A Good Dive light??

[BanditDJB]

I'm looking to buy a dive light. I never owned one so I dont know which one to get. I looked at the line of UK (underwater Kinetics) dive lights and I like the Light Canon 100. I like it because of the 450 Lumens but what I dont like is the fact that it takes about 20 to 30 seconds to reach full intensity and that the bulbs have to cool down to a certain temperature before it can be lit again and then you have to wait another 20 to 30 seconds to get full intensity.

Any of you divers ever use that light? Or maybe you have used one of the other UK lights? Can anyone recomend a light that would come close to the 450 lumens that is about the same price (200 Bucks)?

 

[mig_diver]

I just picked up a UK Light Cannon but unfortunately have not got it wet yet. I did have a play with it on the surface and the thing is bright!!! Its also quite a big torch and quite heavy. Since I'm yet to see its performance underwater I'm afraid that I wont be of much use to you. I have however spoken to others about it and a few divers have said that while it would be great on wrecks, it might be a bit of an overkill for night dives. Especially with a bunch of other divers.

My other torch is a UK SL4. Although it is nowhere near as bright as the Light Cannon, I have been happy with it on all my dives. It provides enough light for me to get around, and I have never really needed more.

So thats my light story. I don't know if any of it would be helpful but I thought I'd tell anyway

Oh and apparently replacement HID bulbs are quite expensive so I've been told to look after the Light Cannon and it will look after me.

 

[TSandM]

The UK light cannon is a 10W HID light. It's quite bright and reasonably well focused. It's one of the nicest lantern-grip dive lights out there, but I warn you that you will go through batteries on the non-rechargeable model fairly fast. You don't get bright light without a significant cost in power! The rechargeable model is more convenient, but also more expensive.

 

[cmburch]

I have a few 15 year old UK lights. 4AA, 4C, 4D.

I intend on upgrading to UK

1. Mini Q40 Plus eLED for night backup. I would carry this every time I freedive or SCUBA dive strapped to my gun. For looking under ledges, in and around rocks.

2. Primary night only C4 eLED. I would like the HID lamp, but for cost and simplicity this will suit me.

3. I may also get a SL4 eLED attached to BC for day & night.

I have cracked and flooded UK lights a couple of times and they were warrantied, so that is why I am sticking with them. I also stick with Oceanic for the same reason.

 

[scubajcf]

I have used the UK Light Cannon. Nice light. I have used the other UK Products too, like the SL4 and C8. Again, no real complaints. Nice recreational setups. If you don't do too much limited visibility, night or overhead environment dives, these are more than perfect. The Light Cannon is way overkill during the day. Use the SL4.

I would not let the warm up or cool down times bother you too much. You won't be turning them on or off in the water.

Check out the following for some high end lights:
GreenForce - Divelights
Salvo Diving Equipment - Havoc HID Lights

 

[Blackwood]

The Light Cannon is way overkill during the day.

I doubt you can easily see the spot from the light cannon during the day. To me, that implies that it's underkill

 

[RonFrank]

If you want a high power light at $200 the light Canon fits the bill. However with no rechargable batteries in a hungry light, that cost is going to hurt you big over the years, so my suggestion is to purchase rechargable batteries. These are available from independent manufactures for a fraction of the cost of the UK unit.

All that said, it is a hot light, and it is a large, bulky hand held unit. I personally don't like the form factor, and I use a can light, but that is my personal preference. Dive rite makes a really nice LED 500 lumens light, but it is in the $350 range I believe. For a bit more, you can get the Dive Right in a Can light design that doubles as a hand held, or belt mount.

If you have a free hand to carry around such a light as the UK, it is a good or even great light for the $$$, but it is hot, and can not be used topside. For me topside use is as or more important in an expensive light because I camp, and do things where I want a good light, so an LED does double duty.

 

[BabyDuck]

any chance you'd want to keep a lookout here & on tds for someone upgrading & you could get a 10w hid can light on the cheap?

 

[SteveAD]

Back to the OPs gripes about the light cannon that it has a long warm up time and a significant reset lag, this is true of most, if not all HID lights. These issues are not a factor for the role this light is intended to fill, that of a primary light. It is intended to be turned on at the begining of a dive, and left on for the entire dive. In this role, as others have mentioned, rechargeables have a distinct advantage. If you are looking for something that you will be turning on and off you want to go with one of the new LED lights. I used a light cannon for years, but a few years ago I switched to an HID can, and I'd never go back.

 

[MacGyverGTP]

I love my Pelican Nemo 8C Light! Used it in Cozumel on about 5 night dives and it's still on the same batteries. It's cheap, it works very well.