have had problems with.

I've not yet really given it much of a run so cannot say just how good it is with my Nikon D200. But it features adjustable light output and is very solidly made with good, easy to use controls. And the 48 LED model is much cheaper than the 20.

I'll post back once I've taken it for a spin.

 

Dave

Hi Dave,

How are you liking it so far?

-Tim

I've not yet really given it much of a run so cannot say just how good it is with my Nikon D200.

Hello Tim,

Is it any good? 8 AA isn't bulky?

I use 2 UK Q40 led lights.

Pros:

cost ~$20 apeice

uses 4 AA batteries each

plenty bright for general focus light (except w/ 105VR)

(I generally use my UK Light Cannon for this lens)

double as backup light for night dives

very durable

lightweight

bulb last forever

when used w/ diffusers you get a nice even light

(I cut diffusers from UK light cannon diffuser)

2 lights mounted together looks cool

Cons:

Non adjustable intensity

not bright enough for night diving

want a little more power for 105VR

Take care,

John

John

Hi Dave,

 

How are you liking it so far?

 

-Tim

I finally got to dive with the Nocturnal SLX last week on a live aboard trip up to Port Hardy BC. It was a great spotting light as well as a primary dive light, even in green water. I got about 4 hours on a set of 6 AA alkaline batteries. I did not do as well on my rechargeable NiMh 2500 mAh cells, maybe only 2 hours. I suspect my rechargeables might be at end of life and just bought some new ones. Or maybe it likes alkalines better.

I used it with the Nikkor 105, 60, and Sigma 15 all in low light conditions and night dives. The 105 is very picky, but it had plenty of light to focus.

Anyway, I really like the size, weight, and illumination of the Nocturnal. Recommended.

Here are a few photos from the trip:

[Rare Nakwakto Rapids Barnicles]

[browning Wall Rockfish]

[Dillon Rock Octo - Night Dive]

Dave

For decades, I've just used ike PCAs, as focus light. Cheap, but kind of hot spotty.

I've just picked up the tiny fisheye ultra compact focus light:

http://www.reefphoto.com/index.php?main_pa...97100b57d6bdaf8

Still dirt cheap, at $45.

Runs all day off 4 AAA cells, and it turns itself off for a second, every time it sees a flash or preflash. This totally rocks.

Don, how wide is the beam from this light ?

The beam is quite narrow - at 1 foot away, (above water), the bright core of the beam is 5 inches across, and the whole beam is about 7-8 inches diameter.