What's so great about SOLA lights?

[chrpai]

I'm curious, what's so great about these lights?

I've seen them in Lake Travis (the LDS loves to sell them) and they don't seem to have much punch through the murky water. The 70 minute burn times on full power don't meet the local needs and yet people seem to spend $700 on them and go diving in Lake Travis with them.

What am I missing? Are these just designed for blue water night dives where you only do 1 night dive per day? Is it they just make an awesome camera light?

 

[drbill]

I use the Sola 1200s and find them to be outstanding. I dive green to blue water and can usually do 2-3 dives with the lights before recharging. I normally keep them on the entire dive whether it is day or night, but at low power. I can usually recharge them fully in two hours. When I was in the Philippines, we were doing 75-135 minute dives and they lasted two dives on low.

The light they produce is nice and even throughout the width of the beam (on flood). I don't use them on spot as the beam is much too narrow for video work (nor is it meant to be used for that). They are great on my night dives.

My only serious issue with them is the corrosion that occurs in the charging ports wit regular use (at least in salt water). I have to frequently use vinegar and/or fine steel wool to remove the corrosion so they charge fully after use.

 

[ronscuba]

Light & Motion has done a great job marketing the lights.

However, LED technology has brought a lot of competition and affordable prices within the last year or 2. The Sola lights are good, but there are plenty of less expensive options available.

 

[eelnoraa]

IMO, Sola lights are good or great video light. The provide nice and even coverage for close range limination for video.

For primary light in murky water, they are very lousy light espeically for what that cost. Even Sola 1200 is not as useful as light like DRIS 1K. Their beam, even at spot setting is just wide and lack of intensity. For that much, there are LED canister light will be a lot more useful. For primary in clear water night dive, this kind of light will work just fine, but again, you can do better for much less.

 

[chrpai]

So it's a good albeit expensive light if used for the right purpose and that dive shops tend to pitch it as a universal tool. Does that about sum it up?

I think my bias was from seeing far too many people in Lake Travis try to use it as their primary light and it having less punch then my cheap $40 Chinese light.

 

[luckydiver]

So it's a good albeit expensive light if used for the right purpose and that dive shops tend to pitch it as a universal tool. Does that about sum it up?

I think my bias was from seeing far too many people in Lake Travis try to use it as their primary light and it having less punch then my cheap $40 Chinese light.

Good thread timing as I have their brochures in front of me. So what $40 equivalent lights are you referring to? I want a light that doubles as a hero 3 video light and a night dive light. At $40 I'd buy two if they were actually functionally equivalent!

 

[ronscuba]

So it's a good albeit expensive light if used for the right purpose and that dive shops tend to pitch it as a universal tool. Does that about sum it up?

I think my bias was from seeing far too many people in Lake Travis try to use it as their primary light and it having less punch then my cheap $40 Chinese light.

Sounds about right.

L&M and their dealers have done a very good job marketing. On the video end, they have many people convinced their lights are a requirement. Lights definitely can enhance video, but for 90% of open water ocean diving, a cheap filter is a better investment than $1K in lights.

 

[chrpai]

L&M and their dealers have done a very good job marketing.

Yes, I imagine paying people off for good reviews goes far with the uninformed.

 

[Shasta_man]

you didn't mention one very important asset: they are small, light and easy to carry in this era of baggage limits (including your carryon) and in lugging your housing around during the trip. Even the 2000s I used recently are very small. For my video housing, they mount simply and cleanly on locline. I used them during the day quite a bit at depth. At deeper depth, the filter did little to bring back color. Only the lights did that. I also only used them at 1/2 setting and they lasted multiple dives between using them at the lower setting and turning them off if not in use for long periods. They don't have any hotspots. The charging is a double edged sword as mentioned above, with no need for a bunch of batteries and separate charger, but the potential for corrosion causing a problem (mine didn't have that trouble)

 

[mikeycanuk]

I like our twin 1200's. just wish I got the 4000's... And a camcorder vs the GoPro2 and.. Well you get the idea. Love the Sola, this thread could only get better if Hog made lights. Lol. Get A HOG Light wa wa wa.... Just sayin.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD