Torch for light painting

Gaz J

Gaz J

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Can anyone recommend a good torch for the above. Will need to have a long range for lighting up rocks a good distance away. There is a huge variety of stuff available from cheap and cheerful to ones that would light up the moon if you believe the blurb with a price to match. From a bit of net research it seems that LED are the ones to go for.

Thanks in advance
 
One of the better ones would be some of the LED Lenser range but they're not going to come cheap...currently deciding which one I want to buy...but if you do go Lenser look out for fakes ;)
 
LED Lenser all the way.
Not cheap for a real one, but very very good. Well built and reliable. I use a P7 mainly but also have a P14 and M5 from LED Lenser.
My P7 has been down many a cavern and mine, dropped, bashed and dropped some more, bounced and battered but I still love it and use it almost daily. Small enough for every day carry too:)
This was painted with the P7

Cavern by =Jules=, on Flickr
as was this

Cavern 2 by =Jules=, on Flickr

As Matt mentioned - watch out for fakes!
 
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Cheers guys. I don't mind spending a bit of cash for the right kit. The number of crap torches I've bought and binned would fill a dustbin. False ecomony ultimately. Came across the lenser on the net, will have a closer look.
 
MWHCVT said:
I'm giving serious consideration to a P17 I think is the model number but its a serious chunk of cash to be laying out :D
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Yeah the P17 is a nice bit of kit. Quite big though as it used 3 D cells but only has the power output of the P7 at 220 lumens. You should get a longer burn time from it though. Must say that I run my P7 on rechargeables (2000mAh Nimh) and have never had it run out on me yet when underground - I do carry a spare set and a backup torch or two just in case though:D
 
JulesP said:
Yeah the P17 is a nice bit of kit. Quite big though as it used 3 D cells but only has the power output of the P7 at 220 lumens. You should get a longer burn time from it though. Must say that I run my P7 on rechargeables (2000mAh Nimh) and have never had it run out on me yet when underground - I do carry a spare set and a backup torch or two just in case though:D
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Should still be a weight saving and a lot more usable for my kind of work than my 5 D Cell maglite ;)
 
I see that the 5d and 6d mag litres aren't led but you can get a Cree upgrade for them. I suppose whilst they give you a bit more reassurance if you're out on your own at night it's offset by the sheer size of it a bit.
 
Gaz J said:
I see that the 5d and 6d mag litres aren't led but you can get a Cree upgrade for them. I suppose whilst they give you a bit more reassurance if you're out on your own at night it's offset by the sheer size of it a bit.
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Well to be fair mine is about 20 years old :D
 
MWHCVT said:
Well to be fair mine is about 20 years old :D
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It Maybe tht old, but damn it isn't half useful at night, as has been said, it's great for alternative purposes too.
As a 2nd light source I find the headlight is fantastic, lenser do one I'm unsure of the model, however the one myself and Matt use is a copy version and I will say that it is very very good for the price, used it as a single light source inside catesby tunnel, and it was more than efficient., and will easily give 3+ hours use on a full charge
 
The P7's currently £30 direct from amazon.

To the guys that already have them does that seem a good price for a genuine one to yourselves?

I dipped my toe into the light painting water last year and loved it. Need to get more into it this year especially the autumn nights where it's still warm but dark early in the evenings.

Thats light painting and star trails, So be prepared for a barrage of questions Matt haha.
 
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Ben6 said:
The P7's currently £30 direct from amazon.

To the guys that already have them does that seem a good price for a genuine one to yourselves?

I dipped my toe into the light painting water last year and loved it. Need to get more into it this year especially the autumn nights where it's still warm but dark early in the evenings.

Light painting and star trails, So be prepared for a barrage if questions Matt haha.
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That's a good price, and believe it too be legit, maplins currently have them in stock for 37.50 so 30 quid fro. Amazon is believable
 
Ben6 said:
The P7's currently £30 direct from amazon.

To the guys that already have them does that seem a good price for a genuine one to yourselves?

I dipped my toe into the light painting water last year and loved it. Need to get more into it this year especially the autumn nights where it's still warm but dark early in the evenings.

Light painting and star trails, So be prepared for a barrage if questions Matt haha.
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Hey that's what I'm here for :thumbs: I love being able to help anyone get the photos they want :thumbs: though I'm not sure about this while its still warm :D I've done night shoots down to -17c :D and I'm convinced my broadway star trail in the snow was colder than that but I forgot to check the temp :(
 
Thedodo said:
That's a good price, and believe it too be legit, maplins currently have them in stock for 37.50 so 30 quid fro. Amazon is believable
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Maplins also have a P7 and P3 twin pack for £39 which is tempting not sure if I need a P3 tho I have loads of good small LED torches but wanted the P7 specifically for my light painting bag.
 
MWHCVT said:
Hey that's what I'm here for :thumbs: I love being able to help anyone get the photos they want :thumbs: though I'm not sure about this while its still warm :D I've done night shoots down to -17c :D and I'm convinced my broadway star trail in the snow was colder than that but I forgot to check the temp :(
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I've got an awesome idea for a shot of the reservoirs at the Elan valleys in Wales so I need to get some practice in before driving 2 hours to go there lol.

I have a feeling i'll be a fair weather light painter haha. Although you never know if I get hooked in...
 
Ben6 said:
Maplins also have a P7 and P3 twin pack for £39 which is tempting not sure if I need a P3 tho I have loads of good small LED torches but wanted the P7 specifically for my light painting bag.
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Ohh that's came down in price from last time I checked, the p7 although I don't own one (but I'm tempted now) is a beast of a torch
 
Thedodo said:
Ohh that's came down in price from last time I checked, the p7 although I don't own one (but I'm tempted now) is a beast of a torch
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I have a feeling i'll be pressing the buy it button on amazon before the days out anyway. It's rude not to buy it at that price really.
 
Ben6 said:
I have a feeling i'll be pressing the buy it button on amazon before the days out anyway. It's rude not to buy it at that price really.
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All this talk of light painting has forced me to, charge camera battery's, charge torches, find gel kit and now open Google earth.......
Oh and dig out some wire wool and orb tools
 
Well just treated myself :D cannot justify my desire for a P17 right now....but have just treated myself to a P14 direct from Amazon for just £39.00 it has a little more power and range than the P7 but my main reason for the P14 over the P7 is the batteries...I'd rather have a torch that uses AA than AAA as I have a sheadload of AA rechargeables but no AAA so if I had brought the P7 I'd have had to buy a couple of new sets of batteries and a AAA charger :D
 
MWHCVT said:
Well just treated myself :D cannot justify my desire for a P17 right now....but have just treated myself to a P14 direct from Amazon for just £39.00 it has a little more power and range than the P7 but my main reason for the P14 over the P7 is the batteries...I'd rather have a torch that uses AA than AAA as I have a sheadload of AA rechargeables but no AAA so if I had brought the P7 I'd have had to buy a couple of new sets of batteries and a AAA charger :D
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Just couldn't help yourself could you lol
 
Now what would make you think tht?, just missed out myself on a v24 on the bay, damn thing went for 28 quid
 
Thedodo said:
Now what would make you think tht?, just missed out myself on a v24 on the bay, damn thing went for 28 quid
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Gutted but do we really need a third one :)
 
MWHCVT said:
Gutted but do we really need a third one :)
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Not really but at that price it would of been a steal, I have noticed a rusty old abandoned bike this been I'm the entry behind the house for a few days, wheels look ok
 
Thedodo said:
Not really but at that price it would of been a steal, I have noticed a rusty old abandoned bike this been I'm the entry behind the house for a few days, wheels look ok
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Oh we can always use more wheels :D
 
If it is still there this evening I will grab it for parts, think I have a string of lights here somewhere just need an axle now
 
Thedodo said:
If it is still there this evening I will grab it for parts, think I have a string of lights here somewhere just need an axle now
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I say we have a building session one day over mine :D
 
Thedodo said:
Mmm...... Remember what happened after the last building session!, but still sounds like a plan
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All too well :( the fact that technically I'm still recovering :( :bang:
 
Is this the time to say that I saw a lovely old TR beside the road the other day? Shame you didn't!!! :p

Hope all the injuries are healing fully - these things take time but it's worth the wait for them to be done right.
 
Nod said:
Is this the time to say that I saw a lovely old TR beside the road the other day? Shame you didn't!!! :p

Hope all the injuries are healing fully - these things take time but it's worth the wait for them to be done right.
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Ohh, tht was harsh lol, but yes we are both getting there slowly but surely
 
Nod said:
Is this the time to say that I saw a lovely old TR beside the road the other day? Shame you didn't!!! :p

Hope all the injuries are healing fully - these things take time but it's worth the wait for them to be done right.
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:bat: things are getting there...the nurse came out to check my ankle today and the wound on there is starting to heal at last :)
 
Good stuff on the P14 Matt - you'll not regret it:)
Still also just big enough for security purposes too:D
 
JulesP said:
Good stuff on the P14 Matt - you'll not regret it:)
Still also just big enough for security purposes too:D
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Exactly :) though it appears I'm building up a collection of Lensers what with the two V24s I also have :D
 
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