The whole idea of exchangeable body/power source is COST SAVING to users (without buying multi-lights to fit different situation).
Ok, lets do some simple analysis and compare price/flexiblity/performance between ARC5 and their competitors. Here I'll take Batonlite/Ledda and 3-LED ClipLight/Arc-AAA as combination compare with ARC5
Since nobody has actually seen the real product of ARC-5, I do the comparison based on my understanding and assumption with data I collected in this forum. It could be WRONG if ARC-5 comes out differently in production or I simply made my assumption wrongly.
For 2 AA ARC-5
Brightness
Overdriven 3-LED Batonlite and 4-LED Ledda will match the 5-LEDs ARC-5 if not brighter.
Size
Batonlite should be the same while Ledda should be almost a AA battery longer.
Sturdiness
I supposed they should be in the same class. I also assume that Batonlite will be a bit sturdier.
Special Features
Batonlite has the tailswitch which ARC-5 might be providing in future, at additional cost.
Waterproofness
Both Batonlite and Ledda is storm proof, it might not be able to sustain waterproofness under certain depth like ARC-5
Batteries
Batonlite is using N Cell which cost more than AA cells that Ledda and ARC-5 use.
Price
Batonlite is $30, Ledda is $34, ARC-5 is $60
Let's go to AA/123 pack (I love 123 pack)
Brightness
3-LED clip light should be outshining AA pack and on par of 123 Pack. ARC-AAA will be dimmer than AA pack but a lot smaller
Size
3-LED clip light should be only a tiny bit bigger/shorter than AA pack and a tiny bit longer than 123 pack. ARC-AAA win everybody hands down in this category.
Sturdiness
clip light is very sturdy but not as sturdy as aluminum body like ARC-5. ARC-AAA will be on par of ARC-5
Special features
The swivel clip in clip light make it most usable lite I ever have. Clip on your headband, your belt (when use or for carrying), your cap, your pack. It could even simply lie flat with its clip on the desk and swivel it.
Waterproofness
All of them is waterproof.
Batteries
All uses common and cheap batteries except 123 pack which cost more.
Price
3-Cell Clip light ($30 - assumption only, the 2-Cell Clip light is $20), ARC-AAA is $25, ARC-AA/123 is $62.
Finally, go for flexiblity and bundle price
Having 2 complete lites (around $60) without switching the body or ARC-5 at $72 and switch the body when in different situation. If ARC-5 head is broken, everything is gone.
If you need ARC-5 with full bundles ($80), it will cost less than 3 complete lites (I'd say around $90). You still need to switch the body when in different situation while you could pull whatever lite you see fit right away if you have 3. Again, if ARC-5 head is gone, so are you.
It seems to me that the cost benefit of exchangeable body is overriden by ARC-5 pricing strategy.
Last but not the least, the above analysis won't apply to those flashaholics whose possession needs override everything like me
Finally, could we (flashaholics) sustain a market enough that could buy Peter a 200' yacht?
Alan
Ok, lets do some simple analysis and compare price/flexiblity/performance between ARC5 and their competitors. Here I'll take Batonlite/Ledda and 3-LED ClipLight/Arc-AAA as combination compare with ARC5
Since nobody has actually seen the real product of ARC-5, I do the comparison based on my understanding and assumption with data I collected in this forum. It could be WRONG if ARC-5 comes out differently in production or I simply made my assumption wrongly.
For 2 AA ARC-5
Brightness
Overdriven 3-LED Batonlite and 4-LED Ledda will match the 5-LEDs ARC-5 if not brighter.
Size
Batonlite should be the same while Ledda should be almost a AA battery longer.
Sturdiness
I supposed they should be in the same class. I also assume that Batonlite will be a bit sturdier.
Special Features
Batonlite has the tailswitch which ARC-5 might be providing in future, at additional cost.
Waterproofness
Both Batonlite and Ledda is storm proof, it might not be able to sustain waterproofness under certain depth like ARC-5
Batteries
Batonlite is using N Cell which cost more than AA cells that Ledda and ARC-5 use.
Price
Batonlite is $30, Ledda is $34, ARC-5 is $60
Let's go to AA/123 pack (I love 123 pack)
Brightness
3-LED clip light should be outshining AA pack and on par of 123 Pack. ARC-AAA will be dimmer than AA pack but a lot smaller
Size
3-LED clip light should be only a tiny bit bigger/shorter than AA pack and a tiny bit longer than 123 pack. ARC-AAA win everybody hands down in this category.
Sturdiness
clip light is very sturdy but not as sturdy as aluminum body like ARC-5. ARC-AAA will be on par of ARC-5
Special features
The swivel clip in clip light make it most usable lite I ever have. Clip on your headband, your belt (when use or for carrying), your cap, your pack. It could even simply lie flat with its clip on the desk and swivel it.
Waterproofness
All of them is waterproof.
Batteries
All uses common and cheap batteries except 123 pack which cost more.
Price
3-Cell Clip light ($30 - assumption only, the 2-Cell Clip light is $20), ARC-AAA is $25, ARC-AA/123 is $62.
Finally, go for flexiblity and bundle price
Having 2 complete lites (around $60) without switching the body or ARC-5 at $72 and switch the body when in different situation. If ARC-5 head is broken, everything is gone.
If you need ARC-5 with full bundles ($80), it will cost less than 3 complete lites (I'd say around $90). You still need to switch the body when in different situation while you could pull whatever lite you see fit right away if you have 3. Again, if ARC-5 head is gone, so are you.
It seems to me that the cost benefit of exchangeable body is overriden by ARC-5 pricing strategy.
Last but not the least, the above analysis won't apply to those flashaholics whose possession needs override everything like me
Finally, could we (flashaholics) sustain a market enough that could buy Peter a 200' yacht?
Alan
