Any reviews for Black Diamond Orbit?

Looks like a great 4 AAA lantern. Light, dimmable.

I did a search and found no real reviews.

How's the actual runtime and beam pattern? Any ideas on what LED is in it?

Worth modding or use stock? LED swap?



I've modded one of the 4AA Sylvania/Osram lanterns. It's quite nice but bit fragile looking for me. I'm hoping the orbit is tougher and has a nicer beam spread stock (no mods for the reflector etc).

backpacker.com has a brief video review of the smaller version(search you tube). I am trying to decided for the money if there is anything better out there. I am sick of coleman propane lanterns and want the best LEd lantern out there. This light they gave the smaller version a great rating for all around use especially for the tents .I like how it folds up looks great.

gunga said:

Looks like a great 4 AAA lantern. Light, dimmable.

I did a search and found no real reviews.

How's the actual runtime and beam pattern? Any ideas on what LED is in it?

Worth modding or use stock? LED swap?



I've modded one of the 4AA Sylvania/Osram lanterns. It's quite nice but bit fragile looking for me. I'm hoping the orbit is tougher and has a nicer beam spread stock (no mods for the reflector etc).

Click to expand...

Here's the YouTube link for the Orbit

Looks nice. I might pick one up just for fun. MEC seems to have dropped the Brunton Glorb and Glorb XB for the Black Diamond Apollo and Orbit lanterns. There are reviews out there, but not the kind we're hoping for and no comparison beamshots obviously.

tritan said:

backpacker.com has a brief video review of the smaller version(search you tube). I am trying to decided for the money if there is anything better out there. I am sick of coleman propane lanterns and want the best LEd lantern out there. This light they gave the smaller version a great rating for all around use especially for the tents .I like how it folds up looks great.

Click to expand...

If you're not looking for a real small lantern, try this one on for size.

I just picked up a BD Orbit yesterday. This thing is small, seriously ... small. Great Outdoor Provision Co. had a working display, and the light it put out was nice, diffused, no glare. Couldn't resist the diffused light, adjustable brightness, and I did I mention how small it was. Mines still in the box, so no pics yet. I'm thinking it will make a perfect tent light.

I emailed BD to see if they had any plans for an AA version of the Orbit, as most of my electronic camping/emergency gear is AA not AAA. They responded that they didn't for 2009. Man this things small.

With my Coleman 8D family LED, Rayovac 3D Sportsman Extreme LED, Black Diamond Orbit 3AAA, and Coleman 8D Retro fluorescent I think I'm set for battery lanterns.

please post pics asap that would be great. I want a lantern that doesn't hisss... ,get hot with kids around and doesn't take up alot of room. Did you get the mini version 1 watt led or the regular with the 3 watt? Did you consider this Coleman new led light with pop out modules?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMdN82v45s0

This is the quad lantern. it looks great for tent and car camping.





http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/detail.asp?product_id=2000001150&categoryid=1045#

I have also debated on getting my first Fenix light and adding a diffuser on the end in white.

tritan said:

please post pics asap that would be great. I want a lantern that doesn't hisss... ,get hot with kids around and doesn't take up alot of room. Did you get the mini version 1 watt led or the regular with the 3 watt? Did you consider this Coleman new led light with pop out modules?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMdN82v45s0

This is the quad lantern. it looks great for tent and car camping.

http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/detail.asp?product_id=2000001150&categoryid=1045#

Click to expand...

I got this one http://www.bdel.com/pdf/S09/M10056_A_Orbit_IS_WEB.pdf

Didn't really consider that Coleman.

The Orbit is still boxed. As of now my favorite is the Rayovac Sportsman Extreme LED lantern, but that might change.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0018S4XIS/?tag=cpf0b6-20
The light on the Rayovac Sportman Extreme is nicely diffused, two brightness settings, and it's pretty small. Not as small as the BD Orbit though. That thing is small. Purchased the 300 Lumen Sportsman extreme at Lowes home improvement ~$29

Rayovac also makes Sportsman AA LED lantern, if I can find it locally, I might end up getting it also. Twice the lumens of the Orbit, roughly half the price.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001H9NR6C/?tag=cpf0b6-20
I like the build and design of its 300 lumen 3D big brother so I suspect this smaller Rayovac is similar.

damn_hammer said:

I got this one http://www.bdel.com/pdf/S09/M10056_A_Orbit_IS_WEB.pdf

Didn't really consider that Coleman.

The Orbit is still boxed. As of now my favorite is the Rayovac Sportsman Extreme LED lantern, but that might change.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0018S4XIS/?tag=cpf0b6-20
The light on the Rayovac Sportman Extreme is nicely diffused, two brightness settings, and it's pretty small. Not as small as the BD Orbit though. That thing is small. Purchased the 300 Lumen Sportsman extreme at Lowes home improvement ~$29

Rayovac also makes Sportsman AA LED lantern, if I can find it locally, I might end up getting it also. Twice the lumens of the Orbit, roughly half the price.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001H9NR6C/?tag=cpf0b6-20
I like the build and design of its 300 lumen 3D big brother so I suspect this smaller Rayovac is similar.

Click to expand...

I couldn't find the smaller verison you stated but found this bigger one.


http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=123789-708-123789&lpage=none

damn_hammer said:

I just picked up a BD Orbit yesterday. This thing is small, seriously ... small. Great Outdoor Provision Co. had a working display, and the light it put out was nice, diffused, no glare. Couldn't resist the diffused light, adjustable brightness, and I did I mention how small it was. Mines still in the box, so no pics yet. I'm thinking it will make a perfect tent light.

I emailed BD to see if they had any plans for an AA version of the Orbit, as most of my electronic camping/emergency gear is AA not AAA. They responded that they didn't for 2009. Man this things small.

With my Coleman 8D family LED, Rayovac 3D Sportsman Extreme LED, Black Diamond Orbit 3AAA, and Coleman 8D Retro fluorescent I think I'm set for battery lanterns.

Click to expand...

please post pics of this compared to the rayovac . I know its not completely far but a utube of just the BD would be great . did you get the 3watt or 1 watt model of the BD. I like the 3watt for camping plus the rechargable kit would be great.


I did look at ****s sporting goods today and they had no working models of the coleman led lanterns. I seen a coleman "personal led" for 29.99 then a family one for 39.99 then a red color big led one with rechargeable for 59.99.
I still like the smaller size for of the BD !!

I bought the 4 AAA Orbit on sale at REI about a month ago and use it nightly on my patio, so far I am very impressed.

Here are some pictures of the Orbit disassembled. I wonder which LED that is?

Hey thanks! Looks like a rebel. I guess no easy upgrades. I'm tempted to get one just for kicks now...

damn_hammer said:

Here are some pictures of the Orbit disassembled. I wonder which LED that is?

Click to expand...

Did you see they have a titan model out now by BD. It runs D size batteries and is supposed to be a base camp light. I want it.

I ordered one of these today from LL Bean. $23.96 shipped seemed too good to pass up on.

I was going to go with the Sylvania/Osram Dragon that you find on Amazon (and other places), but this seemed like a better built small lantern to me. Even if I did pay a little more for it, it seems worth it.

I can't wait until it gets here...

.

ETA: There are a couple of video reviews on this lantern on Youtube. Just want to point that out..

I have both the Sylvania and orbit and I think you made a wise choice.

I think I made the wise choice too!

My BD Orbit showed up today and I love it! It's just as good as everyone says it is..

Now for the quibbles:

1) The frosting on the inside of the plastic lens is easily scratched. When you go to extend it, the lens can rub against the edge of the bottom reflector; leaving little scratches that run up its length. If you pull it straight up, you are fine. But it you rock it just a little, which you will, you get a scratch. I have only been playing around with this for a few hours, and there are scratches all over it. A fresh blast of Krylon window frosting would fix it right up.

2) There were little hairs all over the inside of my lens. So I took the top off to clean it out. As I was tightening the little screws back down, I somehow managed to strip one. I wasn't exerting any force either. A quick fix would be to put a little drop of epoxy in the stripped screw hole, but I'll live with it for now.

3) The 45 lumens on High is nice and all, but I really do wish it were brighter. I'd like to see them update the emitter so it puts out somewhere in the 60-80 lumen range. And if they did build one that did away with the battery carrier, and used two AA batteries instead, that would be even better. At least for me it would..

Having said that, I really do love this little light. I still can't get over how small it is. Love the build quality too! For a Chinese-made light, it reeks with quality.

If it does manage to stop raining at some point this weekend, I plan to pitch my Marmot tent in the backyard, and put this Orbit to good use...

Schuey2002 said:

My BD Orbit showed up today and I love it! It's just as good as everyone says it is..

Now for the quibbles:

...
3) ... used two AA batteries instead, that would be even better. At least for me it would..

...

Click to expand...

Follow my guide, you can use one 25500 li-ion battery, it will last longer and lighter.
http://arden.blogsite.org/showtravelarticle.spring?articleId=40