Primary Light Question

[eelnoraa]

You intersted in run time or light penetration/effectiveness in low viz water?

My experience for the later (Monterey water) DRIS is not compatible to 21W HID by a big margin. DRIS has wider beam. 21W HID has a noticeable brighter and bigger hot spot. And because of that, it punch much better.

In clear water (tropical) day time, 21W HID also shows higher effectiveness in terms of getting buddy's attention. In same water night dive, 21W HID is way over kill. Even DRIS 500 is also over kill. But wider and lower intensity beam of DRIS 500 is a better light for night diving in this water.

In clear and confined water with indoor lighting (25m swimming pool), DRIS (even the 500) appears as good as 21W HID. With reflection from the walls, both saturated my vision.

Never tested run time on neither of my DRIS yet.

Please let us know how this works out. The DRIS light is looking very interesting. I am not into cave/tech diving but am in a lot of low vis situations.

 

[Griffo]

Both my 500W DRIS and my can light were FAR too bright for night diving in clear water in Thailand. I ended up using the DRIS with 3 fingers over the lense and surviving on the crack between my fingers.
At home in Melbourne though, both of those lights struggle to cut through murky water - good enough, but leaving me wanting more. The can light is definitely better in low vis though.

I have light envy when I dive with some people with 21W HID's. So I don't think can lights are going anywhere yet.

 

[pedo]

You intersted in run time or light penetration/effectiveness in low viz water?

My experience for the later (Monterey water) DRIS is not compatible to 21W HID by a big margin. DRIS has wider beam. 21W HID has a noticeable brighter and bigger hot spot. And because of that, it punch much better.

In clear water (tropical) day time, 21W HID also shows higher effectiveness in terms of getting buddy's attention. In same water night dive, 21W HID is way over kill. Even DRIS 500 is also over kill. But wider and lower intensity beam of DRIS 500 is a better light for night diving in this water.

In clear and confined water with indoor lighting (25m swimming pool), DRIS (even the 500) appears as good as 21W HID. With reflection from the walls, both saturated my vision.

Never tested run time on neither of my DRIS yet.

Thanks. Less interested in run time (although more is usually better!) than penetration ability in NJ waters. I don't expect 21W HID performance but given its price the DRIS may be just fine

 

[Teamcasa]

I find the comparison sort of apples and oranges:

21w can light:
$600-$1000
replacemnt bulb +/- $100
replacement battery +/- $400
weight +/- 7lbs
Lumen +/- 1500

DRIS light
$100
replacemnt bulb +/- $30
replacement battery +/- $6 but you will need several dozen over several years
weight +/- 1lbs
Lumen +/- 1000

My conclusion is that unless you need a can light to look cool, have need of the extra weight, need a place to wrap your long hose or require the extra lumens the choice looks clear. Buy the led and spend the extra cash on diving.

 

[syntaxerrorsix]

I find the comparison sort of apples and oranges:

21w can light:
$600-$1000
replacemnt bulb +/- $100
replacement battery +/- $400
weight +/- 7lbs
Lumen +/- 1500

DRIS light
$100
replacemnt bulb +/- $30
replacement battery +/- $6 but you will need several dozen over several years
weight +/- 1lbs
Lumen +/- 1000

My conclusion is that unless you need a can light to look cool, have need of the extra weight, need a place to wrap your long hose or require the extra lumens the choice looks clear. Buydoge led and spend the extra cash on diving.

Once again run time is important and you aren't getting it from a single or double cell source. You are also not getting 1000 lumens OTF for more than a few minutes before the circuit board steps it down in order to increase the burn time and prevent damage.

One set of batteries in the DRIS doesn't even last one standard Florida cave dive.

If you are using equivalent 21W in LED you won't be replacing the lamp. The rechargeable batteries in the can are equivalent in price to 66 of your two cell lights which means unless I have to replace the battery pack in 33 dives I come out ahead.

It has nothing to do with cool or weight, it has everything to do with the dive profile and the means to see all the way up until the dive is done. Extra lumens is just the bonus and a diver can tuck their long hose into the webbing on the belt.

If your budget is so tight you can't spring for what most folks doing these dives consider the appropriate equipment you may not be ready to do the dives. Save up some loot and get the gear appropriate for the dive you intend on doing.

 

[eelnoraa]

I find the comparison sort of apples and oranges:

It is indeed. But when someone asked for comparison, someone with both gave opinion.

Whether one needs a 21W Caniter or a DRIS is total up to that person and the kind of diving he/she does. But if anyone thinks DRIS1000 is compatible to 21W Canister in term of light output, sorry to break the bubble, it is NOT nearly there. This is not to say DRIS isn't a good light. It is, especially for the money.