Need light suggestions for caving video's

[Chads93GT]

My modded apex is great. I changed out all 5 bulbs and its bright as hell, but it just isn't enough for caving video's. The cave's I am in are generally covered in dark brown/black walls, and really soak up the light. I need ideas on what I can use that doesn't weigh 100 pounds that lasts a while, and will really throw out some light. If I were able to shoot 10-30 minutes of video per trip in big passages 40-50 feet high or bigger, i would be happy. I realize something that really throws a ton of light probably wont last forever. I just don't want something huge and bulky. What are my options and costs I am looking at?

Im not talking about production value video's either, I am simply talking about shooting clips to document some of the passages (for the older guys who cant make the brutal 20 minute belly crawl) etc.

 

[realitycheck]

hey chad you might want to post your question here, http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=6

 

[Chads93GT]

well im not really interested in another head lamp. I already have 3 apex's that i use for caving.

 

[sol-leks]

Well an 18650 powered mc-e or p7 might fit the bill.

 

[Viper715]

Like sol-leks said a Cree MC-E or a SSC P7 should work nicely. A couple of choices I've been pondering are the Fenix TK40 and the Eagletac M2C. They are both very bright lights that should work nicely for your purpose.

 

[Chads93GT]

Do you have links to those lights as to where they can be bought, how bright they are, weight, duration, etc?

 

[Viper715]

The TK40 from 4Sevens link https://www.4sevens.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_85&products_id=696

The Eagletac lights M2 with the P7 https://www.eagletac-store.com/product_info.php?cPath=103&products_id=1470
and the M2X with 3 Cree R2's https://www.eagletac-store.com/product_info.php?cPath=103&products_id=1471

The current TK40 is a Cree MC-E K bin rated at 630 Lumens a new version should be out soon the M bin rated at 730 Lumens weight is about a pound and can run 630 Lumens for an hour on 8 AA batteries it also has lower levels for closer in task ie 13 Lumens for 130 hours good for in a tent camping or whatever.

The Eagletac lights are rated at 900 Lumens for 1.2 hours with 4 CR123 and 1.5 hour with 1 18650 rechargeable it also has several lower levels for longer run times and versatility. I think about the same weight.

Both lights are priced about the same the links I put up are reputalbe dealers that will stand behind there product. You can search for better prices but I dont think you will get better service.

 

[Chads93GT]

Is it a safe assumption, that between the TK40 and the eagletac lights, they throw out a massive wall of light, which would light up a large cave nicely for point and shoot video?

 

[realitycheck]

My bad chad when you said caving I just assumed head lamp. Sorry about that.