Dorcy Dive II 220 Lumen

[deadly_risk]

Interesting. The 180 shot looks like my 180's, very tight and bright. The 220 shot doesn't look even close. Mine are quite a bit larger (wife can even tell) with a dark spot in the middle. Maybe I just got some bad ones. I even used new batteries in the 220's and the ones that were in the 180 to compare (batteries in the 180 were close to new). Have you tried at say 50-75 feet? That's where the spot gets very apparent.

Hmm, I wonder if I can re-create what you describe. I used the inside of my garage because its the only dark place around. Outside has street lights, and I don't have any long enough halls inside.

I will grab my surveyors wheel and mark some spots off so later on I can try to reproduce what you mention. I will post back when I have something.

 

[stargost]

I got the new dorcy 220 and it is ok, but i do have the small dead spot as well, which seems to come from a defect/particle on the led.
It has similar power than the UK SL4, with light 'circles/transitions' slightly more visible. But it costcost less, and i'd be fine. But for a second backup, I may go with the UK SL3. UK is not that bad after all.

 

[Hatul]

I took two photos in my dining room. All the lights use NiMH batteries-- the Dorcys AAA and the Lenser AA.

The first (from left to right) has the Dorcy 2 220 on the left and the Dorcy 1 180 on right.

The second has Dorcy 2 220 on left and Coast Lenser D14 dive light on the right.

Adam

 

[Hatul]

My impression is that compared to the Dorcy 2 220, the Dorcy 1 180 is slightly brighter, bluer, and has a more intense and slightly smaller center beam. It's a puzzle because the new 220 LED should be brighter. One explanation may be the color difference-- the light meter used to rate the LED may detect more light from the whiter and less blue 220. Another explanation may that the 220 is not driven to full power by the circuit.

The Coast Lenser D14 of the same price range (from Amazon) has totally different beam and may be slightly brighter overall. As I mentioned earlier the Dorcy case is more robust than the plastic case of the Lenser, but they're both good lights.

I ordered a Dorcy 2 180 from Piranha to add to my collection.

Adam

 

[fisheater]

All in all, it makes me happy that I'm staying with my 180.

Thanks everyone.

 

[deadly_risk]

Ok, so outside I have a big street lamp that made the beam shots not come out at all like what I saw with my own eyes. At 25 feet the 220 had a 6" black spot in the center of its hot spot, at 50' that spot grew to a foot. I am not sure why they were not visible before, I wonder if the difference in surfaces made the difference (garage door versus brick wall).

The 220 still looks brighter to me with a larger hot spot and there is a slight color difference still noticeable.

These two beam shots do not show what I saw very well, I could not get my camera to show the darker spot in the middle of the hot spot at all, but it does show how much brighter the 220 is, and its slightly larger beam width at 50 feet.

Edit: Of course in the water I dive, I am not able to see anything past 10 feet anyway so dark spots make no difference to me. I like the 220, but if someone decides to go with a 180 get the new body style, it is defiantly a improvement.

 

[Puffer Fish]

In the water, both will be narrower... and seeing my buddies 220 underwater, I could not see the dark spot (that was very obvious on the surface)... he also has a 180... and likes the 220 more...

 

[Hatul]

Ok, so outside I have a big street lamp that made the beam shots not come out at all like what I saw with my own eyes. At 25 feet the 220 had a 6" black spot in the center of its hot spot, at 50' that spot grew to a foot. I am not sure why they were not visible before, I wonder if the difference in surfaces made the difference (garage door versus brick wall).

The 220 still looks brighter to me with a larger hot spot and there is a slight color difference still noticeable.

These two beam shots do not show what I saw very well, I could not get my camera to show the darker spot in the middle of the hot spot at all, but it does show how much brighter the 220 is, and its slightly larger beam width at 50 feet.

Edit: Of course in the water I dive, I am not able to see anything past 10 feet anyway so dark spots make no difference to me. I like the 220, but if someone decides to go with a 180 get the new body style, it is defiantly a improvement.

Next night dive I'll take both the 220 and the 180 and will have a better real life opinion on the relative brightness.

Adam

 

[Guy Alcala]

Next night dive I'll take both the 220 and the 180 and will have a better real life opinion on the relative brightness.

Adam

I just ordered two of the 2nd gen 180s (and a Goodman handle) from Piranha, so will give them a try in a week or so. I'm more interested in using them as primaries for daytime signaling and crevice viewing, but they also will be good backups to a can light. I'd prefer an Intova for primary use, but these will be good backups for Fundies.

Guy

 

[CaboJim]

I just got the light today. It puts out a lot more light than the TUSA 300LED, that I paid $90 for. Since I use it for looking in holes, crevices during daylight dives, I'm very happy W/ the purchase....