Are Canister Lights Still in Play?

[NothingClever]

Ooh, another manufacture to check out. Love it. Thanks for the note!

UWLD makes really high end lights. Might be a tad overkill for your needs right now. Think in terms of a track-prep’d Miata versus a track-prep’d Porsche. Both will get you around the track and afford you lots of fun but one is far more serious than the other.

 

[TheBullfrog]

UWLD makes really high end lights. Might be a tad overkill for your meeds right now. Think in terms of a track-prep’d Miata versus a track-prep’d Porsche. Both will get you around the track and afford you lots of fun but one is far more serious than the other.

Yeah, it's a balance between gearing up expensive for the long term, or a budget item to "test out" when it comes to scuba. Saving a few bucks here, affords more fun toys there. I do enjoy the decisions though, because either way it's going to lead to fun and adventure!

 

[grantmac]

I bought a used UWLD version 3 (I think) and it's an absolute tank.

 

[clownfishsydney]

Not for average diver. I used to have a huge battery pack, then a much smaller one. Now, a cheap Chinese LED handheld torch lasts longer than the above two did with as much if not more light.

I think I now know only a couple of divers who use canisters.

 

[hedonist222]

Canister light since 2019.
Nanight tech 2 pro.

4 or 5 thousand lumens
battery lasts 3 one hour dives easily - that means a full dive's day without needing to charge it between dives
plus the lens is interchangeable from spot to med to full blown video lights of almost 180 degree

I use the mid lens

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

I haven't used a corded/can light in many years.

 

[TheBullfrog]

I love diving. There are in equal as many pros and cons are there are divers. The positive is that you truly can customize your kit to fit your needs exactly. Love it.

 

[halocline]

I love diving. There are in equal as many pros and cons are there are divers. The positive is that you truly can customize your kit to fit your needs exactly. Love it.

I would not buy an expensive canister light without trying it in the water on the type of dives you do now. Lights are somewhat subjective in terms of color and focal point. I spent a lot of money on a canister light from one of the best companies and ended up selling it a year later because I didn’t like the beam appearance, for the type of diving I do. I now use two handhelds that are not nearly as well made but they work, cost about 1/3 the price, and I like the way they look in the water.

If you are a single tank diver, it’s almost inconceivable that you wouldn’t get sufficient burn time from a handheld light. If you’re diving doubles (i.e. longer dives) then you could consider a canister light but you need to choose top gland or side gland depending on your gear configuration, and if that changes, so does your canister light.

The comments about the handheld being heavier/bulkier in your hand than a canister light head are valid, but again unless you are doing very long dives, you can get by with a pretty compact light.

The comments about not being able to lose a canister light because it’s attached to you are also valid, but in the type of diving I do (cave) you learn to attach everything that’s not under your control, and in the last few years in which I’ve been using the handheld, I’ve never dropped it or dropped a backup. I use the razor hand and helmet mount so the light is rarely in my hand, more often attached to one of the mounts.

 

[TheBullfrog]

I would not buy an expensive canister light without trying it in the water on the type of dives you do now. Lights are somewhat subjective in terms of color and focal point. I spent a lot of money on a canister light from one of the best companies and ended up selling it a year later because I didn’t like the beam appearance, for the type of diving I do. I now use two handhelds that are not nearly as well made but they work, cost about 1/3 the price, and I like the way they look in the water.

If you are a single tank diver, it’s almost inconceivable that you wouldn’t get sufficient burn time from a handheld light. If you’re diving doubles (i.e. longer dives) then you could consider a canister light but you need to choose top gland or side gland depending on your gear configuration, and if that changes, so does your canister light.

The comments about the handheld being heavier/bulkier in your hand than a canister light head are valid, but again unless you are doing very long dives, you can get by with a pretty compact light.

The comments about not being able to lose a canister light because it’s attached to you are also valid, but in the type of diving I do (cave) you learn to attach everything that’s not under your control, and in the last few years in which I’ve been using the handheld, I’ve never dropped it or dropped a backup. I use the razor hand and helmet mount so the light is rarely in my hand, more often attached to one of the mounts.

Nice. Thank you for the insight.

 

[inquis]

The comments about not being able to lose a canister light because it’s attached to you are also valid

I've heard some will tether their handheld when diving in locations where dropping it would equate to losing it. Is that the "worst of both worlds?" Dunno, but it won't stay wet longer than you do.