Cool little "How It's Made" Petzl video

[lampeDépêche]

Nice Video!

I'm not a big Petzl user--I feel like it is not on the cutting edge of LED tech--but they have been making a solid product for years, and I cannot find fault with that. (I.e., it's solid, reliable, and well-built, if you don't mind being a bit behind the cutting edge in performance).

Szemhazai, I was also a bit confused by your comments about the beam:
"almost ideal emitter projection" sounds like very high praise, but then so does a "clean spot without artifacts", so it is not clear how you are contrasting them, and which one you are criticizing.

 

[lampeDépêche]

Actually, my one complaint about Petzl is this:

Their e+LITE is a terrific little headlamp, the smallest one around. It is even smaller than the new Nitecore NU20, though far, far less capable, since the e+Lite runs on 2x2032, whereas the NU20 runs on a built-in rechargeable 600 mAh lithium pack.

Still, it's a good little light. BUT! It was much better when the red LED was a thrower, instead of the milky, diffuse LED they have in it now. I wish they would go back to the old red LED!!

 

[FDP]

Thanks for the link. Cool vid.

 

[Szemhazai]

lampeDépêche & OldmanRon - sorry for cutting some information, let me explain :

Petzl Myo XP (2007) - Luxeon III on board - clear rectangular hotspot

Petzl Myo XP / RXP / RXP 2 - 2009 - SSC P4 on board - actually it's emitter projection covered by a lot of phosphor, sometimes you can see even wires.

Petzl Myo 370 - 20015 - Cree XP-G2 on board - again clear rectangular shape (ask why ? ;-) )

And Myo RXP moded to XP-G2 but with proper 10* optics for Cree XP-G led's.

I hope that the picture explains everything...

 

[OldmanRon]

Szemhazai,

Thanks for taking the time to do this. So, I am guessing that you took a good but still-moderately-flawed "older" headlamp design and (very) skillfully "tweaked" it to make it better. Like the American hot-rodders did with them V-8 engines starting in the 1950's and 1960's ...

That is very cool ... you embraced the technical challenge just for the hell-of-it. It's the human need/urge to improve and modify ... tweak, as I said ... very Steve Jobs, right?

Ron

 

[OldmanRon]

Thanks for the link. Cool vid.

Merci, obviously.

 

[lampeDépêche]

Szemhazai--thank you!

Now I understand why "ideal emitter projection" is actually a bad thing--you mean that it projects a clear image of the emitter, which is not a good hot-spot.

I agree!

I think what confused me (and perhaps OldManRon as well) is that in English, "ideal" is usually a very strong compliment, or expresses the speaker's strong approval of something. So I understood "ideal emitter projection" as an expression of approval, as though you were saying, "I really like the way that it projects the emitter."

In this case, you did not mean to express approval of the way that the Petzl projects an image of the emitter, only to say that it projects an image that is almost optically accurate--which is a bad thing! So it does a bad thing, really well--but doing a bad thing really well only makes it a worse thing!

Okay--thank you for taking the time to help us understand. (And thanks to you and all of the other non-native English speakers for being willing to write in English--it is a huge favor to those of us who do not know e.g. Polish).

 

[LeanBurn]

Here is a New product by PETZL: the NOCTLIGHT

It is a case that protects the headlamp, but also with a built in diffuser that houses the headlamp for use in lantern mode: https://www.petzl.com/BE/en/Sport/CLASSIC-headlamps/NOCTILIGHT#.WH6WV9IrKHs

 

[Tachead]

Thanks for the video, it was neat to see how they do things.

I have used Petzl headlamps for rock climbing, hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, etc. for a long time and they are well thought out and very reliable and durable. But, I stopped using them recently because they always seem to fall short on their emitter choices and mode selection. Every one I have ever used or owned had a terrible tint(from purple to green to bright blue) and/or was very cool in colour temperature. I have come to realize that a better tinted emitter(closer to the black body radiation line), that is also neutral or even warm in colour, and has a reasonably high CRI value, is much better for most uses(especially headlamp uses). I would also like to see better mode flexibility(including a sub-lumen moonlight mode) on all models going forward. Until Petzl starts selecting better emitters, that better suit their intended uses, and includes their mode flexibility I will not be buying anymore of their lighting products. There are just so many better options.

 

[OldmanRon]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfect_is_the_enemy_of_good

 

[Szemhazai]

"ideal" is usually a very strong compliment, or expresses the speaker's strong approval of something. So I understood "ideal emitter projection" as an expression of approval, as though you were saying, "I really like the way that it projects the emitter."

Thanks, explanation highly appreciated !

 

[Boko]

Interesting video, thanks for bringing it to our attention. Silva also have some nice videos. There's an inspirational one showing a trail run up Helvellyn (In the English Lake District) and back down in the dark. Google something like Silva trail run Helvellyn.

 

[OldmanRon]

Interesting video, thanks for bringing it to our attention. Silva also have some nice videos. There's an inspirational one showing a trail run up Helvellyn (In the English Lake District) and back down in the dark. Google something like Silva trail run Helvellyn.

Thanks. Here's the link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1foLz2S-r8

They must have incredible fitness and athletic ability. Running on rocky exposed mountain trails and ridges would seem (to me anyways) like a non-stop dance with danger. Not for me ... but kudos to the hardcore dudes and dudettes who embrace it and savour the rush.

 

[marinemaster]

I got the new Tikkina 150 lumens at REI yesterday. Looks nice runs great. I am using Eneloop with it absolutely no issue. It is smaller profile than previous version also quiet. The reflector gives a nice flood beam. Like it a lot.

 

[OldmanRon]

I got the new Tikkina 150 lumens at REI yesterday. Looks nice runs great. I am using Eneloop with it absolutely no issue. It is smaller profile than previous version also quiet. The reflector gives a nice flood beam. Like it a lot.

Hey MM,

I understand completely why you feel this way. I was so pleased with my new-generation 2017 Tikka (very much like your new Tikkina but with an extra 50 lumens ... plus a red LED with strobe feature) that I immediately ordered a second one from MEC ... which is Canada's version of REI.

Tiny size ... great rep ... inexpensive enough to buy two ... plenty of user-friendly light ... easy batteries for even -40 ... and that red-strobe feature just might save my *** someday. The regular red is great for working at my iMac (or reading in bed) in a dark room.