L&M Sola 1200

[pmooney 6]

Mr Wong ,

Just keeping you focused ( pardon the pun )

The intention for SOLA battery replacement is a return to authorised LMI service centre process .

[nathicastro 0]

Hi,

 

I might be escaping a little bit of the subject, but can you tell me wheter you prefer a Sola 1200 or a Big Blue VL 1300?

I'm just starting in the uw video world... I might buy only one light to see how it goes and then, depending on the results, buy a second one.

Do you think it is worth it to have only one video light? Or if I'm not using two of them it's better not to use any at all?

So far, the only difference I've seen between these two video lights is the beam angle... and that the solas are flooding proff.

 

I really appreciate the help.

 

Thanks.

[MikeVeitch 0]

We've all been firmly conditioned by all manufacturers, (cars, electronics, etc.) to the "planned obsolescence" concept, right?

 

I doubt if too many users will ever get through the 1,000 cycles before they buy the latest and greatest lighting system...

 

Regards

Peter

 

Missed this thread.. am interested in these lights actually, i like your idea of 3...I would need 3 for sure, good thinking.

I would definitely go through 1000 cycles though, i dive a lot and am very cheap.. i don't upgrade more than once every 10 years or so

The new Gates are also intriguing but these may be more my style.. hmmm.. decisions

[jcclink 8]

Sola 1200 is still a new addition to video light options, so not a good history of reliablity yet. But based on past history with L&M electronics, I'd buy 4 units if I normally would be using 2 lights. I've had 2 strobe fail on the same trip, so like to plan for worst case. Murphy is always looking over your shoulder.

Edited August 7, 2011 by jcclink

[peterbkk 110]

Missed this thread.. am interested in these lights actually, i like your idea of 3...I would need 3 for sure, good thinking.

I would definitely go through 1000 cycles though, i dive a lot and am very cheap.. i don't upgrade more than once every 10 years or so

The new Gates are also intriguing but these may be more my style.. hmmm.. decisions

 

I've used the Sola 1200s for several months now, over about 100 dives. So far, very reliable. If diving somewhere with a lot of waterborne silt or sand, make sure you rinse the slide switches properly so they don't get sticky.

 

Using 3 lights (60 degrees each) works quite well. They give you WA coverage without have to be too precise about alignment. It allows you to point the centre light downwards so, if you truck in on a subject, you don't get a shadow appearing from the bottom of the image.

 

I run them on 1/2 power on night dives and when there is little natural light and on full power when competing with the sun for some fill/color light. Because the charging is so easy (wipe dry, plug-in, switch-on) I usually charge between dives but can nurse them through 2 or 3 dives if careful.

 

With the 1/2" locline, they are light to carry and easy to position. They curl up out of the way alongside the housing when out of the water. The locline wraps around the light-head to protect them when travelling.

 

Replacing the battery might be possible but I doubt it. Not sure how you could even open the light unit.

 

But they are not that expensive that you'd mind replacing them after a few years.

 

Regards

Peter

 

PS. I believe the Sola 4000 is imminent. A pair of them will light up the ocean. Built in blue filter, switches from 60 to 90 degrees. Double the price and double the weight of the 1200.

[peterbkk 110]

I might be escaping a little bit of the subject, but can you tell me wheter you prefer a Sola 1200 or a Big Blue VL 1300?

 

Preference is personal. I've had good experiences with L&M over many years.

 

For a beam test comparison of the Sola with Big Blue, go to http://www.uwimaging.com/sola1200v.html click on Beam Test, select the lights you want to compare and drag the slider to the middle.

 

Regards

Peter

[nathicastro 0]

Preference is personal. I've had good experiences with L&M over many years.

 

For a beam test comparison of the Sola with Big Blue, go to http://www.uwimaging.com/sola1200v.html click on Beam Test, select the lights you want to compare and drag the slider to the middle.

 

Regards

Peter

 

Thanks for the response Peter...

I took a look at it... is this beam test accurate? Because it seems that the sola light has smooth edges while the vL1300 has it more abrupt.

If thats the case, as I'll start with just one head, the sola has a pro point there.

The point is, the VL1300 comes with the filters and its easier to attach to my housing (an equinox). Does these filters make much of a difference?

Oh my, I didn't think i'd be so hard to decide...

 

Thanks again for the info.

[peterbkk 110]

Oh my, I didn't think i'd be so hard to decide...

 

Don't complain. Not so many years ago, you had to make the housing yourself...

 

The point is, the VL1300 comes with the filters and its easier to attach to my housing (an equinox). Does these filters make much of a difference?

 

Attaching the Sola 1200 with its locline arms to any housing is quite easy. Just went through the process with my new BS Kinetics housing. Took a bit of shopping in a marine supplies shop to get the right size SS screws and couple of hours getting the locline base drilled and mounted right.

 

A blue filter might be useful if you are trying to color match with the sun. I tried doing that for a while but found that it didn't make a huge difference and added another complication.

 

Regards

Peter

[nathicastro 0]

Don't complain. Not so many years ago, you had to make the housing yourself...

 

 

 

Attaching the Sola 1200 with its locline arms to any housing is quite easy. Just went through the process with my new BS Kinetics housing. Took a bit of shopping in a marine supplies shop to get the right size SS screws and couple of hours getting the locline base drilled and mounted right.

 

A blue filter might be useful if you are trying to color match with the sun. I tried doing that for a while but found that it didn't make a huge difference and added another complication.

 

Regards

Peter

 

Thanks again for all the info Peter.

Regards,

 

Nathalia

[Drew 0]

Thanks for the response Peter...

I took a look at it... is this beam test accurate? Because it seems that the sola light has smooth edges while the vL1300 has it more abrupt.

If thats the case, as I'll start with just one head, the sola has a pro point there.

The point is, the VL1300 comes with the filters and its easier to attach to my housing (an equinox). Does these filters make much of a difference?

Oh my, I didn't think i'd be so hard to decide...

 

Thanks again for the info.

 

I don't think L&M tested the VL1300... the light in their chart is the TL 1x30 a spot light. Apples and oranges.

[nathicastro 0]

I don't think L&M tested the VL1300... the light in their chart is the TL 1x30 a spot light. Apples and oranges.

 

Right!

I didn't realise that! It's not the same light! I just looked for 'big blue' and that was it.

Thanks for warning me...

 

Vl1300 is back on the game then... =D

[uwxplorer 4]

I don't think L&M tested the VL1300... the light in their chart is the TL 1x30 a spot light. Apples and oranges.

 

I have "tested" the VL1300 (I own 2 of those) vs the Sola 1200 (which I was planning to buy but they were back-ordered when I needed them).

At least turned them on in a store and compared their projected area at ~ 3 ft (somebody was holding the Sola). The beam diameters looked similar to me but indeed the Sola's beam edge was softer and its color whiter (the VL1300 had a slight yellow hue to it compared to the Sola. But when you look at it on a white wall, it looks perfectly white. The Sola (maybe due to the whiter color?) seemed brighter to me.

The bottom line is two of these lights are sufficient in most scenarios I have encountered. However, the light is insufficient to light up foreground and background, obviously. So you will still get a well lit subject with a greenish background (if you shoot in such a way that there is a very far background).

 

I use the filters to protect the light in the rinse bucket or in general whenever I am not using the light. Filters absorb light, so you would end up with far less than 1300 lumens using them.

 

Those lights are heavier than the Sola. I commented on them here.

[nathicastro 0]

I have "tested" the VL1300 (I own 2 of those) vs the Sola 1200 (which I was planning to buy but they were back-ordered when I needed them).

 

So when you were about to buy them you had decided for the Solas over the VL1300s?

 

I use the filters to protect the light in the rinse bucket or in general whenever I am not using the light. Filters absorb light, so you would end up with far less than 1300 lumens using them.

 

Those lights are heavier than the Sola. I commented on them here.

 

Yeah, I saw your review about these too... Thanks for all the information... appreciate it.

And also good to know about the filters.

 

Kind regards,

 

Nathalia

[uwxplorer 4]

So when you were about to buy them you had decided for the Solas over the VL1300s?

I had heard about the Sola from L&M, this forum, etc and they looked perfect for the job.

I bought one VL1300 because the deal I got made its price competitive with the Sola (and once again, my dealer could not get one at the time).

After trying it, I decided to purchase a second one (mostly to keep my rig balanced!).

I have posted an example of their use in a night dive at

which showcases their coverage (I used two lights about 2 ft apart).

HTH.

[Long John Silver 0]

Hi guys,

 

not to hijack this thread but given that the sola1200 are the market reference for this kind of lights...

Anyone has experience with the Fisheye FIX Led 1500?

I found a small review wit a sola 1200 comparison:

 

http://www.deepshots.co.uk/2011/07/quick-r...dx-video-light/

 

I like the user rechargeable battery pack but I don't like the color temp of 8500-9000K

 

http://www.splashuwimaging.com/type/video-...led-1500dx.html

[Steve Douglas 16]

I read the review you posted and there is one, very important point that the writer makes. Not being able to have enough charge over multiple dives is a consideration one must take seriously. For the videographer, like myself, who does not keep the lights powered up thought out the dive, only to turn them on prior to a shot, this might not become an issue but for a place like Lembeh where you are constantly finding something to film and producing more footage than is usual, then this would certainly be a real problem.

Most of the other characteristics between the two lights seem to be fairly close together but the charge issue might become a deal breaker. IMHO

Steve

[Long John Silver 0]

Most of the other characteristics between the two lights seem to be fairly close together but the charge issue might become a deal breaker. IMHO

 

Yeap! Having an extra battery pack ready to use is a plus.

The problem is the color temp (if it's real) 9000k is really a blue light

[Steve Douglas 16]

I went to their website and it does say 8500-9000 k at 1500 lumens but I question the accuracy of the Kelvin rating. It is a Japanese company and they may very well have different means and standards for ratings. Reminds me of the days stereo companies were advertising amps at very high wattages but were using false ratings. 115 watts per side IPP is about 12 watts RMS which is the true standard for wattage and stereo equipment.

Steve

[Long John Silver 0]

Reminds me of the days stereo companies were advertising amps at very high wattages but were using false ratings. 115 watts per side IPP is about 12 watts RMS which is the true standard for wattage and stereo equipment.