Dorcy Dive II 220 Lumen

[mattcass]

I have a UK C4. This light seems to have a brighter & better formed spot.
It costs a lot less too.

The C4 or the C4 LED? The C4 is $90 CDN, the C4 LED is $150. The Dorcy 220 is $48 US. Rechargeable batteries for the C4 would run me $40, plus $30 for a charger. I'll spend more on batteries for the C4 than on the Dorcy light!

 

[CaboJim]

The C4 or the C4 LED? The C4 is $90 CDN, the C4 LED is $150. The Dorcy 220 is $48 US. Rechargeable batteries for the C4 would run me $40, plus $30 for a charger. I'll spend more on batteries for the C4 than on the Dorcy light!

C4LED. Last year, in Curacao, I took it & a TUSA 300Led. On a night dive, the TUSA light was brighter(rated @130 lumen) The C4 hasn't seen water since. It now sits in my garage as a flashlight(LOL)....

 

[Steve P]

I received 2 Dorcy 220's last week and am very pleased. No dead spot or doughnut holes. For the price I paid at Piranha, IMHO, this light may be the best light for the price. Looking forward to trying in Bonaire next month.

 

[Hatul]

I just got the Dorcy 2 180 from Piranha, and of the three lights: Dorcy 1 180 Dorcy 2 220 and Dorcy 2 180, this has the worst beam. The color is even whiter than the Dorcy 2 220, the center beam is least regular and overall I'd say is weakest by a small margin. This is just my opinion after using the lights on land only.

It may be that when they built the Dorcy 2 180 the LED was "updated" to a less bluish one, which is better for land use but not for us.

So at this point I'd recommend getting the Dorcy 2 220 and pass on the Dorcy 2 180.

Adam

 

[Guy Alcala]

I just got the Dorcy 2 180 from Piranha, and of the three lights: Dorcy 1 180 Dorcy 2 220 and Dorcy 2 180, this has the worst beam. The color is even whiter than the Dorcy 2 220, the center beam is least regular and overall I'd say is weakest by a small margin. This is just my opinion after using the lights on land only.

It may be that when they built the Dorcy 2 180 the LED was "updated" to a less bluish one, which is better for land use but not for us.

So at this point I'd recommend getting the Dorcy 2 220 and pass on the Dorcy 2 180.

Adam

Are you still planning to try them both (180 gen. II and 220) side by side underwater, which will be the real comparison? Curious to see how that works, as I've got 2 180 gen IIs (and a soft Goodman handle) on the way from Piranha. For that price, I can afford a slightly less than optimum result, and I expect they will be quite a step up from the Impact XL or Mini Q40 eLED Plus which I currently use for day time diving (and even night, if I'm with someone with a more powerful light).

I needed a couple of GUE-compliant backup lights for Fundies in any case, so these were a cheap solution, even if I'd prefer AAs or CR123s instead of AAAs. And if worst comes to worst, after Fundies I can always give them away as presents, keep them as loaners or just add them to my lights drawer.

Guy

 

[Hatul]

Are you still planning to try them both (180 gen. II and 220) side by side underwater, which will be the real comparison? Curious to see how that works, as I've got 2 180 gen IIs (and a soft Goodman handle) on the way from Piranha. For that price, I can afford a slightly less than optimum result, and I expect they will be quite a step up from the Impact XL or Mini Q40 eLED Plus which I currently use for day time diving (and even night, if I'm with someone with a more powerful light).

I needed a couple of GUE-compliant backup lights for Fundies in any case, so these were a cheap solution, even if I'd prefer AAs or CR123s instead of AAAs. And if worst comes to worst, after Fundies I can always give them away as presents, keep them as loaners or just add them to my lights drawer.

Guy

I may dive next weekend and if so will take all three Dorcy lights. Another option is to take them to our community pool after dark. I'll let you know the results.

I should point out that the differences among the beams of the 3 lights are small and all three are good lights. I have to ponder at the beams to discern the differences so I would not worry too much. Also there may be small differences even within the same type from slight differences in the LED or the way it sits in the reflector.

Adam

 

[Guy Alcala]

I may dive next weekend and if so will take all three Dorcy lights. Another option is to take them to our community pool after dark. I'll let you know the results.

I should point out that the differences among the beams of the 3 lights are small and all three are good lights. I have to ponder at the beams to discern the differences so I would not worry too much. Also there may be small differences even within the same type from slight differences in the LED or the way it sits in the reflector.

Adam

Assuming decent conditions I should be in the water next weekend as well, so I'll get to compare them with my current light (Mini Q40; the Impact XL has made its last dive), and hopefully with my regular bud's DR500.

Guy

 

[spyder]

Used my Gen I 180's here in Coz. Definitely bright little buggers day or night. On a night dive it blew away most of the others in use. My daughter was using my Light Canon, I was using a 10w Sartek can, and my son was using the Dorcy. LC and Sartek had a wider beam but the Dorcy was just as bright just tighter. Didn't write down what others were using. Unfortunately I'm now down one Dorcy, daughter dropped it climbing the boat ladder after a dive on the C-53. Need to see if Randy has some of the old Gen I's laying around or can get some more.

 

[Guy Alcala]

Got my 180 Gen IIs and Goodman handle today, so I'm going to do day and night dives this weekend to try them out. I confess I've always thought that black is a lousy color for anything that might get dropped underwater

Guy

 

[dumpsterDiver]

I wrapped mine in yellow electrical tape