I'm glad that OrcaTorch is going to be more proactive in vetting who they utilize for product testing and promotion. I think they're uniquely placed to disrupt the light industry, and part of that is making sure those people are well-respected and put divers in a positive light. No pun intended.
A friend of mine purchased one of these and it finally arrived yesterday and I got to take a look at it. A couple thoughts below.
From the factory, the goodman handle is on the wrong way to actually rig it properly. Fortunately, that's easily rectified. Just swap it around so you can put the bolt snap in the right spot on the inside. On a positive note, there's a milled section at the back of the head for a bungee loop if you want to use a double ender. It's a nice touch, kudos to OrcaTorch for adding it. It needs a thumb loop of some kind. Whether it's like the Focus with the little bungee thump loop, or an actual scooter loop option, there should be something. I know it's a compromise with the non-traditional goodman handle, but it would still be nice for there to be some sort of thought put into it. That being said, the goodman handle is alright, just needs some tweaking to make it usable for technical diving.
The switch is interesting. I'm undecided on it. I guess it can go both ways, but I'd want more experience with it. I'll check in with my friend after she's had it in the water for a while and get her opinion.
I like the beam angle. There's no excuse for technical lights with massive beam angles unless you can also focus it down. OrcaTorch definitely went the right way with choosing a light that's tight enough for signaling without having to wave the thing around like you're trying to spin the head off a chicken.
The adjustable gland is still gimmicky to me. I still think it takes up a lot of room, and I still think people will rarely change it. I would rather see a top or a side option like UWLD does. The gland, coupled with the short battery pack is a little too large up top compared to the bottom, making it a little too short for storing the long hose IMO, but it's not terrible. A double-sized battery pack would be great, both from a length standpoint as well as battery reserve standpoint. The Focus solves the length issue by having the harness attachment at the top on the "cap," with the battery below. Maybe the 630mk2 can go the same way.
I don't like the harness strap. If you want to make it easily releasable, do it the way everyone else does it with a bungee loop and one screw clamp at the top. Velcro keepers rarely keep well. It would be really awkward to be swimming a long and all of a sudden your canister is dangling from the light head. Usually it happens the other way around. My friend replaced hers with a normal harness strap before I even saw the light.
I didn't do a burn test, but if the marketing numbers are true, I'd want a larger pack. It's primarily a reserve thing. If my dive is gonna be 5 hours, I want 8 hours of battery. Nobody died by having too much primary light battery. It also solves the long hose storage maybe-issue. If you need short run times, get a handheld. If you're dealing with a canister, make it worthwhile.
Battery indicators are always nice things when they work. Again, I'll have to get my friends opinion on its accuracy and usefulness.
Anyway, just a couple thoughts from about 15 minutes of handling out of the water. OrcaTorch is making good headway. I don't see myself going out and buying one of these. I have others that already do what I need them to do without any of the negatives I see in the D630. That being said, if they offered just the light head on a short E/O cord, I'd probably pick one up to throw in a pocket for those times when an HID lamp goes, since it's mostly the battery canister I have issues with.
