I'm going to buy a torch

metroman

metroman

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Brian
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I want to buy a torch for light painting but what to buy? I have looked at the Lenser range, particularly the P7, but also Klarus; I am erring toward the Klarus XT20 due to it's twin head but wondering if that is overkill? I haven't done ANY night photography yet so I am in the dark at the moment (pun intended) and I am thinking landscape and buildings such as churches and ruins and the like. The Lenser P7 can be bought for a fraction of the price but if the Klarus XT20 is the better product for the job then that's the one I'll go for. I have watched Youtube videos of both manufactures and models but would like your opinions please.
 
I personally have recently treated myself to a LED Lenser P14 I have to say I'm extremely impressed with it an it takes a lot for me to say that...ordered specifically for light painting for me I don't want the most powerful torch in the world, I want it to have range for when I need range but more importantly is the ability to accurately focus the light so that light painting can be done without excess spill light, additionally I've found that when a light source is too powerful it becomes hard to find a wide enough range of gels that are not going to loose there effect from the power of the light..

Build quality is of paramount importance to me as my kit does take knocks it comes part and parcel of working at night and the P14 answered all those points, plus it runs off AA cells, where possible I default to tools that run off AAs as it minimises the need to have lots of different size cells in rechargeables, also having such a commonly available cells mean I can go into virtually any shop and buy emergency cells :)
 
I've got a lenser x14 which I'm very pleased with. Not too big and good focus on the beam.
 
Thank you for all your replies. The more I read the more I get swayed this way and that so the jury is still out.
 
metroman said:
Thank you for all your replies. The more I read the more I get swayed this way and that so the jury is still out.
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The wonders of a forum is that you'll almost never get a consensus of opinion :eek:
 
bazphoon said:
i would look at these i have a range of torches http://www.heinnie.com/Flashlights/Fenix-Flashlights/c-1-97-403/
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I'd echo the above. I use a serious torch for a serious purpose in that one of my "pastimes" involves spending a couple of days and nights out on a mountainside in all weathers and conditions every so often. I use, and always have used Fenix kit. (Currently a TK12, no longer produced). Their stuff has always been 100% reliable and build quality is second to none.

You could argue you do not need such ruggedness, butif you can have it at little extra cost, why not?
 
Sorry to hijack slightly....but have just purchased the Lenser P14, after several recommendations, from Amazon at £36.55 ( seems a good price) and was wondering what gels/filters are recommended for this (the ones for the P7 are a different size) and also is there any recommendation of particular rechargeable batteries?
Thanks
John
 
Here goes:)
I have led lenser P7, P14, police tech focus, M5 and P3 torches amongst many others (torch fetish)

Last week I bought the new LED Lenser P7.2:)
Same as the P7 but brighter - much brighter:)
It also has a much smoother beam on wide than any other torch I have. Basically, this one torch has overnight made all my other torches pretty much useless and obsolete.
Also, the finish is a matt smooth black which feels so much nicer than all the other led lenser torches.
 
JulesP said:
Here goes:)
I have led lenser P7, P14, police tech focus, M5 and P3 torches amongst many others (torch fetish)

Last week I bought the new LED Lenser P7.2:)
Same as the P7 but brighter - much brighter:)
It also has a much smoother beam on wide than any other torch I have. Basically, this one torch has overnight made all my other torches pretty much useless and obsolete.
Also, the finish is a matt smooth black which feels so much nicer than all the other led lenser torches.
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Always good to know I'm not the only one ;)
 
I have Led Lenser P14 which I have been using for a couple of years for camping with Scouts and other things and it is very well made reliable and the focus is easy to use. I have used it for odd light painting duties too.
 
MWHCVT said:
Always good to know I'm not the only one ;)
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You aren't ;)

I still have some hidden away so it doesn't get noticed how many are in the house.

Trying to only buy AA models now after going through a CR123 phase for a while, and a couple of big C powered Maglite conversions.
 
JulesP said:
I think it's a problem that nocturnal photographers tend to suffer from;)
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There are forums for this too you know on another forum I am torch fanatics are called Jamie's after James and the magic torch.
 
JulesP said:
I think it's a problem that nocturnal photographers tend to suffer from;)
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Indeed your right buddy, these people photographers think they're obsessed with light :lol: :suspect:

Dave1 said:
You aren't ;)

I still have some hidden away so it doesn't get noticed how many are in the house.

Trying to only buy AA models now after going through a CR123 phase for a while, and a couple of big C powered Maglite conversions.
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I too am working on standardising on AA it just makes sense from a spares PoV
 
MWHCVT said:
I too am working on standardising on AA it just makes sense from a spares PoV
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After getting the P7.2 last week I would be more than happy if they brought out a P14.2:) although I am tempted by the M14 as it's not so long as the P14!
When will this ever end?
 
JulesP said:
After getting the P7.2 last week I would be more than happy if they brought out a P14.2:) although I am tempted by the M14 as it's not so long as the P14!
When will this ever end?
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We will have to have an intervention for you :)
 
alfbranch said:
There are forums for this too you know on another forum I am torch fanatics are called Jamie's after James and the magic torch.
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That's an evil forum ;), it's even worse than photography forums because it seems every time I visit there is some new better LED released, with higher lumens and longer run times.
 
I've never tried light painting before, but I've 'enjoyed' LED based lighting for quite a while, even building my own sets for cycling before they became common (anyone remember the Luxeon K2 LED? You'd be amazed how much light that can put out at 6V with a big heatsink behind it).

Anyway, if you want lots of light at relatively low cost, have a look at some cycle lights:
http://dx.com/p/sl-8208b-2-cree-xm-...bicycle-light-headlamp-black-4-x-18650-224526
http://dx.com/p/singfire-sf-800-3-x...-bike-light-flashlight-black-4-x-18650-238842
http://dx.com/p/5-x-cree-xm-l-t6-3000lm-3-mode-white-bicycle-headlamp-dark-grey-4-x-18650-192065

They're all 18650 powered, but the trustfires I bought 3 years ago from deal extreme are still going strong. Real output is probably about 65% of what's listed, but that's still a lot of light.

HTH
 
ancient_mariner said:
I've never tried light painting before, but I've 'enjoyed' LED based lighting for quite a while, even building my own sets for cycling before they became common (anyone remember the Luxeon K2 LED? You'd be amazed how much light that can put out at 6V with a big heatsink behind it).

Anyway, if you want lots of light at relatively low cost, have a look at some cycle lights:
http://dx.com/p/sl-8208b-2-cree-xm-...bicycle-light-headlamp-black-4-x-18650-224526
http://dx.com/p/singfire-sf-800-3-x...-bike-light-flashlight-black-4-x-18650-238842
http://dx.com/p/5-x-cree-xm-l-t6-3000lm-3-mode-white-bicycle-headlamp-dark-grey-4-x-18650-192065

They're all 18650 powered, but the trustfires I bought 3 years ago from deal extreme are still going strong. Real output is probably about 65% of what's listed, but that's still a lot of light.

HTH
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I looked at all the cycle lamps on Amazon and where I could find them around the net including spoton, http://www.spotonlights.com/products/product_101.html#.UpWhr-lFDIU I missed one here in our classifieds; The problem I think I might have with a cycle lamp is the actual holding and painting with it but considering I have not even held one I might be entirely wrong. I'm off work today and I will pull the trigger on a model...but which one will it be?
 
If you are going 4 x AA powered, I still reckon the Nitecore EA4 offers the most power and throw for the money.
 
Dave1 said:
If you are going 4 x AA powered, I still reckon the Nitecore EA4 offers the most power and throw for the money.
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Bang! Klarus ST11. I chose this one as it is waterproof, there are accessories that may prove useful and the company who sell it is local to me. It has enough lumens for my needs (I think) and reviews are favourable so I'm now committed. Thank you to everyone who took the trouble to post
 
Oooo the torch nerds are in the house :) Can I ask a question now this has been sorted?

Ages ago I saw a smallish torch that was pretty bright. The USP was that it plugged into a car cigarette lighter which kept it charged. Then when you broke down you had a pocket floodlight. It wasn't a regular torch with car charger - the whole thing plugged in leaving no cables. Can't find anything similar now. (There are a couple about but reviews look poor)

Does anybody know of one?
 
JonathanRyan said:
Oooo the torch nerds are in the house :) Can I ask a question now this has been sorted?

Ages ago I saw a smallish torch that was pretty bright. The USP was that it plugged into a car cigarette lighter which kept it charged. Then when you broke down you had a pocket floodlight. It wasn't a regular torch with car charger - the whole thing plugged in leaving no cables. Can't find anything similar now. (There are a couple about but reviews look poor)

Does anybody know of one?
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http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/rechargeable-car-torch-p262973?gclid=CI_m6r_-hLsCFQHHtAod9l4AgA
 
That seems very cheap. Do you know if it's any good?

Some of the reviews on Amazon of this kind of torch talk of them catching fire.....
 
JonathanRyan said:
That seems very cheap. Do you know if it's any good?

Some of the reviews on Amazon of this kind of torch talk of them catching fire.....
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I've not used one, but your looking at a reputable seller, and a reputable manufacturer so I don't think it will be terrible...

I'm sure there will be reviews for it available though
 
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