Ugly Light - please help me choose

[Yavox]

I decided to buy the Ugly Light for diving. I have found two versions (I think) on DX.


The first is MC-E (KW-C), 640 lumens claimed, for $95
The second: SSC-P7-C-SXO, 900 lumens claimed, $78.

Links:

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.26498
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.29069

On the other hand I think I have read somewhere that MC-E is brighter, so I am a bit confused (and why the brighter is cheaper?). Could somebody help me choose between MC-E and SSC-P7 version? Which should be brighter? Which one do you guys have and does it work well?


Are there any alternative for those lights, no more than $100-$150 more expensive?

 

[gcbryan]

I have the MC-E. According to a comparison test it was the brighter of the two so the brighter one isn't cheaper. The MC-E has a more focused beam and that is generally better for diving.

They are both fine I'm sure. I've only had one problem with mine and shortening the spring fixed that. I think it's a great light. I now use it as my main dive light and just sold my old 10W HID.

I use that light as my primary and the W200 as my backup.

 

[Yavox]

I have the MC-E. According to a comparison test it was the brighter of the two so the brighter one isn't cheaper. The MC-E has a more focused beam and that is generally better for diving.

They are both fine I'm sure. I've only had one problem with mine and shortening the spring fixed that. I think it's a great light. I now use it as my main dive light and just sold my old 10W HID.

I use that light as my primary and the W200 as my backup.

Thanks for the answer. Do you know anything about UK Light Cannon 10W HID? This is the second light I am considering at the moment.

 

[baywatch106]

I have the p7 version. I like it . When you didn't have a light before this or a crappy one you are not to picky about a floody or tight beam.
If you google "magicshine" on scuba board there are some comment about these lights. Some people had it flood and some were ok.

They said the problem was the spring behind the reflector is a little to long and it kept the front from screwing dont all the way. Their solution was to take 3/4 of a turn of the spring off.

That's what I did before I dove with it. I've only had it only down to 50 ft so far. I also like the W200

 

[gcbryan]

Thanks for the answer. Do you know anything about UK Light Cannon 10W HID? This is the second light I am considering at the moment.

Yes I do. That was the light I was using before I got this light. I just sold my Light Cannon after making sure that I was going to like the "ugly light".

They are both about the same as far as beam output. The UL is 1/3 the size and weight and has the same burntime. A replacement bulb for the HID is $100. If you turn the HID off you need to wait a bit before you turn it back on. The UL doesn't have that limitation and it has 3 levels of output. You can't dim the output of the HID.

Hope this helps.

 

[Yavox]

Yes I do. That was the light I was using before I got this light. I just sold my Light Cannon after making sure that I was going to like the "ugly light".

They are both about the same as far as beam output. The UL is 1/3 the size and weight and has the same burntime. A replacement bulb for the HID is $100. If you turn the HID off you need to wait a bit before you turn it back on. The UL doesn't have that limitation and it has 3 levels of output. You can't dim the output of the HID.

Hope this helps.

Thank you. I will order the MC-E UL from DX tomorrow. I hope they can deliver it to my country within one month (my CMAS P2 course begins in the middle of August).

 

[Yavox]

I have the MC-E. According to a comparison test it was the brighter of the two so the brighter one isn't cheaper. The MC-E has a more focused beam and that is generally better for diving.

gcbryan: one more question for you - what the beam of the MC-E version looks like? Is it as ugly as shown on DX page (sku.26498) with a big donut hole? The beams of SSC P7 and MC-E look like two different worlds on DX...

 

[gcbryan]

No, it only looks like that if you shine the light on the wall at 3 feet or less. More than that an it's no issue. Underwater it's no issue as well.

It looks like that from 3 feet or less because you are seeing each individual die as it's a quad emitter.

 

[gav6280]

I currently dive :

1 Ugly P7
1 W200
1 Glow Stick in pocket, for if it ever goes really, really **** up.