Focus Lights <$100

[markdhanlon 0]

I'm trying to find a focus light for less than $100 but also has automatic cutoff when the strobe preflash fires to prevent hotspotting. So far I know of the Fantasea Nano and the Fisheye Ultra Compact. I plan on using it with my 350D. Does anyone know of others or have experience with either of these? Would a small light like these work or am I wasting my time? Any recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Stewart L. Sy 12]

I fail to see the value of the high end lights. I've used a UK SL4 light since 1998 and recently began using the Suprema 44 LED light, one a couple of night dives, I've even used a UK-D4R as my focus light. I've never experienced a hotspot. Your strobes are powerful enough to blank out your focus light. IF you're on a tight budget, the UK SL4 or Ikelite PC lite works fine, if you've got more money to spend then the Suprema 44 LED provides a nice broad white beam, great for night dives too.

 

s.

[ce4jesus 1]

I've used the Suprema 44LED and like it. Your flash overpowers it just like Stew said.

[Cerianthus 55]

the 44LED, or the compact Nano focus light (this one switches off during the flash and turns back on after 2 s. Untill now I've been happy enough with my mini C lite with a homemade diffusor to soften the hot spot.

 

At the bottom of this thread is my setup with the focus light.

[IMSushi 0]

Hey Mark, I've been using my Ike PCm, and very happily I might add. It used to be stored in my BC pocket as a back up, but after I discovered it has a soft somewhat diffuse warm light, I mounted on my ULCS Spotting Light Adapter and there you go...$40. It takes 4 AA batteries and I change them once per day. (3-4 dives) I don't find that adding extra diffusors is necessary. There is enough light that my D80 focuses without problem and the YS-110's easily overpower it.

 

BTW, I still have gear lust for a Fisheye FIX!

 

Also, I've tried a UK Q40 LED. It's beam is too hot and focused to be used as a good focus light. In my experience, it left a hot spot in some picts. It has replaced my PCm as a back up light in my BC pocket.

[Steve Williams 0]

I'm trying to find a focus light for less than $100 but also has automatic cutoff when the strobe preflash fires to prevent hotspotting.

The Fisheye mini looks like a good option from the backscatter site:

 

"The new Fisheye FIX mini LED Focus Light is a perfect low cost solution for compact digital cameras. A unique light sensor automatically turns off the light when your strobe fires to prevent a hot sport in your image. With a 6 hour burntime, you'll still have juice for a night dive."

 

Looks like it's selling for under $60.

 

Steve

[derway 2]

I used to used Ike PCa lights, but they left hot spots in the images sometimes.

 

Now I've got the fisheye ultracompact, and it works great. Yup, turns itself off when it sees a flash!

 

http://reefphoto.com/index.php?main_page=p...roducts_id=1470

 

Only $45 too.

Edited December 2, 2007 by derway

[tsetsefly 0]

Had read a lot about flooding and issues on the Fisheye Ultra Compact Focus Light, but I got one anyway.

http://reefphoto.com/index.php?main_page=p...roducts_id=1470

 

I had picked one up, stopped working after about 6 dives. No evidence of flooding or contact issues.

So I will add my experience for this light.

 

After that brand new light stopped working, ended up using a small Princeton Tec light which worked just fine.

[JackConnick 76]

There is a new Fantasea product called the NanoPro light that I'm very impressed with. It's 3 watts and has a very bright, focused beam that is extremely even and white. I'm going to take one out next week, but a lot of people liked it over the NanoFocus/Fisheye mini and the same form factor. It's bright enough to use as a back up dive light as well.

 

Jack

Edited May 8, 2008 by JackConnick

[Walt Stearns 54]

OxyCheq's new Raider LED back light shows a lot of promise. Not only is small (5.8†L x 1.3†W), the 3 Watt LED is powered by three AA batteries with a continuous burn time of over 4.5 hours.

 

These lights are design as backup lights for cave diving, so they have to be not only bright (which I got to see back at DEMA), but constructed to highly durable. Which is a huge factor considering even lights in this field of diving are part of our life support system. After all, what good is gas supply if you can see your way out.

[Halabriel 0]

Front runners in the small target lights category seem to be the Fantasea Nano and the Fisheye FIX mini.

There seems to be very little between them functionality and price wise.

I am going for the Fisheye FIX mini.

Don't confuse this with the other Fisheye lights which are distinctly more pricey.

 

Cheers

 

Hal

[Ryan 57]

Brighter isn't always better with focus lights. Tightly focused beams will require reaiming as subject distances change, which I find annoying and impractical.

 

If I were on a budget I'd use an Ikelite Mini-C and diffuse it. This light was designed some time in the stone age, but its reflector, combined with some kind of diffuser, throws a very usable focusing light pattern.

 

http://www.reefphoto.com/frame.gen.php?content=focus.summary

 

There are tons of LED options in development now with the high intensity LED technology that has become so prevalent, so you'll see lots of new options in the next 3-6 months.

[E_viking 30]

I have used a Fantasea Nano for 150-200 dives now. No problems whatsoever so far. My wife has one as well and she is also happy with it.

 

I bought a second one to have on night dives.

 

It is in my opinion: cheap, good and perfect for travelling.

[tdpriest 115]

Tightly focused beams will require reaiming as subject distances change, which I find annoying and impractical.

 

I find that I don't need aiming lights with ordinary lenses, except in the dark (wrecks, night), but I use one all the time for macrophotography. As the best macro images are usually as close as possible, giving 1:1 reproduction ratios, the subject distance doesn't change much, so I don't find this a problem.

 

The closer you get the focus light to the lens axis, the less it will need to be re-aimed (and the lower the power it needs), which helps.

 

Tim

 

B)

[rtrski 20]

Used a Fantasea Nano for 6 days straight shooting, both ocean and in a 'cave' like environment, with no leaks or failures until the AAA batteries ran down. Even turned it on and off underwater, which I recognize is 'risky' if I turn the wrong way when it's already on and loosen it too much. Wasn't terribly cautious about not 'yanking it around' by the front to re-aim, either. I also 'compromised' the seal somewhat by putting a couple layers of red filter film inside the front between the glass 'lens' and the LEDs, which likely violates warranty at least.

 

Couldn't see it when it was sunny (but didn't need it then anyway), but could on shady/cloudy dives at depth. Did seem to work since when the batteries ran out before I was done diving (and I'd blown up my AA/AAA recharger transformer -- it was 110 - 240v but only IF you SWITCHED it first, duh -- I could definitely notice more 'focus hunting' from the E330 under similar conditions.

 

And if it does flood, its $40ish down the tubes vs. several hundred. I'll accept that kind of risk much more easily.

Edited May 13, 2008 by rtrski

[synthetic 4]

I tried one of those Fisheye spotter lights and flooded it after about 10 dives. The light was also very dim. I'll give you a good price if you want it after my glowing review...

 

I went back to my PrincetonTec flashlight and I'm mostly happy with it. I sometimes wish it had a power setting. I keep meaning to come up with a diffuser for it. I've never noticed its beam in a photo.