Question Are the Chinese video lights from Amazon any good?

[encrustingacro]

I've been thinking of upgrading my lighting for my underwater photos. Currently, I have some cheap 2000 lumen video lights from Amazon. However, I am not satisfied with the brightness of these lights. The prices for strobes are very expensive, which puts me off from buying them. I have been looking these video lights from Amazon, which are substantially cheaper than name-brand video lights of the same brightness. I know that off-brand Amazon products can be of lower quality, but they do seem tempting. Do these lights actually produce 12k lumens like advertised and are these lights prone to leaking? Or should I just save up for some strobes?​

 

[passedoutwookie]

Even with the VL4000's I rarely use the brightest setting (on these "overpriced crap" lights).

Sorry, I left off a 0, VL65000!

 

[scissortail8]

I can get any Orcatorch lights for about 20% off retail (shipped). A comparable light (like your 2nd link) from them would be $200. D910V

I have been happy with both Orcatorch and Xtar lights. They're "Chinese" lights, but they're better quality then the crap floating around Amazon (plenty of reviews on here).

I dive a D630, have been using it on technical dives without any issues. I know a few people that do without complaints.

They are not the best of the best as far as the light will start to fade after hours of use (until the next charge). They do not have a solid state driver like some of the higher end lights do. I've never noticed this "drop off", but I've seen tests where they clearly show it. It's dimmer at 2 hours then it was when 1st turned on. It's just not noticeable to the human eye, at least not mine during a dive. And I don't know why that's such a big deal. Tech divers use to dive halogen lights that were like 3w with huge battery packs and horrible compared to even a mid tier light of today. Sometimes I think we just don't realize how good we have it.

Are you still helping people out with discounts on Orcatorch lights?

 

[rob.mwpropane]

Are you still helping people out with discounts on Orcatorch lights?

Why yes I am. PM sent!

 

[bvanant]

I think that the OP was thinking of using a "video" light instead of a strobe. You CAN do it but colors will be crap and no freezing of motion.
Bill