DharmaBum
Newly Enlightened
Arc/Peak AAA\'s with tape lenses comparison pics
Well, I finally did my first "mod" which was to put a satin Scotch tape "lens" over the head of the Arc/Peak AAA lights! Here are pics of the lights pre and post modification. Enjoy!
Peak AAA "prototype" (identical to Arc AAA, different electronics). Mine has a fairly blue LED and is quite blobby with several rings. My digital camera autoexposed the pics and they look a better here than in real life, but I messed with them a bit in Photoshop to try to emulate what my eyes see.
Peak AAA Prototype beam shots without the tape lens
The pic below might be of the Arc AAA without the tape. I got confused while downloading the pics. Either way, they're pretty similar in the quality of the light, separation of rings of light, etc, so it doesn't matter so much...
Peak AAA Prototype with Tape "Lens" in Place
Arc AAA (regular edition, not premium) without Tape Lens
Arc AAA with Tape Lens in Place
In both cases, the tape completely smoothes out the rings and gives a smooth flood. I think it causes more diffusion of the light, giving a broader flood and general, and since it's satin/translucent, it definitely brings down the intensity of the light, too. It reduces the throw as well, but then again you're probably not using these lights to light up the neighborhood. A cool mod, easy to do, and has pretty great results. If only the tape were a little more permanent, like a cap that could fit over the head and be removed when wanted (patent pending /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif ) that would be better.
Well, I finally did my first "mod" which was to put a satin Scotch tape "lens" over the head of the Arc/Peak AAA lights! Here are pics of the lights pre and post modification. Enjoy!
Peak AAA "prototype" (identical to Arc AAA, different electronics). Mine has a fairly blue LED and is quite blobby with several rings. My digital camera autoexposed the pics and they look a better here than in real life, but I messed with them a bit in Photoshop to try to emulate what my eyes see.
Peak AAA Prototype beam shots without the tape lens
The pic below might be of the Arc AAA without the tape. I got confused while downloading the pics. Either way, they're pretty similar in the quality of the light, separation of rings of light, etc, so it doesn't matter so much...
Peak AAA Prototype with Tape "Lens" in Place
Arc AAA (regular edition, not premium) without Tape Lens
Arc AAA with Tape Lens in Place
In both cases, the tape completely smoothes out the rings and gives a smooth flood. I think it causes more diffusion of the light, giving a broader flood and general, and since it's satin/translucent, it definitely brings down the intensity of the light, too. It reduces the throw as well, but then again you're probably not using these lights to light up the neighborhood. A cool mod, easy to do, and has pretty great results. If only the tape were a little more permanent, like a cap that could fit over the head and be removed when wanted (patent pending /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif ) that would be better.
