Strongly considering getting a pair of one of these lights before my trip to Bonaire for my wife and I. Know the tech differences between the 2 lights, but wondering what that comes out to in reality. From what I can tell the Shockwave LED has 3 3 watt LEDs that I'm guessing will make a wider beam pattern than the 2 5 watt LEDs in the C8 which is probably a brighter more focused beam. Not sure if my speculation is correct but I would like to get some decent lighting before my trip fortunately I have some time.
Shockwave LED and UK C8 Plus LED
- Thread starter Nismo
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I can't help you with the comparison. I will tell you that in Bonaire I ended up turning off my Shockwave ELED and used my "back-up" TEC-400 while diving. The ELED was too much light.
Other wise I enjoy the Shockwave ELED for night diving here at home.
Pete
Other wise I enjoy the Shockwave ELED for night diving here at home.
Pete
ScubaGir1
Registered
We have the mini shockwave and its pretty nice. Of course, our instructor had the UK HID Light Canon and it blew ours away LOL.
Travelnsj
Contributor
Hoosier:
I've been looking and comparing the UK eLed and the Shockwave led to purchase....UK claims they maintain the same light intensity until the batteries get very weak. My LDS showed me a Shockwave that had been used for an hour and it was dimmer than the UK. But one with new bats is brighter than the UK.....so it seems the UK may be a better lite?
CODMAN
Contributor
I have a UK SL4 ELED and used it for the first time in Roatan last year. For day diving, it was great for looking under ledges and in cracks... For night diving... I honnestly almost found it was overkill in the clear caribean water!! I'm not kidding! It was my first night dive out there, and it was more than enough for me. The C8 I believe would be too much for Bonaire... In my oppinion... Anyways, very happy with my SL4.
Nismo:
If you would like a "country boy" comparison, take a look at this link. Thanks.
Shockwave v UK LED Light Comparison
Note: If you are buying two, give me a call. I can save you some money.
Phil Ellis
I saw that comparison and I'm wondering if it is comparing the Shockwave to the C8 ELED and not the C8 ELED Plus. The Plus has 2 LED's where the standard ELED only has one which would explain the huge difference between the two lights.
That's two who say the C8 would be too bright for Bonaire but I'm wondering if I use it on the lower setting what the difference would be?
That's two who say the C8 would be too bright for Bonaire but I'm wondering if I use it on the lower setting what the difference would be?
jeraldjcook
Contributor
You can never have to much light IMHO. I bought my father-in-law the Shockwave LED and it put my UK C8 LED (non-plus) to shame. One nice thing about the Shockwave is that it puts out a distinctive pattern. He is a new diver and a would wonder off a little, but I could always tell where he was by looking at the light pattern.
Bubbletrubble
Contributor
I own both of the lights in question. I would say that the Princeton Tec Shockwave eLED is only slightly "brighter" than the UK C8 eLED. For me, the real deal-breaker on the UK lights is the locking mechanism. There's a little triangular clip that you pull out to use and push in to lock. Over time, this brittle piece of plastic will break off. The Princeton Tec locking mechanism is a much beefier sliding lock mechanism that won't break off with normal use. Since the two lights you're considering are about the same price, I would go with the Princeton Tec. Since you're taking these lights on vacation, you may want to consider the 4C version of the Princeton Tec. I think it's called the Miniwave eLED. It's lighter (obviously) than the Shockwave and costs about $10 less, but the tradeoff is that the batteries don't last as long (since there are only 4 of them). Enjoy Bonaire!
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