HID or LED?

[ScubaFeenD]

HID or LED that is the question. I am looking for my first canister light, and while I dont want to spend more than 1000 dollars I have found a couple canister lights that are 10W or greater that are either HID or LED.

These are light monkey lights, so I know they are good quality, but I am trying to find a light that will fit my diving right now, which is nothing involving overhead environment (cave or wreck) but may include deeper dives (>100fsw) many that will be in the atlantic ocean off the coasts of MD, NJ, and MA.

I am primarily trying to see what the community here has found as pros and cons of each. Thanks ahead of time for all your advice

-ddd

 

[Rainer]

IMO, the deeper (darker) you go, the less the light output matters. In an dark environment, a 10W light is just fine. In shallow, bright CA water, even my 21W gets washed out. Personally, I'd either splurge for a 21W HID (the LEDs don't yet compare in focused lumen output), or just pick up a used 10W HID (~$300).

 

[PfcAJ]

Just go with the 21 or 18 and be done with it forever. The 10w focusable ones are MUCH better than the fixed beam things, though. I am not impressed with the 15w stuff that is out now, its real yellow.

 

[rjack321]

21W HID (~$1200) or used 10W HID (~$3-400).

The LEDs seem ok although still not focusing to quite the same extent as the HIDs. I would not go for new LED which is 2.5x the cost of a used 10W HID but only trivially brighter.

 

[kathydee]

Since we are asking some of the same questions, you may find this thread an informative read:

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/dir/299260-questions-about-buying-primary-light.html


I took the advice to go with the 21W HID and am so glad I did! Picked mine up used with about 7 freshwater dives for under $1,000. It's my favorite piece of equipment !

 

[ScubaFeenD]

I am really looking for a light to learn skills on and to satisfy my current diving needs. I will buy a much stronger light as my diving needs require it and as my bank account allows. I HATE to make anything about money, but I am not in a position (yet) to disregard price. But heck, anything is better than what I have now (which is a smaller, lower power UK light).

 

[rjack321]

I am really looking for a light to learn skills on and to satisfy my current diving needs. I will buy a much stronger light as my diving needs require it and as my bank account allows. I HATE to make anything about money, but I am not in a position (yet) to disregard price. But heck, anything is better than what I have now (which is a smaller, lower power UK light).

A used 10W HID will be $350 and you'll save ~$650 dollars from your budget to either put towards a brighter light down the road or towards other things like drysuits & tanks.

If you can swing a new or used 21w HID, you won't buy another light for a long time. A new 12W LED will cost you 2x more than a used 10w hid and you'll STILL have to upgrade someday soon.

 

[ae3753]

Since you said that money is an issue, then I'll echo Rainer and rjack321 and recommend a used 10W HID. You can resell later or keep it. They make nice back-ups to a larger primary light.

 

[kanonfodr]

One key thing to remember is that, in certain situations, having too much light is entirely possible. I use a Dive Rite LED700 that is about equivalent in output to a 10w HID, but not as focused (still does have some lightsaber to it, tho ). It was great in murky Lake Travis and Monterey, but it is a little TOO bright for use here in Hawaii. Fishies were running for their little lives on the Mahi when I dove it at night in December.

I'm still going to follow the rest of the crowd and say that a used 10w HID is your best bet, monetarily. Many divers use those lights and have no complaints, so it will definitely be money well spent for you. While LED lighting is rapidly coming alongside HID (UTD's new Signature Series light has my eye, waiting for a used one), it's still not quite there yet. I do enjoy the robustness of my little LED canister, as I understand that HIDs can be a little more fragile than their solid-state competitors. It's nothing that, IMO, can't be well mitigated.

Peace,
Greg

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Bigger, brighter lights are essential for open-water diving if you want your light signals to be seen. In darker conditions a 10W is more than adequate ... but as ambient light increases the beam washes out and it becomes increasingly difficult for your buddy to see your light signals.

Also consider what your buddies will likely be using. As someone mentioned, there's such a thing as too much light, if your beam overpowers your buddies lights you won't have an easy time seeing their light signals either.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)