Forgive me if this topic has already been discussed, but a search for diffusers specific to the SL PP 4AA Lux didn't produce anything useful.
I've been experimenting with home made diffusers. One that works well can be made from the plastic pop top of a Lay's potato chip tube. Clean it, mark out a circle, then cut to size. The resulting lens is thin, flexible, and fairly transparent. On lights of a watt or less - the power range I've played with - the dimming produced by the transparent plastic is barely noticable.
Sand the lens lightly with fine grit sandpaper. Different sanding patterns produce slightly differing effects on the beam. I've been using a tight circular pattern, then rotating the diffuser several times as I sand. Don't over sand - it's easy to get carried away and produce a nearly opaque lens. I'm experimenting with several diffusers of varying translucence.
My SL PP 4AA Lux fitted with a heavily-sanded diffuser, produces an amazing "wall of light" flood. Seems to light up an entire half-sphere - 2xPI steradians of solid angle - with a white, pearlescent glow. With the light pointed at the horizon, it lights up the ground right in front of my feet.
Hardly has a hot spot, although it's brighter in the center, fading gradually to the edge of the half-sphere. Kills throw almost completely: the very center of the beam will usefully light up small objects to about thirty feet. I realized this by watching a rabbit grazing in my backyard. Further than about thirty feet away from it, I could no longer make out that it was a rabbit.
This heavy diffuser is good indoors. Lights up a whole room tolerably well, and floods half-a-room very well. Tames the excessive brightness of this light for close up work. Should be good for working on a car, and for tasks around the old campsite.
I've also tried medium-sanded and lightly-sanded diffusers, which work better for outdoor use because they improve the flood without killing the throw completely.
I'm also experimenting with dome-shaped diffuser, made from the bottom of a Folger's plastic coffee bottle, which happens to be about the right diameter for this light. Also, I'm going to try different sanding patterns on the flat diffusers. Sand heavily in the center and lightly along the edges. And vice versa.
This is a useful way to really stretch the performance envelope of this light, or any other bright light for that matter. Zero cost and minimal labor.
Right now I'm using an experimental lens holder made of thin cardboard and black electrical tape. Slides on and off easily to change diffuser lenses, stays put OK, but it won't be durable. And, it looks really crappy. I'd like to find something robust enough for long term use. It should fit the bezel securely, but loosely enough to slip off and on at will.
Anyhow, my questions are:
Has anyone come up with a good diffuser lens holder for the SL PP 4AA?
Any tips or improvements to suggest on the diffuser lenses?
Thanks in advance for any help.
I've been experimenting with home made diffusers. One that works well can be made from the plastic pop top of a Lay's potato chip tube. Clean it, mark out a circle, then cut to size. The resulting lens is thin, flexible, and fairly transparent. On lights of a watt or less - the power range I've played with - the dimming produced by the transparent plastic is barely noticable.
Sand the lens lightly with fine grit sandpaper. Different sanding patterns produce slightly differing effects on the beam. I've been using a tight circular pattern, then rotating the diffuser several times as I sand. Don't over sand - it's easy to get carried away and produce a nearly opaque lens. I'm experimenting with several diffusers of varying translucence.
My SL PP 4AA Lux fitted with a heavily-sanded diffuser, produces an amazing "wall of light" flood. Seems to light up an entire half-sphere - 2xPI steradians of solid angle - with a white, pearlescent glow. With the light pointed at the horizon, it lights up the ground right in front of my feet.
Hardly has a hot spot, although it's brighter in the center, fading gradually to the edge of the half-sphere. Kills throw almost completely: the very center of the beam will usefully light up small objects to about thirty feet. I realized this by watching a rabbit grazing in my backyard. Further than about thirty feet away from it, I could no longer make out that it was a rabbit.
This heavy diffuser is good indoors. Lights up a whole room tolerably well, and floods half-a-room very well. Tames the excessive brightness of this light for close up work. Should be good for working on a car, and for tasks around the old campsite.
I've also tried medium-sanded and lightly-sanded diffusers, which work better for outdoor use because they improve the flood without killing the throw completely.
I'm also experimenting with dome-shaped diffuser, made from the bottom of a Folger's plastic coffee bottle, which happens to be about the right diameter for this light. Also, I'm going to try different sanding patterns on the flat diffusers. Sand heavily in the center and lightly along the edges. And vice versa.
This is a useful way to really stretch the performance envelope of this light, or any other bright light for that matter. Zero cost and minimal labor.
Right now I'm using an experimental lens holder made of thin cardboard and black electrical tape. Slides on and off easily to change diffuser lenses, stays put OK, but it won't be durable. And, it looks really crappy. I'd like to find something robust enough for long term use. It should fit the bezel securely, but loosely enough to slip off and on at will.
Anyhow, my questions are:
Has anyone come up with a good diffuser lens holder for the SL PP 4AA?
Any tips or improvements to suggest on the diffuser lenses?
Thanks in advance for any help.