CODMAN
Contributor
Hi all, I just received my new UK SL4e-Led dive light and was quite eager to give you my first impressions! Firstly, I was quite torn between the regular SL4 and the e-Led model, the e-Led being twice the price and the regular sl4 being "technically" brighter (gives out more lumens). But I finally decided to go for the e-Led for battery and lamp duration, and particularly light color (the e-Led was supposed to be much more white).
And boy am I glad I did!!!!
I've only done a living room test so far (when I dive it I'll let you know), but wow what a light! 8) Just a quick reminder, it runs on 4 C batteries (which to my amazement were included) and produces around 33-38 lumens, has an estimated burn time at full power of 10 hours, and fits nicely in 1 hand. I did a comparison with my girlfriends UK C4 and much much prefered the SL4! I even think I would prefer night diving with the SL4 than the regular C4! Here is what I prefered...
First, color... The "hotter" light from the SL4 e-Led really brought out colors much better than the regular lamp. And I suspect this will be even more evident underwater with light exctinction. It was night and day! :lol: (sorry couldn't help it!!! :lol: :lol: ) The regular C4 is more yellowish (like a regular flashlight). Also, this "hottness" of the light gives the impression it is much brighter (even though it is not). I don't know if it has to do with the wavelengths that your eyes see better, or something else, but you really get the impression it's brighter!
Second, light radius... The Sl4 e-Led gives off quite a large radius for such a small lamp! It was almost as big as that of the C4 (if I had to guess, maybe 10% smaller at most). The center of the burn spot is very concentrated and at about 12 feet distance, gave off a circle of approx 12 inches in diameter. The secondary circle (or halo; sorry don't know the technical terms
), is much softer, but still much brighter than the C4, and I would say maybe 5 feet in diameter.
Third, size... It's small! Fits nicely in the hand, won't take much space strapped to my BCD, and is light. Much more convenient than the C4, which is 2-3x the size!
So that's pretty much it for now! I am 110% happy that I went for the e-Led. I can't even imagine what the C8 e-Led would be like!!! :shock: :shock: I would strongly encourage anybody hesitating between regular lamp and Led technology to go for the Led. You probably won't regret it!
I'll let you know how I find it underwater...
Later!
And boy am I glad I did!!!!
I've only done a living room test so far (when I dive it I'll let you know), but wow what a light! 8) Just a quick reminder, it runs on 4 C batteries (which to my amazement were included) and produces around 33-38 lumens, has an estimated burn time at full power of 10 hours, and fits nicely in 1 hand. I did a comparison with my girlfriends UK C4 and much much prefered the SL4! I even think I would prefer night diving with the SL4 than the regular C4! Here is what I prefered...
First, color... The "hotter" light from the SL4 e-Led really brought out colors much better than the regular lamp. And I suspect this will be even more evident underwater with light exctinction. It was night and day! :lol: (sorry couldn't help it!!! :lol: :lol: ) The regular C4 is more yellowish (like a regular flashlight). Also, this "hottness" of the light gives the impression it is much brighter (even though it is not). I don't know if it has to do with the wavelengths that your eyes see better, or something else, but you really get the impression it's brighter!
Second, light radius... The Sl4 e-Led gives off quite a large radius for such a small lamp! It was almost as big as that of the C4 (if I had to guess, maybe 10% smaller at most). The center of the burn spot is very concentrated and at about 12 feet distance, gave off a circle of approx 12 inches in diameter. The secondary circle (or halo; sorry don't know the technical terms
), is much softer, but still much brighter than the C4, and I would say maybe 5 feet in diameter.Third, size... It's small! Fits nicely in the hand, won't take much space strapped to my BCD, and is light. Much more convenient than the C4, which is 2-3x the size!
So that's pretty much it for now! I am 110% happy that I went for the e-Led. I can't even imagine what the C8 e-Led would be like!!! :shock: :shock: I would strongly encourage anybody hesitating between regular lamp and Led technology to go for the Led. You probably won't regret it!
I'll let you know how I find it underwater...
Later!
