L&M Sola 600 - User reviews & opinions?

[Drew 0]

4 failures out of how many (14?) lights is high for a high priced product. The electricity in MER is generator run so I can imagine there'll be spikes all the time. How was the power supply at Maluku? Anything else fry or was it only the SOLA chargers?

[RedSeaDiver 0]

Does any of the red light show up in your images and need correcting in Lightroom/Photoshop or is it totally overpowered by your strobes?

[cor 0]

I dont recall any other fried electronics.

 

RSD, at least 1 person complained about the red showing up in their images.

[Alex_Mustard 0]

If you have to use a slow shutter speed (and high ISO) then yes any torch will show up. But with a fast shutter speed then you will not see any torch light in a photo.

 

I kept this photo as a demonstration - the red colour at the back of the fish is from the Sola red mode - aimed at the fish. But I needed to be at 1/15th @ ISO 800 (f16) to get this much red coming through in my shot - these settings pretty much produce a correct exposure for the torch:

 

 

So if, like most people you use the torch for macro - shooting say at F16 @ 1/250th ISO 200 - then the torch light should be at least 6 stops under exposed - and therefore hard to see.

 

Alex

[cor 0]

What about shooting at say F5.6 @ 1/250th? I think thats where the 1 person complained.

[RedSeaDiver 0]

Quick update (which we somehow missed at DEMA). I (and probably, others) had mentioned the red light being too bright long before this trip, and Light & Motion has responded. The new Sola Photo 600 features 3 different power levels of red light, which should solve the red-light-too-bright issue. They are still unsure whether they will offer a refit for older Sola 600 lights.

Seems like there a number of people that are pretty pissed off with L&M for not putting this information on their website having ordered the normal Sola 600 in the last few weeks not knowing that there was a new version available that is more suited to U/W photo.

[antacid 1]

Seems like there a number of people that are pretty pissed off with L&M for not putting this information on their website having ordered the normal Sola 600 in the last few weeks not knowing that there was a new version available that is more suited to U/W photo.

 

yes count me as one of them. hard to imagine that there would be an explosion of different product lines so soon after the initial product launch. it's not something we see very often in the underwater imaging world!

 

do you think they will accept trade-ins?

[RedSeaDiver 0]

yes count me as one of them. hard to imagine that there would be an explosion of different product lines so soon after the initial product launch. it's not something we see very often in the underwater imaging world!

 

do you think they will accept trade-ins?

Have you emailed them to complain? I saw last night that they still haven't updated their website to show the new photo lights so people are probably still buying the video light instead of the photo light.

[focker 15]

Seems like there a number of people that are pretty pissed off with L&M for not putting this information on their website having ordered the normal Sola 600 in the last few weeks not knowing that there was a new version available that is more suited to U/W photo.

I kind of lucked out in this situation. I ordered a Sola 600 two weeks ago with all the other goodies you see in my sig line but when the package with everything arrived last week the vendor forgot to send the light. The package arrived Thursday and luckily for me that was the same day I read here about the new adjustable red light. I called to ask where the Sola was and they said it was a mistake they didn't send it but they would get one right out however it wouldn't be the new style. I cancelled that order and will be getting the adjustable red light this week from another vendor that has them in stock.

[focker 15]

Update: Light just arrived via UPS and it is VERY nice!

[Drew 0]

I dont recall any other fried electronics.

Well then L&M have some QC problems with their chargers. As an aside, I always carry a surge protector for chargers. Any generator supplied power will have variations in power, I insist on boats having voltage regulators, plus I use my surge protector as an additional measure.

 

If you have to use a slow shutter speed (and high ISO) then yes any torch will show up. But with a fast shutter speed then you will not see any torch light in a photo.

So if, like most people you use the torch for macro - shooting say at F16 @ 1/250th ISO 200 - then the torch light should be at least 6 stops under exposed - and therefore hard to see.

Alex, is the laymen's interpretation of what you're saying is that the closer you expose to ambient light, the higher chance of the light showing? Apparently the Sola red (the older version) is powerful enough where even underexposing by several stops, it shows up. I had a similar problem with the FIX 500 and red filter but I could turn the power down after I saw the results.

[cor 0]

oh that reminds me, we did have 1 more thing break, a surge protector but that was a 110/220V mishap.

 

yes, the closer you expose to ambient light, the more the red light shows up, especially cause it's so bright. It's good to see L&M already having a version with a red light dimmer. That should help a lot.

[Drew 0]

oh that reminds me, we did have 1 more thing break, a surge protector but that was a 110/220V mishap.

 

yes, the closer you expose to ambient light, the more the red light shows up, especially cause it's so bright. It's good to see L&M already having a version with a red light dimmer. That should help a lot.

 

Well when you get human's involved, there's always going to be a problem!

 

It's great L&M can change the design that quickly but sux for the people who bought the older design which isn't a dated model. Makes you wish that they'd field test more before making them.

[Alex_Mustard 0]

Alex, is the laymen's interpretation of what you're saying is that the closer you expose to ambient light, the higher chance of the light showing? Apparently the Sola red (the older version) is powerful enough where even underexposing by several stops, it shows up. I had a similar problem with the FIX 500 and red filter but I could turn the power down after I saw the results.

 

 

It all depends on the strength of the ambient light light really. When the ambient light is low (such as it was in my shot from Norway) and we are exposing for it, then the red light will be most visible. And of course, it is the times, depths, places when the ambient light is low - that is when we most need a focus light!

 

Alex

[peterbkk 110]

As an aside, I always carry a surge protector for chargers. Any generator supplied power will have variations in power, I insist on boats having voltage regulators, plus I use my surge protector as an additional measure.

 

How "industrial" is your surge protector? What model do you use?

 

Some powerboards, usually the ones from computer shops, claim to have in-built surge protection. Not sure how much of a spike it would stop. A full surge protector usually contains a big capacitor that would be too heavy for travel baggage allowances.

 

A lot of dive resorts in Southeast Asia suffer from power problems. Next month I'll be in Lembeh. Power supply is OK when they run their own generator but choppy when they use the government power. I'll be taking 3 of the new Sola chargers. The new chargers are quite a lot smaller and lighter than the old L&M chargers so I am concerned how well they'll deal with the choppy power supply. I might take a surge protector but I'm wondering how big it'll need to be to be effective.

 

Regards

Peter

[Drew 0]

I use the Belkin Mini Surge USB protector only uses flat pin sockets but it has a warranty that includes plugged in devices. It's my preferred travel brick. I just travel with an adapter for whichever country I'll be in. Haven't had a problem with them yet.

 

It seems the Sola charger failures aren't related to the voltage fluctuations but a manufacturer issue. If the failure rate on the WP trip is an indicator, then it's a big deal.

 

What I suggest you do is ask the resort to find a voltage regulator for you. The usual little red ones in Indo aren't expensive and any decent resort should have them. A bigger issue is when the resort switches between main and generator power. That's when power variations are greatest and I've seen all sorts of things blow because of that.

[peterbkk 110]

I use the Belkin Mini Surge USB protector only uses flat pin sockets but it has a warranty that includes plugged in devices. It's my preferred travel brick. I just travel with an adapter for whichever country I'll be in. Haven't had a problem with them yet.

 

It seems the Sola charger failures aren't related to the voltage fluctuations but a manufacturer issue. If the failure rate on the WP trip is an indicator, then it's a big deal.

 

On a recent trip to Raja Ampat, there were two new Sola 600s on board. Neither had charging or flooding issues. In fact, everyone was very impressed. The failures on your trip might have been from a early batch or just a nasty coincidence.

 

The chargers are just a standard 8.4V 1.0A OEM charger that L&M must have sourced to meet their battery's charging input requirements. It is not an L&M manufactured product. The 3 pin plug is the only thing unique to L&M on the charger.

 

 

 

Seems like that Belkin surge protector is perfect for the job, providing both protection and three outlets, and can charge my iPhone. I can save more space and weight in my luggage. If they offer a warranty on connected devices, they must be confident that they can deal with most spikes.

 

http://www.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.pro...oduct_Id=400738

 

I'll see if I can find one at Sim Lim, here in Singapore.

 

But, is it true that, for any surge protector to function, the earth pin must be connected to an earth? That might invalidate its protection in some Asian locations.

 

 

 

I've run three cycles now with my 3 x Sola chargers and, so far, no issues (touchwood). Before the next trip, I'll make sure that I have run at least 5 or 6 cycles.

 

One reason I chose to go with the 3 x Sola 1200s rather than wait and get 2 x Sola 4000s, is that having 3 lights and 3 chargers gives a bit more redundancy to the system if something does go wrong. I can lose 1 light and 2 chargers and still function normally. I can lose 2 lights and 2 chargers and still shoot macro.

 

Of course, when the Sola 4000 arrives, I'll be sorely tempted by all that POWER...

 

Regards

Peter

[Captain_Caveman 0]

I have used mine every day for the past five weeks or so.

 

I use them for video and switch them like crazy. I don't use the red (and am a bit annoyed that they have the cheaper version out now without the red, but there you go).

 

I'm more than pleased with their function, haven't had any issues with charging or flooding, all in all they perform almost flawlessly.

 

The only small niggle I have with them is the switches sticking. It's not a show-stopper because I come to expect it now and only a couple of times has it caused a problem - flicking the switch from low to medium power, the switch stays up and the light turns off. Now I move the switch up and down with my fingers instead of flicking it up hoping for it to return. Again not a big issue.

 

Overall I'm more than happy with these lights.

[Drew 0]

On a recent trip to Raja Ampat, there were two new Sola 600s on board. Neither had charging or flooding issues. In fact, everyone was very impressed. The failures on your trip might have been from a early batch or just a nasty coincidence.

 

The chargers are just a standard 8.4V 1.0A OEM charger that L&M must have sourced to meet their battery's charging input requirements. It is not an L&M manufactured product. The 3 pin plug is the only thing unique to L&M on the charger.

 

Well seeing that there were over 1 dozen Sola lights on the trip, 2 chargers failing is a pretty high number of failures. Then you have at least 5 floodings in this thread alone and issues with the controls as well. Obviously the floodings may be user error (but it is a sealed unit so that's unlikely), but then why would L&M replace in such quick fashion. There seems to be an issue.

 

L&M put their name on the charger so they have to be responsible for it. Product liability doesn't go straight to the OEM manufacturer, bypassing the client for which the product was made for. It's great that they are working on replacing the chargers but it'd be nice to know what the issue was.

[RedSeaDiver 0]

I'm in Tulamben, Bali at the moment, and a few people here have purchased Sola 600's in the last few weeks and they certainly are pretty annoyed with L&M for not mentioning the new models on their website so they could purchase the new photo model. A few of them have emailed L&M about it but they haven't received any replies which isn't helping L&M's reputation at the moment.

[jacquesdiving 0]

I bought a Sola Photo 600 in Jan 2011 in Hong Kong. Since L&M's lighting product is not popular in HK, I'd like to share my "story" here and see if anyone can give me some advice

 

I ordered a NEW version of Sola Photo 600 from a local dive shop, emphasizing that there should be 3 levels of red LED intensity ...

 

When I first got my light in early Jan, ONLY the RED LED could be turned on with 1 level of intensity. The white LED didn't work. Funny enough.

 

I immediately asked dive shop staff to send it back to L&M for replacement/repair. Staff told me that it's a programming problem. L&M reloaded a new programme into the light and sent it back to me within a week or so.

 

After re-programming, the white LED worked, BUT there was STILL 1 level of red LED intensity!!! How come?!

 

Since I needed the light for my diving trip in late Jan, I asked the dive shop staff to tell L&M of the issue, and would send the light to L&M for replacement after I return to HK in early Feb.

 

To my surprise, I talked to the dive shop staff this morning. They said they were still waiting for L&M's response.... How come?? No response in 2 weeks' time??!!

 

What does that mean? Does it mean L&M would only handle its mistake once?

 

Given the price of Sola 600, I expect a high-quality product with all functions fully tested before sales. The worst of all is, the so-called "fixed" light still does NOT work properly according to what L&M promised.

 

Even if L&M agreed to fix my light for the second time, I still need to pay for the courier to send it all the way to USA!! It's NOT my fault, but I got punished

 

I just wonder if I should switch back to using low-end focusing lights made locally here in HK.... they are not bright enough, they don't have red LED, but they WORK! I never need to return and repair....

 

Hopeless.....

[jacquesdiving 0]

Hurray !!!! Rays of hope!!

 

Just received a phone call from dive shop. They said L&M is going to send me a new light as replacement at no extra cost. Really exceed my expectation!!

 

Looking forward to receiving the new light - hope it works perfectly well

[SALGADO 0]

Just another unhappy situation:

After reading Alex Mustard review, and as I was looking for one, I decided to have one.

I order one SOLA 600 at end of 2010, but haven't been able to use it, but after 2 months I decided to check it... and it was dead...

Tried to charge it all night, and still nothing.

Contacted L&M and they told me to send it to them (I had to pay the P&P), and waiting to have it replaced, at least that was what they said...

I'm waiting...

Augusto

[antacid 1]

good to know that at least L&M is doing their best to fix the situations..

 

honestly i sometimes wish mine would die so I could try to swap it for the Sola 600 Photo instead. Will be nice to be able to choose between spot and flood! Sucks that it was only announced 1 week after i got mine.

[peterbkk 110]

Sorry to hear some people are having some hassles. But, I know from experience that L&M do stick by their customers and will solve any technical issues.

 

If I was you, and the light is definitely not functioning to specification, I would ask the shop where you bought it to swap it with one from their stock and let them deal with getting it replaced by L&M.

 

My Sola 1200s are working beautifully.

 

Regards

Peter