Caving light recommendations

[royfellows]

Just stick a diffuser on it, or a clear plastic bag

 

[Leclused]

The one I had was fine. None of the characteristics you mention.

Only speaking from experience Roy. 

Mine are also ok as for a " light " but way to cold and wrong colour for photos. I think people get way to caught up in the current trend and what everybody else has .

A bit of topic

A while ago I asked a clubmember what a good lamp would be for photo/video. At the end we came up with the following specs

= Hi CRI (+90)
= color temp 5000 K
= 5000-6000 lumen
= weight max 500-600 gram batteries included
= max 100 ?
= 18650 cells

Very similar to what we use the kelvins on mine are 5500 

What lamp do you use then? The reason why is ask it is that I haven't bought a lamp yet. The lamp will be used for documenting our new discovery in video and photo. The lamp will be mostly use for the video part for photographing extra flashes or wailpainting can do the trick. But as we have to video al lot of large passages, especially in length, we are looking for something to light up the length of the passages.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

I've used cheap chinese caplamps and they are fine.

Do you have any links as to where one might purchase such a thing???

 

[Paul Marvin]

I've used cheap chinese caplamps and they are fine.

Do you have any links as to where one might purchase such a thing???

https://www.fasttech.com/search?flASHLIGHTS

 

[alanw]

I've used cheap chinese caplamps and they are fine.

Do you have any links as to where one might purchase such a thing???

I bought one of these as a spare:

https://uk.banggood.com/CONVOY-H1-XML2-1048lm-LED-Headlamp-L-shape-Flashlight-Multi-functional-18650-Flashlight-Head-Lamp-Head-Light-p-1480039.html

Not as my main caving lights, though: I have a Rude Nora and a Zebralite for that.

Very bright, build quality seems fine, my only slight concern is the plastic covering the switch, it protrudes slightly from the body and doesn't seem as robust as the one on my Zebralite. The headband is cheap, too.

A couple of reviews:
https://zeroair.org/2020/07/01/convoy-h1-headlamp-review/
https://budgetlightforum.com/node/67074

Also, the Sofirn SP40 gets a good review:

https://budgetlightforum.com/node/67477
https://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?SearchText=%22Sofirn%22+%22SP40%22

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Thanks for those links, just what I was looking for.

 

[Mr Mike]

The one I had was fine. None of the characteristics you mention.

Only speaking from experience Roy. 

Mine are also ok as for a " light " but way to cold and wrong colour for photos. I think people get way to caught up in the current trend and what everybody else has .

A bit of topic

A while ago I asked a clubmember what a good lamp would be for photo/video. At the end we came up with the following specs

= Hi CRI (+90)
= color temp 5000 K
= 5000-6000 lumen
= weight max 500-600 gram batteries included
= max 100 ?
= 18650 cells

A lamp that fits these specs is

https://www.sofirnlight.com/products/sofirn-sp36s-5200lumen-rechargeable-flashlight-4-lh351d-5000k-leds-quick-charge?fbclid=IwAR0jXl2CM_ljjEcBj7qZmOaXOocXPhMO5PQp8Gz3tpsp9FqVgdcuFLFvPWI

I had a look at this lamp, liked the look of it and ordered one. Just arrived this morning - 1st impressions: nice packaging, torch feels nicely made, when I unscrewed the head to get at the battery compartment ontop of the o-ring the whole thread had been greased as well. Will have a play and give some more feedback, will be going up to Nent next weekend so will try it out with some photograpy. Also bought the diffuser for the end. Ordered 19th - recieved 29th. No duty as it seems to have come rom a UK address.

 

[Paul Marvin]

Mr Mike

Would you take a few shots showing the beam on all settings ect ect to see how hard the edge is and also the colour as these may be better than what i currently use for light painting 

Paul

 

[Paul Marvin]

I am gonna try these get rid of the elastic and fix to the helmet and there is an extra 13% off  :

https://sofirnlight.myshoplaza.com/products/sofirn-hs20-usb-c-rechargeable-led-spotlight-18650-powerful-2400lm-light-with-spotlight-floodlight-dual-switch?spm=..collection.collection_detail_1.6&spm_prev=..product.header_1.1

 

[royfellows]

Beware of Chinese lumens.

Generally, you have manufacturers lumens quoted as "minimum luminous flux", then Chinese lumens, then eBay lumens, in ascending order for multiples of the same value.
Some idea of reality can be obtained from the LED bulbs on sale at your local supermarket.

 

[Paul Marvin]

Beware of Chinese lumens.

Generally, you have manufacturers lumens quoted as "minimum luminous flux", then Chinese lumens, then eBay lumens, in ascending order for multiples of the same value.
Some idea of reality can be obtained from the LED bulbs on sale at your local supermarket.

Will give you an honest appraisal Roy 

 

[RestingCaver]

I know I shouldn't ask. But go on, tell me, what is the first, "most important piece of equipment"? One that's more important than a light?

What I find odd is the number of people who use cheap, ?20 ish, Chinese head torches, bearing in mind that your headtorch is the second most important piece of equipment.

 

[royfellows]

I think I already answered it somewhere, but anyway. Its "Helmet", you can enter a cave or mine far enough by daylight to still get your head split open.

Re lumens

Lumens are the unit of luminous flux and manufacturers quote minimum values on their data sheets. The all important data sheet.

They can actually be measured, by a piece of equipment called an "Integrating sphere". They are quite expensive but can be made. However their accuracy depends on the accuracy of their calibration, they have to be calibrated against a known source. I have always thought of it as a bit like "There?s a hole in the bucket"

 

[Thejones]

Had a Rude Nora for a few weeks. Been really pleased with it so far

 

[cavemanmike]

your headtorch is the second most important piece of equipment.

[/quote]
Personally I wouldn't go caving without my wetsocks 

 

[Ed]

Another vote for Phaetheon.
It dive rated and the gopro mount means I can also use it on my bike or as a stand aline head torch on a normal elastic steap

 

[Mr Mike]

I took the Sofirn underground about a month ago. It was bloody bright and very penetrating into the distance. Photography wise it took a bit of getting used to using it as it was really easy to over cook the photos, plus it was a different colour temperature to the Fenix and home made flood I?ve been using for the last 10 years or so. I had also bought a diffuser with it, but this did not work well from a photography light point of view. The light with it on was just too flat and it didn?t really cast shadows like my old flood. The torch seems to be pretty well made, however it is not waterproof due to the rubber cap seal over the USB C charge port. For the price you can't really complain at all.

Still need to play with it some more as the results can be improved. Some photos... the distance in them I would say is around 150m on the longer stope shots.

 

[Ian Ball]

blimey!

 

[royfellows]

I have an Imolent DX 80 32,000 lumens which is very good, same as used by Shonky Tours in his videos. It?s very heavy to lug around and there is every indication that its hot on batteries.

My favourite torch is the one I made myself and was described on aditnow. Its 9,200 lumens with 2 lower modes, and light enough to fit into a pocket and be comfortably carried.  It?s based on my X16 caplamp but has 4X Cree XHP 35 emitters overdriven to 1.5 amps.

I like my toggle switch with the flip off and on cover, cannot accidentally switch on. Very non PC in this age when everything is smooth and featureless.

I cant upload any photos as the system will only accept photos as they came off the camera.

 

[Paul Marvin]

I took the Sofirn underground about a month ago. It was bloody bright and very penetrating into the distance. Photography wise it took a bit of getting used to using it as it was really easy to over cook the photos, plus it was a different colour temperature to the Fenix and home made flood I?ve been using for the last 10 years or so. I had also bought a diffuser with it, but this did not work well from a photography light point of view. The light with it on was just too flat and it didn?t really cast shadows like my old flood. The torch seems to be pretty well made, however it is not waterproof due to the rubber cap seal over the USB C charge port. For the price you can't really complain at all.

Still need to play with it some more as the results can be improved. Some photos... the distance in them I would say is around 150m on the longer stope shots.

I took the Sofirn underground about a month ago. It was bloody bright and very penetrating into the distance. Photography wise it took a bit of getting used to using it as it was really easy to over cook the photos, plus it was a different colour temperature to the Fenix and home made flood I?ve been using for the last 10 years or so. I had also bought a diffuser with it, but this did not work well from a photography light point of view. The light with it on was just too flat and it didn?t really cast shadows like my old flood. The torch seems to be pretty well made, however it is not waterproof due to the rubber cap seal over the USB C charge port. For the price you can't really complain at all.

Still need to play with it some more as the results can be improved. Some photos... the distance in them I would say is around 150m on the longer stope shots.

We love our Sofirns  Nice shots BTW