For years, the champion dark photographers would combine massive halogen spotlights with long exposures and lightpainting to get amazing shots. In recent times, LEDs have stepped up to the plate to provide high output in smaller packages, with longer battery life. However, it will be some time yet before anything but a custom LED package will match a high-power incandescent light. While a sufficiently-motivated photographer can begin stringing batteries and high-power LEDs together, the cost per photon is much higher than with incandescent lights. Considering that I own about 8 LED exploring lights and carry 2 daily, I've gotten my feet wet by buying a pair of high-power spotlights.

Black & Decker V-2 million spotlight, CPF review, and my pictures:

1 second at F/5, iso 80


3 seconds at f/5, iso 80

This light has a 12v battery and a 35/55watt car headlamp bulb. It gives wonderful sun-colored light, but it visibly dims over the course of 15 minutes running. After a rest, it'll recover some brightness (like any SLA battery). It's bright, costs about $30 (I used a gift card I got for a project), and is reasonably hackable.



Now my other light, the Stanley HID. My camera broke just before I got it, so I can't do effective comparison shots. It shoots a bar of blue-white light and punches buildings a half mile away with impressive brightness. Pictures coming soon, it seems to stay on for about 20 straight minutes, although starting up is hard on the battery.

Another 12v SLA battery, running an HID lamp (the annoying blue/white car headlamps are bad examples of these). In theory you can change the color temperature by swapping bulbs, I'd suggest it for prettier photos. I'm looking forward to backlit photos with this thing.

good call on the v-2...its just about the only black & decker product I'd recommend...I've got 2 of the older models and have been thoroughly impressed time & time again. Its one light I always carry with me draining because it easily outshines my L2 or L600...not sure if the L1200 Im still waiting to recieve will be good enough to replace it, but we'll see.

Posted by terapr0 ...not sure if the L1200 Im still waiting to recieve ...

You have an L1200 on the way? Nice! I still wish I'd bought one of those before the Australian dollar crashed. My finger hovered over the 'buy' button many times.

Does the B&D v2 have a swappable battery? This is what I am looking for as I really don't want to carry two separate GIANT lights around if possible

My other garrity isn't doing too well even though I hardly used that one.

the V2 doesnt have a swappable light, but a charged individual unit lasts long enough for a day of shooting all but the largest of tunnels. I bought 2 for one location that really needed em both and now just use them 1 at a time.
When fully charged I can usually get at least 30-40 minutes of runtime, even more in the summer.
The biggest downfall to the lights is their weight. they're definitely heavier than garrity's or other smaller torches, but its all in the battery and quality construction...they can take a hell of a beating.

oh and yea just cracked and bought the L1200 the other day....itd be so much nicer to carry one of those instead of a V2 without sacrificing light. I'll be sure to let you know how it works out

So below is a neat shot with the two. I was shooting handheld on ISO 800 in a 15' concrete pipe, if that's any indication; but those shots are not very artistic. Here's something different:



No photoshoppin, ISO 100 for 30 sec at F/20. The white is the Stanley, the dimmer sun-colored is the V-2million.

Those colours go pretty well together

ooooh I just got the L1200 in the mail today...once Im done this mountain of school shit I need to finish Ill post some shots of it in action

Posted by terapr0 ooooh I just got the L1200 in the mail today...once Im done this mountain of school shit I need to finish Ill post some shots of it in action

Please do! Very interested in one.

Indeed, bring on the photos! Pretty sure I see the thing sitting in your collection here.

Just got myself a new super torch. Electus 35W HID.

http://www.outdoor...ID-Spotlight-.html

Heaps good.

Photos taken on a Canon 450D (cropped sensor).

30 Sec, F/8, ISO 100



30 Sec, F/8, ISO 100



30 Sec, F/4, ISO 100



30 Sec, F/4, ISO 100



Couple more here: http://picasaweb.g...WQ&feat=directlink

Pretty sweet, Loki. My only thrower died recently, and I have been contemplating going back to the land of car-headlight-style spotlights. I just saw the weight on your one, though - 3.8kg! Damn!

Posted by metawaffle I just saw the weight on your one, though - 3.8kg! Damn!

Ain't no light weight, but with a battery capable of 50 minutes operation and a pretty solid build the weight is in-escapable. With the strap it's not too bad, but definitely a specific purpose torch, not a carry everywhere.

Posted by ExplorerLoki Ain't no light weight, but with a battery capable of 50 minutes operation and a pretty solid build the weight is in-escapable. With the strap it's not too bad, but definitely a specific purpose torch, not a carry everywhere.

Fifty minutes is pretty decent - I never owned one of those things that managed more than twenty or thirty. Mind you, I don't think I ever paid more than about $35, either, and they weren't HIDs