Question Help for Big Blue light choice

[sharko108]

Only on tropical night dives perhaps. Anywhere with particulate in the water and your vision will actually be reduced, more power just making it worse.
A tight beam plus edge spill works better.

But tight beam means less surface ? I think i've to test by myself with the vtl4200 probably

 

[missionmtb]

Everybody dives differently. I enjoy using both a tight, penetrating beam and a broad video light depending on what I'm looking at. Also keep in mind that just because a light is heavy, doesn't mean it's heavy *underwater*

As others have said, the virtues of the tight beam are they're able to illuminate things a little further away, backscatter less (illuminate suspended particulate that obscures what's behind it), and can be used to signal other people (and not signal people, conversely). Disadvantages are certainly less coverage. Video lights cover a broader area but fall off more quickly over distance due to their spread. They are also mostly useless for communicating and more irritating for fellow divers as they throw light indiscriminately.

I frequently have video and narrow lights with me on the same dive. Having them both in the same light is more convenient than having two, but you sacrifice the power of either for the cost of including the other, generally.

I agree the first light you should have is a tight, powerful beam. I find it useful in more general diving scenarios and because it does one thing well, you can dedicate more of your budget to maximize performance. Also keep in mind that most narrow beam lights also throw a broad cone of light around it and this can often be sufficient for identifying the next thing to point your light at.

In the end though, get as much light as you can afford and buy whatever makes you happy.

 

[RyanT]

Here's something to think about. Lights advertise x number of lumens output. Lumens are measured over the area of light output. A 1,000 lumen light with an 8 degrees beam is going to be pretty bright in the center. That same 1,000 lumens with a 120 degree beam is going to be substantially dimmer. In reality, if you want a bright, 120 degree beam, you're going to need a LOT of lumens to make it useful.

 

[sharko108]

Everybody dives differently. I enjoy using both a tight, penetrating beam and a broad video light depending on what I'm looking at. Also keep in mind that just because a light is heavy, doesn't mean it's heavy *underwater*

As others have said, the virtues of the tight beam are they're able to illuminate things a little further away, backscatter less (illuminate suspended particulate that obscures what's behind it), and can be used to signal other people (and not signal people, conversely). Disadvantages are certainly less coverage. Video lights cover a broader area but fall off more quickly over distance due to their spread. They are also mostly useless for communicating and more irritating for fellow divers as they throw light indiscriminately.

I frequently have video and narrow lights with me on the same dive. Having them both in the same light is more convenient than having two, but you sacrifice the power of either for the cost of including the other, generally.

I agree the first light you should have is a tight, powerful beam. I find it useful in more general diving scenarios and because it does one thing well, you can dedicate more of your budget to maximize performance. Also keep in mind that most narrow beam lights also throw a broad cone of light around it and this can often be sufficient for identifying the next thing to point your light at.

In the end though, get as much light as you can afford and buy whatever makes you happy.

Thanks for your long answer so yes i think for now having narrow/video beam in the samd light could be more convenient as i still have my S26 if really need only narrow, that's why i'm not gonna buy another only narrow beam light . And yes i agree underwater it don't feel heavy i think , it was more about a "bulky" feel on hand but yes if there wasn't that point i would probably go for the vtl9000 directly

Here's something to think about. Lights advertise x number of lumens output. Lumens are measured over the area of light output. A 1,000 lumen light with an 8 degrees beam is going to be pretty bright in the center. That same 1,000 lumens with a 120 degree beam is going to be substantially dimmer. In reality, if you want a bright, 120 degree beam, you're going to need a LOT of lumens to make it useful.

Tha'ts also why i thought at first that 4200 couldn't be enough but after seeing a video of 2800 at 120º (so much less of 4200) it kinda looks already good)
Unfortunately i've written to bigblue and there is no longer VTL lights between 4200 and 9000, even if i could find on some e-shops the vtl8000 or 6300

 

[SmashMonkey]

These are my thoughts YMMV. I have both the VTL4200PB and VTL9000PB. I'm a newish wreck diver and I mostly dive the Spiegel Grove in Key Largo. For actual wreck diving I like a narrow beam better. The narrow beam penetrates the darkness and silt better. Every wreck dive has particles in the water and it's easier to see if the light beam is narrow and I position my light away from my head so I can look off the angle of the light beam. The backscatter from silt makes a wide beam less ideal except maybe when you first enter a big room and want to see everything all at once e.g. the back of the well deck. It's like driving in the fog with high beams on. A wide beam also is blinding to other divers and terrible for light signaling with your buddy. The wide beam is good for video. Actioncams suck in low light so bringing more light is better. I got the blue and red light options. Blue light makes everything glow neon in the dark and looks very cool. Red light is for camera autofocus and protects night vision - but is also very cool in a deep dark room. The 9000 has longer burn time, but the narrow beam lumens is almost the same as the 4200. BTW I see you're going to be at Horizon Divers, they are a BigBlue seller and Dan or Jeff can order you a light if you let them know a couple of weeks before your trip.

 

[sharko108]

These are my thoughts YMMV. I have both the VTL4200PB and VTL9000PB. I'm a newish wreck diver and I mostly dive the Spiegel Grove in Key Largo. For actual wreck diving I like a narrow beam better. The narrow beam penetrates the darkness and silt better. Every wreck dive has particles in the water and it's easier to see if the light beam is narrow and I position my light away from my head so I can look off the angle of the light beam. The backscatter from silt makes a wide beam less ideal except maybe when you first enter a big room and want to see everything all at once e.g. the back of the well deck. It's like driving in the fog with high beams on. A wide beam also is blinding to other divers and terrible for light signaling with your buddy. The wide beam is good for video. Actioncams suck in low light so bringing more light is better. I got the blue and red light options. Blue light makes everything glow neon in the dark and looks very cool. Red light is for camera autofocus and protects night vision - but is also very cool in a deep dark room. The 9000 has longer burn time, but the narrow beam lumens is almost the same as the 4200. BTW I see you're going to be at Horizon Divers, they are a BigBlue seller and Dan or Jeff can order you a light if you let them know a couple of weeks before your trip.

Thanks your feedback
Yes Wreck dives are kinda specific and can understand that a wide beam ain't really the best . For now , but i hope i won't regret it lol , im going for the 4200 as it's less bulky On the hand , less expensive and i think that for my actual needs 4200 is still good .
As you have both don't you think 9000 is too Big on hand ? And have you ever had any situation /dives depth or profils where you felt the 4200 wasn't enough ?

Yes i'll be in Florida in March . I'll probably buy the light in January at Paris Dive Show, but thanks for the tip

 

[SmashMonkey]

The 9000 is my 3rd light and I only have 6 dives with it but I like it. Completed Adv Wreck cert with it. I am average size male and I didn't find it too bulky even when doing drills, handling reels and spools inside a wreck. A lot easier to manage than a cannister light. The 4200 was my first technical primary dive light and it's a good light. I have no regrets buying it. After 2 penetration deco dives on the Spiegel Grove I have to recharge it for the next day. The 9000 has longer battery life in case I forget. Another reason is for shooting actioncam video in daylight I cannot have too much light. Try the 4200 and see if you like it. If you start overhead diving in wrecks and caverns or caves, you will end up needing 3 lights. On an expensive bucket list trip if your 1st light fails, you can keep diving.

 

[sharko108]

The 9000 is my 3rd light and I only have 6 dives with it but I like it. Completed Adv Wreck cert with it. I am average size male and I didn't find it too bulky even when doing drills, handling reels and spools inside a wreck. A lot easier to manage than a cannister light. The 4200 was my first technical primary dive light and it's a good light. I have no regrets buying it. After 2 penetration deco dives on the Spiegel Grove I have to recharge it for the next day. The 9000 has longer battery life in case I forget. Another reason is for shooting actioncam video in daylight I cannot have too much light. Try the 4200 and see if you like it. If you start overhead diving in wrecks and caverns or caves, you will end up needing 3 lights. On an expensive bucket list trip if your 1st light fails, you can keep diving.

Ok thanks i'll start with the 4200 and see then if i stick with it or if i need more