This is an expansion (Photos and some detail) of the follow-up I did for this thread where i was initially only considering 18650 lights: Vari-angle, 18650, OW lights - BigBlue CF1200P-II, Tovatec Fusion 1050, Kraken NR-900Z/NR-1500Z, or ????? - Feedback requested
I have 2 trips with both the BigBlue CF1800P and the Tovatec Fusion 1500 (big brother to the 1050 and made as an impulse purchase when I stumbled across an used/open-box deal for $89). Both are 26650 cell lights.
Published Specs:
I have not had the opportunity to do a real world beam measurements, but my impression is that the Big Blue numbers are pretty close to true with less hotspot/spill, whereas the Fusion has a big spill intensity that makes it feel way wider than the 12 deg claim when zoomed in. Interesting note: the Big Blue optics are such that when zoomed in you have an very good rendition of the square emitter as your beam (including seeing the intensity difference artifacts of the emitter construction).
Both lights were used on multiple salt (and 2 fresh) water dives on 2 trips with multiple in-water power cycles. The BB was my belt light and spent a liveaboard trip with almost no rinsing. Neither light had any operational issues. i did not use the factory chargers, batteries were charged with my XTAR 2-place charger.
Short, subjective evaluations:
The Tovatec Fusion 1500 was set up on an Apeks hard-goodman handle for my night and Cenote dives. It makes a great bright area light, but I found the low setting to be too bright much of the time - I prefer a very low intensity MOST times as I have good low-light vision still and I'm not looking to turn night into day. There is a mildly-annoying light leak from the holes at the back of the head when it is zoomed out. Also it just doesn't get as tight as I'd like with the high spill. The big problem is that the TF 1500 is BIG and HEAVY (probably close to 2x the weight of the BB with the battery in it.) It feels almost like diving with with a 2 or 3 D-cell MagLight (head-knockers
) In the goodman handle it is really just to much - uncomfortable but not impossible. The claimed run-time is also a joke in my experience. It is possible that the factory battery on mine is not so good and led to the initial return, but after a 1-hour cenote dive the status indicator was showing red and much of that was not on max.
The Big Blue CF1800P is remarkably small and light given that is a zooming 26650 light. It (just) fits in my SeaSoft retractor-holster and lived on my waist-belt for most dives on the trips. Zooming requires a second hand with a firm twist, but it stays put where set. On the goodman handle, it is much easier to hold with vastly less bulk and weight. It is great for signalling or pointing when zoomed out as you can put a highly defined beam way out there. Run time is subjectively better, but I have not done an actual head to head comparison. I also really like the Level I - 10% setting; it gives more than sufficient light for navigation, but without making it impossible to see "outside" the beam area to note what others are doing/finding. Unless some other new contender comes along, I will likely look for a good deal for a 2nd CF1800.
Update:
I did some measurements on the BigBlue angles and came up with this:
It has a pronounced central hotspot with a much larger (2.5x) well defined, but uneven/banded, spill area.
I also now have some pictures for comparison (I'm including my old "Volador" 18650 light for a fixed-beam reference)
Left to right: Volador, BB CF1800P, Tovatec Fusion 1500
I have 2 trips with both the BigBlue CF1800P and the Tovatec Fusion 1500 (big brother to the 1050 and made as an impulse purchase when I stumbled across an used/open-box deal for $89). Both are 26650 cell lights.
Published Specs:
| Light | Beam Angle | Weight | Buoyancy | Length (collapsed) | Diameter (max) | Nominal Lumens | Power Levels (%) | Claimed Runtime | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BB CF1800P | 7 - 37 | 10.6oz/301g (w/ Batt.) | - 5.2oz/146g | 6.7"/19.9cm | 1.4"/3.6cm | 1800 | 100, 50, 25, 10 | 2 Hours | |
| TF 1500 | 12-100 | 17.1oz/484g (w/o Batt.) | ? | 8.03"/20.4cm | 2.1"/5.33cm | 1500 | 100, 50, 30 | 1.75 Hours |
I have not had the opportunity to do a real world beam measurements, but my impression is that the Big Blue numbers are pretty close to true with less hotspot/spill, whereas the Fusion has a big spill intensity that makes it feel way wider than the 12 deg claim when zoomed in. Interesting note: the Big Blue optics are such that when zoomed in you have an very good rendition of the square emitter as your beam (including seeing the intensity difference artifacts of the emitter construction).
Both lights were used on multiple salt (and 2 fresh) water dives on 2 trips with multiple in-water power cycles. The BB was my belt light and spent a liveaboard trip with almost no rinsing. Neither light had any operational issues. i did not use the factory chargers, batteries were charged with my XTAR 2-place charger.
Short, subjective evaluations:
The Tovatec Fusion 1500 was set up on an Apeks hard-goodman handle for my night and Cenote dives. It makes a great bright area light, but I found the low setting to be too bright much of the time - I prefer a very low intensity MOST times as I have good low-light vision still and I'm not looking to turn night into day. There is a mildly-annoying light leak from the holes at the back of the head when it is zoomed out. Also it just doesn't get as tight as I'd like with the high spill. The big problem is that the TF 1500 is BIG and HEAVY (probably close to 2x the weight of the BB with the battery in it.) It feels almost like diving with with a 2 or 3 D-cell MagLight (head-knockers
) In the goodman handle it is really just to much - uncomfortable but not impossible. The claimed run-time is also a joke in my experience. It is possible that the factory battery on mine is not so good and led to the initial return, but after a 1-hour cenote dive the status indicator was showing red and much of that was not on max.The Big Blue CF1800P is remarkably small and light given that is a zooming 26650 light. It (just) fits in my SeaSoft retractor-holster and lived on my waist-belt for most dives on the trips. Zooming requires a second hand with a firm twist, but it stays put where set. On the goodman handle, it is much easier to hold with vastly less bulk and weight. It is great for signalling or pointing when zoomed out as you can put a highly defined beam way out there. Run time is subjectively better, but I have not done an actual head to head comparison. I also really like the Level I - 10% setting; it gives more than sufficient light for navigation, but without making it impossible to see "outside" the beam area to note what others are doing/finding. Unless some other new contender comes along, I will likely look for a good deal for a 2nd CF1800.
Update:
I did some measurements on the BigBlue angles and came up with this:
It has a pronounced central hotspot with a much larger (2.5x) well defined, but uneven/banded, spill area.
- hotspot - 7* - 36* (Zoomed in you have a very accurate outline of the square emitter chip as the hotspot. Out, the hotspot is almost a circle, mostly even, falling off a bit towards the edges). This matches the nominal specs - they are measuring the hotspot.
- spill - 17.5* - 94*
I also now have some pictures for comparison (I'm including my old "Volador" 18650 light for a fixed-beam reference)
Left to right: Volador, BB CF1800P, Tovatec Fusion 1500
