Aiming Lights

[Alastair 2]

Tim,

 

How do you get the focus light of your Z220s to work as my doesn't work with my D70 sometimes it does somtimes it doesn't?

 

As until now i have been taping my halcyon LED explorer to the stobes - good ole 100mph tape!!

[herbko 0]

I posted a DIY on getting the Z220 light to work on my 300D / Aquatica here:

 

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=5799

 

follow the link there to Matthias's discription of what turns it on.

[Alastair 2]

Herb,

 

Thanks for the reply.

 

Although i think that i will have to do something different for my D70 housing as the internal setup is a lot simpler than the A300 as there is no iTTL board. I have emailed blake at Aquatica to see what he says.

[TimG 62]

Hi Alastair

 

It took me a little while to get the D100/Subal and Inons working together properly. The issue was getting the correct plug connectors (there are four which lead to the two bulkheads) plugged into the correct PCB sockets in the housing. Once that was done, and I choose the correct switch setting on the actual strobe, I have never had a problem.

 

With the Subal for the D100 the 4 sockets are in two pairs on the housing PCB. One pair for each bulkhead. One socket of each pair is wired for 5 connections; the other for 3. I can't remember now if the Inon focussing and laser worked properly off the 3 or 5 wired socket - but I can open my system up to check if it would help you.

 

They do work really well and both the laser and focussing light are cut off when the shutter is fired. I have had no intermittent problems. Lucky me eh?

[Alastair 2]

Tim,

 

If you could check that would be greatly appreciated....or if not i will just try one by one until i get it to work.....hopefully without frying anything!! Although i am going to have to wait till i get home to try it out.

 

thanks in advance for the help

[Nocturnal Lights 0]

Hello All!

 

Just to let you guys know that we have just released a new focus light, the SLX LED

 

You can find more information on our porducts here on:

 

http://www.nocturnallights.com/underwater_...s_assist_light/

 

Most of the major underwater photo shops are now carrying it so if you're close to any of them feel free to stop in and ask them to show it off to you. If you guys have any questoins regarding our products feel free to ask me here, I'd be more than happy to help you guys out!

[Ryan 48]

We have the SLX LED in stock. It is a very nice light, well made, but a different product than the fix light. When diffused, it is 2 full f-stops less intense, but does have a nice smooth beam spread.

[wchen 1]

Ryan,

 

I couldn't find that light on your website. Can you provide a link?

 

thanks.

[Nocturnal Lights 0]

Ryan has just recently signed up as our dealer so please call him to make an order. You guys are welcome to come to our site for information and specs for the time being and I'll call him to get the SLXs posted on his website.

 

Here's a review of the SLX from divephotoguide.com.

 

http://www.divephotoguide.com/noclight.php

 

We also have halogen video lights that you can use if you're looking for the maxmium light output.

[Ryan 48]

Sorry, the webmaster had the nerve to go off diving somwhere, 'donesia I think it was...

 

http://www.reefphoto.com/index.php?main_pa...11937e4ee2d9f56

[Graham Abbott 0]

Just a suggestion here for those who are looking into choosing a new spotter lamp. I take many divers who use high powered spotter lights. These are not so good for animals like saron shrimps, boxer crabs and many other cool nocturnal animals. If we think about it, what we are doing is shining mega bright lights right in the face of these animals, then giving them a burst of even bright strobe light at them as well, which of course if it was you may not go down too well. It seems much better to use a spotter lamp that has some kind of adjustment on it, this way if you come across an animal that is shy in the face of your lamp you turn down the brightness. It sounds like a few of these are mentioned here.

 

Also a note for photographers on certain animals at night -- one big favourite in particular, the beloved ghost pipefishes. At night these cuties get really disorientated with bright lights and strobes in their face. To get the best images of ghost pipefish best to leave them at night, go back in the day and shoot them, if you hassle them to much at night they may not be there the next day?

 

Another big favourite are those microscopic little beauties the pigmy sea horses. With these I would suggest not using mega bright lights for too long. As Scubadru found out on a night dive on the outer islands of Wakatobi island group -- they don't like bright lights for too long and have been known on quite a few occasions to let go of their grasp and simply fall down till they touch bottom, on walls, this may be a long way down and these little beauties can easily be eaten, never to be photographed again... If you are photographing pigmies try not to shoot them too much continuously, I have seen a group of 3 all fall to the bottom -- ahhhh!

 

Graham

 

http://www.diving4images.com

[stever 0]

okay, i don't want to fry the little guys, but i want enough light to focus. how much is that 100 lumens? 200 lumens/ ?? the LED technology is moving very fast and i'm having a tough time figuring out what's available and how bright it really is

 

help

[danielstassen 1]

when you say "fisheye" are you talking about the FISHEYE FIX Mini LED focus light ?

[stever 0]

i bought the led48dx then decided to get the mini as well since it wasn't very expensive and uses the same mounting bkt (or goes in a bc pocket). won't use them until Feb though.

[Scubamoose 0]

Hi!

Seem's that most folks here have decided in favour of Fisheye aiming light.

But since it cost's allmost as much as my P&S or Ike housing for it, it really is a bit much (obviously it might be the best choise for DSLR setup's).

 

Anyone had any experiences with Fantasea Line LED Nano Focus Light?

It costs only like 40 $, but does it give any light at all for that price?

 

Cheers

Scubamoose

[Deep6 7]

Hi!

Seem's that most folks here have decided in favour of Fisheye aiming light.

But since it cost's allmost as much as my P&S or Ike housing for it, it really is a bit much (obviously it might be the best choise for DSLR setup's).

 

Anyone had any experiences with Fantasea Line LED Nano Focus Light?

It costs only like 40 $, but does it give any light at all for that price?

 

Cheers

Scubamoose

 

I am waiting for the new LED 360 light. Cuts off with strobe flash like the Nano, but much brighter and with signalling flash. Same price as the Nano.

 

 

http://www.fantasea.com/s.nl/it.A/id.378/....mp;category=496

[Scubamoose 0]

I am waiting for the new LED 360 light. Cuts off with strobe flash like the Nano, but much brighter and with signalling flash. Same price as the Nano.

 

 

http://www.fantasea.com/s.nl/it.A/id.378/....mp;category=496

 

Hi Deep!

I ordered Nano two days ago from B&H PhotoVideo

Gonna try it out in a few weeks and see if it's any good..

NB! If You get the LED 360 light, be sure to reply my how is it

Thanks

Scubamoose

[Deep6 7]

Hi Deep!

I ordered Nano two days ago from B&H PhotoVideo

Gonna try it out in a few weeks and see if it's any good..

NB! If You get the LED 360 light, be sure to reply my how is it

Thanks

Scubamoose

 

"Be the first kid on your block to raise sea monkeys" I remember this lead from ads in comic books. "sea monkeys" were brine shrimp. But I think this LED 360 is going to be a keeper at a modest price. I'll post when it ships (likely after the 1st of the year) and I can make a dry run.

 

Regards,

Bob

Edited December 16, 2008 by Deep6

[Scubamoose 0]

"Be the first kid on your block to raise sea monkeys" I remember this lead from ads in comic books. "sea monkeys" were brine shrimp. But I think this LED 360 is going to be a keeper at a modest price. I'll post when it ships (likely after the 1st of the year) and I can make a dry run.

 

Regards,

Bob

 

Hi Bob!

Be sure to post me how the 360 works etc. I got a 100 $ giftcard from P&H, so if the 360 is really good (and when PH start's selling it) I just might order it myself and leave the Nano for backup

Cheers,

Scubamoose

[Biodiversity_guy 0]

After flooding my G9 in the OEM housing (after about 180 dives with it) I have moved up to a G10 with an Ikelite housing and the DS-51 external flash.

 

My budget is about blown and my wife is not happy with my spending habits, but now I am shopping for an aiming light.

 

The nano looks promising, and seems to fit in my current budget range (the fisheye looks great but I will have to save for a bit). My question is: ikelite talks about the mini c as a focusing light, but no one mentioned it here.

 

Is that because it creates a hot spot? Can you put a diffuser on it? Or is it just better to go with the Nano.

 

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Edited February 27, 2009 by Biodiversity_guy

[Mike L 0]

If you are looking for a great focus light, in the mid-priced area that is better than a mini flash light, but not the wallet buster like the bigger Fisheye and Hartenberger lights, take a good look at the Big Blue FF 1x5 with Flash Off LED. Its a very nice light, comes with the ball adapter and a handle...and sells for $149.

[Eyematey 5]

I have one of the new LED 360's and while it hasn't been underwater yet it seems nice and bright and the cut off works well. Been practice shooting around the house with full housing setup. At $53 plus shipping seems like a bargain. UW test will tell, not for at least a couple weeks.

 

I am waiting for the new LED 360 light. Cuts off with strobe flash like the Nano, but much brighter and with signalling flash. Same price as the Nano.

 

 

http://www.fantasea.com/s.nl/it.A/id.378/....mp;category=496

[JackConnick 75]

The 360 is out, I have stock. The light is about the same as the old LED44, but it has a much better body/handle, the "blink off during exposure" and blinking safety light feature. Nice yellow body color, deeper depth rating. Big difference is that it uses 4 AA batteries, rather than 5 which was a PITA.

 

The NanoFocus continues to be a best seller. The light brightness is about the same as the LED44/360 but not as large an area. but very nice and small.

 

I agree with Mike, the Big Blue 1x5 is a very nice, extremely well-made light for the price point. Aluminum body, magnetic switch, great mount/handle for a dive light also included. Easy load battery pack for 4 AA. Up from there, I like the Nocturnal Lights SLX, makes a good Focus/Video light for P&S cameras with that capability. They have a more powerful new 800i model out now.

 

Jack

Edited February 28, 2009 by JackConnick

[meister 1]

Can anyone tell me if the Fantasea LED 360 has the capability to turn off the blink off during exposure feature, like would be desirable to turn off when you're taking pictures of your dive buddy holding this light, taking modeling pictures?

[meister 1]

I have my answer from Fantasea:

 

"The automatic dim-out sensor mechanism featured on the LED 360 Light (#6036) cannot be turned off."