Sola 2000 vs. Sola 4000

I am trying to decide between the Sola 2000 and the Sola 4000 lights for video. And need some advice from people that have more experience than I do. I have never used lights in video before, and would like to start. I am wondering if the 4000's are overkill? I film with a Canon 5d mark ii, and generally use a 15mm fisheye lens. My diving is typically tropical. and up to this point all wide angle. Would like to start doing Macro during the day and on night dives.

What would I be missing by only getting the 2000's? Meaning, what kind of shots couldn't I get without the 4000's? I plan on buying 2 of whatever I end up deciding on. Money isn't a huge factor, but also, I don't want to spend more just to spend more.

I see the other threads about the 4000's and they seem to be great lights. I am sure that the 2000's are great as well.

Any help you can provide, would be fantastic.

Dustin

My philosophy used to be to analyse forever which would be the best and could I save money going with the cheaper option (no matter what we're talking about). After buying something less than "the best" on a few occasions and regretting it, I just now go for the top of the line (within reason) and know that my only regret might be that I paid more than I needed to. In the longer term, the cost means less than the usefulness.

That said, I will be buying a 4000 in the next couple of months. While I could get a 2000 and it would probably do the job, if it doesn't then it will end up costing me more.

I have zero experience with the 2000 but own (2) 4000. Be very skeptical about the proclaimed burn times L&M claims. They seem to work alright the few times I've used them but I'm not exactly sold on them yet and am still debating on whether to sell them or not. My other feelings about L&M and my ordeal to get these lights are outlined in another thread and don't want to distract from your initial question.

Good luck on your search...

Don

Keep in mind burn time you would expect to use per dive vs total burn time of light. Is the light's battery capacity sufficient to dive all day, or do you have to recharge? Do you have time to recharge between dives if necessary? If this will be a problem then you should consider 2 sets of lights (not clear if you plan to use 1 or 2 lights for shooting), since batteries are not interchangeable. Also include spares if you travel regularly.

Just received a phone call yesterday from someone in Indiana who had just bought the 4000s. He was very dissatisfied with his burn times and, according to him, the service and response times from L & M. You might want to consider lights from a company that will be responsive. Gates makes a great light as does Keldan.

Steve

Hi Steve,

Before trowing mud on a company I would like to read an in-depth explanation of the problems encountered.

And you cannot scary me while I'm waiting to receive a couple of SOLA 2000

What is the declared burning time?

What is the real burning time?

How many charge cycles it went through?

What's happened with the L&M customer service?

A friend of mine told me that Lost series was stopped because L&M did not shipped the SOLA ligths

Bye

M43user

the "search" function is your friend...grin.

sorry for the hijack from the OP question...

Hi Steve,

Before trowing mud on a company I would like to read an in-depth explanation of the problems encountered.

And you cannot scary me while I'm waiting to receive a couple of SOLA 2000

What is the declared burning time?

What is the real burning time?

How many charge cycles it went through?

What's happened with the L&M customer service?

 

A friend of mine told me that Lost series was stopped because L&M did not shipped the SOLA ligths

 

Bye

M43user

 

the "search" function is your friend...grin.

sorry for the hijack from the OP question...

I don't need the search function as my friend.

You wrote a tons of post ranting about the delivery time of your lights. And now what?

Could you tell us the burn test result of your light? How much it differs from declared burn time? How many cycles do they have?

You just posted that at the first dive you got 50' at full power. Do you think is it enough to defame a product/company? Someone replied you that you need some charge/discharge cycle to verify the correct burn time. It's the rule #1 of the battery life.

Now you came out again with generic sentences on this product: please specify what's the real problem.

PS

I was replying to Steve Douglas, not you.

Bye

The reason I am considering the 2, is because my wife has the sola 600 photo light, and we think it is great. Haven't had any problems with it, and the burn times seem reasonable to get 2 dives out of it. I am hoping to do the same with either the 2000 or 4000's.

M43user,

Wow...I apparently got you riled up...for that I apologize...to answer your question about cycles...got about 32 on them now so yeah I think I can talk about burn times...and your comment about replying to Steve and "not me.." well, I suppose I owe you another apology as I thought it was still a public forum where all could reply. Personally, I'd want to know the good and/or bad about a product that I was going to put a lot of money in to...sorry to the deeznutz78 about the derailed thread you started...good luck on your search.

Have a nice day...

I don't need the search function as my friend.

You wrote a tons of post ranting about the delivery time of your lights. And now what?

Could you tell us the burn test result of your light? How much it differs from declared burn time? How many cycles do they have?

You just posted that at the first dive you got 50' at full power. Do you think is it enough to defame a product/company? Someone replied you that you need some charge/discharge cycle to verify the correct burn time. It's the rule #1 of the battery life.

Now you came out again with generic sentences on this product: please specify what's the real problem.

 

PS

I was replying to Steve Douglas, not you.

 

Bye

M43user,

 

Wow...I apparently got you riled up...for that I apologize...to answer your question about cycles...got about 32 on them now so yeah I think I can talk about burn times...

You wrote:

Be very skeptical about the proclaimed burn times L&M claims. They seem to work alright the few times I've used them but I'm not exactly sold on them yet and am still debating on whether to sell them or not

Similar statement in another thread. If I want warn someone against a product I would say: "they promise X you get Y" with real data. Yes, you talk about burn times but still I have to see a number!

So what's the problem of these lights?

Bye

I am trying to decide between the Sola 2000 and the Sola 4000 lights for video. And need some advice from people that have more experience than I do. I have never used lights in video before, and would like to start. I am wondering if the 4000's are overkill? I film with a Canon 5d mark ii, and generally use a 15mm fisheye lens. My diving is typically tropical. and up to this point all wide angle. Would like to start doing Macro during the day and on night dives.

 

What would I be missing by only getting the 2000's? Meaning, what kind of shots couldn't I get without the 4000's? I plan on buying 2 of whatever I end up deciding on. Money isn't a huge factor, but also, I don't want to spend more just to spend more.

 

I see the other threads about the 4000's and they seem to be great lights. I am sure that the 2000's are great as well.

One needs as powerful a light as possible with daylight WA, but the 4k may be too powerful for night use. Then again you can buy ND or colored filters to cut the power down. Get what you think will be the most utilized and afford, but more light the better is a good rule.

Hi Steve,

Before trowing mud on a company I would like to read an in-depth explanation of the problems encountered.

And you cannot scary me while I'm waiting to receive a couple of SOLA 2000

What is the declared burning time?

What is the real burning time?

How many charge cycles it went through?

What's happened with the L&M customer service?

 

A friend of mine told me that Lost series was stopped because L&M did not shipped the SOLA ligths

I agree. Industry reps should not doing this.

well, I suppose I owe you another apology as I thought it was still a public forum where all could reply. Personally, I'd want to know the good and/or bad about a product that I was going to put a lot of money in to...sorry to the deeznutz78 about the derailed thread you started...good luck on your search.

Deco, you are very welcome to answer. I think it'll be very helpful to other members of the community if you did provide more details about why you are dissatisfied with the battery performance of the 4k and definitely appreciated. You are of course under no obligation to do so.

One needs as powerful a light as possible with daylight WA, but the 4k may be too powerful for night use. Then again you can buy ND or colored filters to cut the power down. Get what you think will be the most utilized and afford, but more light the better is a good rule.

The 4000 has 7 power settings (4000/3000/2000/1000/500/250/125lm) so it is easy to reduce the amount of light output.

Then if the extra weight and cost doesn't put him off, the 4k seems to be the better light choice.

Thanks everyone. I have decided to go with the 4000's. The person who sold them to me, said that the flexible arms will not be strong enough to handle the weight of these. So I am moving towards some ULCS arms. I already have two 12 inch bouyancy arms. What would you guys recommend would be a good length? Is one section okay? Or should I do a 2 section. Not sure how much you end up adjusting your lights in Video. In photo, my wife has a 8 inch and 5 inch on each side. What do you think?