Bigblue vl6000p what to thing ?

Anyone tried this video light ? Very appealing spec on paper (6000lumesn, 120 degree, 5000k, 2 hours, 499$) but what does it give real life ?

I have currently 2 sola and very happy with it most time, but I feel it is too short when in WA. I would like some more reach, and would dream to replace by 2 keldan or equivalent, but cannot afford. On paper 2 bigblue vl6000p would be an intermediate: more powerful, wider, warmer. But this is only on paper, any feedback would help.

Thanks

Jérome

Hi Jerome,

Have a look at the brand ScubaLamp and their V6K lights - 12,000lm 120' CRI 96 5400k for 700$ or even there V4K at 7,600lm for $500 (they do 'Pro' versions of both with extended battery for $200 more)

I've seen these in action and yes they are good!

Almost all of the lights/torches these days are using CREE LEDs (even high end brands like Keldan and Gates) and Cree have been slowly ramping up power and color quality of there LED modules, so expect to see a rapid increase in power (and CRI) in the cheaper end of the spectrum of dive lights over the coming year.

If you are looking at lighting WA - 6000lm won't touch the sides - you need to be looking at 10,000lm+ and possibly a narrower beam angle to punch through the water

Rich

Thanks Rich

Scubalamp v6k even more appealing regarding spec on paper. And til now it win over bigblue because I have 0 real life feedback , while at least I have 1 for scubalamp (you 😀).

Anyone else on both options ? (Or any other option I could afford)

How even is it over the 120 ? Is the advertise power and especially warm color nice ? And so forth... any feedback much welcome

Cheers

Jérome

I have a pair of BigBlue 2600 lumen lights that I use for macro video. They are are solidly built and are a really good value. However, battery life is about half of what is advertised. After about an hour, the output seems to cut in half making them largely unusable. I have heard that this is an issue across most of their product line and it was a key factor in my decision to move away from BigBlue when I upgraded.

I actually considered the VL6000's but ended up purchasing a pair of Scubalamp V4K Pros. They are a big step up from the BigBlue's in terms of output (7600 lumen), light quality (92 CRI) and burn time (90 minutes). I haven't had a chance to dive with them yet but the build quality is excellent for the price. I find them to be very similar to the Kraken 8000's in terms of build quality and specs. I will be diving them in early March and will share some video when I get the chance.

Those scubalamp v6ks have superb specs for their price! Not being able to have spare batteries for repetitive dives is a deal breaker tho. Shame!

You can buy spare battery units... :-)

http://www.scubalamp.com/products//photo-video-lights/bp-pro-818650-batteries-pack-105.html-105.html

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Oh well praise Jesus! Do u know how much they are by any chance?

Scubalamp VK6 PRO shot at 12mm Full Frame...

https://vimeo.com/250571060

Looks lovely taxi. Do u have extra battery packs for them? If so how much were they?

Yes have extra battery. Dont remember how much I paid sorry...

For what it's worth, I've got two of these el-cheepo lights, and they are seriously bright with little hot spotting. My only complaint is that the outmost 1-2deg of light has a yellow tint to it. Otherwise, they're great. I've had them to 70m, and they haven't flooded yet. I can get the light meter at work and work out how many kelvin they are.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Photography-Video-20000LM-10xXM-L2-4xRed-4xBlue-LED-SCUBA-Diving-Flashlight-Lamp/222352473644?hash=item33c53d7e2c:g:O-EAAOSwdGFYm8t1

Shot with FF Canon, and a Sigma15mm. Corner to corner is 180deg. I think if I get the lights just right with this, and a descent working distance it should just be able to avoid black corners and hopefully keep the yellowness out of it.

If anybody else is interested in knowing I found the extra battery packs to be about 250 usd each

Thanks Evil & taxi for feedback on scubalamp. Looks appealing. On their website it seems their is only two output level (12k and 6k). Am I wrong and it there a convenient way to dim ? Is the advertised 60min burn time a reality ? Taxi it looks quite even in your (nice) video with no hotspot in the center do you confirm ?

@bevanj, this is for Nikon FF with sigma 15mm. 2 lights of 120 should do it if it is real and even

Thanks

Jerôme

Thanks Evil & taxi for feedback on scubalamp. Looks appealing. On their website it seems their is only two output level (12k and 6k). Am I wrong and it there a convenient way to dim ? Is the advertised 60min burn time a reality ? Taxi it looks quite even in your (nice) video with no hotspot in the center do you confirm ?

@bevanj, this is for Nikon FF with sigma 15mm. 2 lights of 120 should do it if it is real and even

Thanks

Jerôme

110° wide and soft with no hot spots.

If you longpress button power will go down step by step till minimum power.

I have the V4K Pro, which is only 7600 lumens but advertises a 90 minute burn time. I have not yet been able to corroborate this since everything is frozen over here in Canada. I will be in Roatan in early March and plan to share some video when I get the chance.

I will be in Roatan in early March and plan to share some video when I get the chance.

I have been in Roatan all week and, unfortunately, most of my family has the flu and cannot dive. I am so congested that I can't even taste my food let alone equalize. So, I won't be able to play with my new toys until the summer. Well, at least I am not at work!

I have been in Roatan all week and, unfortunately, most of my family has the flu and cannot dive. I am so congested that I can't even taste my food let alone equalize. So, I won't be able to play with my new toys until the summer. Well, at least I am not at work!

That sucks. When I was in Roatan a few years ago stayed at the place Fantasy Island was filmed - real dive, but dive operation was great. Most of us got food poisoning there though...sat out several days of diving sick.

Sorry to hear about your bad experience at FIBR, Kristoph2008. The resort has a beautiful beach and an easy shore dive but, otherwise, you could not pay me to stay there. That said, it must have been absolutely splendid in its prime.

We are lucky in that we own a condo on Roatan and travel there several times per year. So, I only need to wait a few more months before getting back at it. In the meantime, I will keep polishing my new lights and dreaming about making more fish porn!

I have been using 2 Big Blue VTL3500 for the last year or so. I think they are great lights. I often run on 1/2 power for the majority of a 50 min dive, only switching to high when needed. Often 2 full 3500 lights are too much. I can get 2 dives easily on 1 charge, I have been conservitive and got a night dive as well. I now travel with 2 backup batteries ($40 each). I never worry about being conservative now.

For what it's worth, I've got two of these el-cheepo lights, and they are seriously bright with little hot spotting. My only complaint is that the outmost 1-2deg of light has a yellow tint to it. Otherwise, they're great. I've had them to 70m, and they haven't flooded yet. I can get the light meter at work and work out how many kelvin they are.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Photography-Video-20000LM-10xXM-L2-4xRed-4xBlue-LED-SCUBA-Diving-Flashlight-Lamp/222352473644?hash=item33c53d7e2c:g:O-EAAOSwdGFYm8t1

 

 

 

Bevan

I picked up 2 of these. I have no means to measure the output but the specs on the LEDs would confirm that 8K lumens is correct. The build quality is fine. I have not yet detected any color temp issues. I am shooting Canon Magic Lantern RAW video and GoPro 5 4k. Have taken these lights only on two shallow macro dives and they did fine.

See review of a branded version of the light here: https://nemopowertools.com/divelightblog/the-best-new-dive-light-of-2017-the-max-planck-8000/. 2 of these lights put out 16K L. With batteries,total cost is under $250. Crazy value if they keep working.