Best headlamp for close-up work?

[koyotee]

It has 5 modes, and an enough low low for close up work

[Davx]

Thanks a lot to all for the answer.
I take a look at all the light but as Chicken Drumstic said maybe all reflector light will have an hotspot.
I have a couple of “el-cheapo” 3AAA headlamp (sipik-head headlamp), a UF H2B an HC50 and some more similar to these and none of them is fitting my needs. Maybe the best (less bad) one is (or better was) the H2B but parasitic drain and poor performace make it awful to use. HC50 is great for walk and evening works in outside but not ideal for close-up work (less than 30 cm).
I’ll wait koyotee reviews to have some new ideas…

Thanks again to everyone

[cnrffl1]

I have this one. It is good and I like it. I think garrybunk has a review/mod for it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cree-Q5-300lm-LED-Waterproof-Headlamp-Zoomable-Zoom-Head-Light-Torch-Bike-Hiking-/281364363737?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item41829f79d9

[joe1512]

@southland

First off, I see a lot of people recommending the Crelant CH10, no offense but the CH10 is not a floody light, more a thrower. I have the Crelant and it’s not the one you want if you want flood. My favorite overall as well as for flood is the Nitecore HC50, great flood.

As I tried to establish, it is quite easy to go from throw to flood with a simple diffuser. This not only dulls the hotspot but widens the angle of the light effectively.
One can use however much diffusion is needed to get the right amount of hotspot (or not at all) and wideness. This allows the OP to remove this as a limitation/desire.

I often use my TK70 as a worklight which would be insane without a diffuser, but a simple coffee lid makes it a pure fllod light as much as any flood to throw would be (in flood mode)

[Chicken_Drumstick]

@koyotee

It has 5 modes, and an enough low low for close up work

Trouble is low modes don’t solve the problem. You still have a hot spot and a spill beam. Making it low output only serves to make the spill beam to dull to be useful.

A TIR or aspheric can often be on a high output mode yet not cause any glare for close up work. Just even lighting.

Not trying to knock the HC50, but different tools for different jobs.

[absalom]

@mhanlen

@absalom

@mhanlen

Armytek Tiara A1 Pro fits all those qualifications in the OP except the price.

It’s certainly not the floodiest light on the market… One of the disappointments I have with mine.

To each his own. I think it’s plenty floody. Plus it’s certainly more floody than all the reflector based lights that are recommended here, you said nothing about.

Unfortunately, I only own the Tiara and none of the other lights listed here. I try to limit my comments to lights I have experience with.

[DanielM]

Why don’t you apply DC fix on the lens presto no more hotspot.

[M4D_M4X]

i like my skilhunt H02…

[M3TAL_L0RD]

@dangerous

Skilhunt H02 for $35…

+1

[vex_zg]

I have a few of them, almost always use one when doing handywork around the house for last 5-10 years, It’s my most used light type.

I’d recommend these features

- at least single xml2

- 2 x 18650, in parallel (single will not power XML2 on max for enough time)

- Big lens (which you will then difuse somehow), and/or multiple emitters (lighting whatever you are working with is better and with less glare when you are difusing or multiplying light source(s)). I never use un-difused, tightly focused lights.

- cover lens with difuser, scotch tape works wonders for me.

- batteries on the back, otherwise it will be to front heavy, and occasionally slip down without the back counterbalance.

• be prepared to change the driver and upgrade wires to cca 16-20awg if you buy a cheap lamp (15-25:money_mouth_face:

This all is valid for lighting close up things, up to cca 2m in distance, most often <1m, which is how I mostly use headlamps.

[Fritz_t_Cat]

I have my second of these http://www.ebay.com/itm/121161815800 , having given my first away. It is the one called “Sipik” in the thread 3 different budget headlamps - simple reviews and teardown , because of its simple zoom style. My only problem with it is that the second one had next mode memory, before I swapped the driver. They can be found from various vendors on Ebay. I have used it for close work, but I prefer stationary lights for that.
I also gave away a Raysoon SK-98 clone that came with a head band. I worked well as a headlamp, but had a hollow pill as well as next mode memory.

[vex_zg]

@Fritz t. Cat

I have my second of these http://www.ebay.com/itm/121161815800 , having given my first away. It is the one called “Sipik” in the thread 3 different budget headlamps - simple reviews and teardown , because of its simple zoom style. My only problem with it is that the second one had next mode memory, before I swapped the driver. They can be found from various vendors on Ebay. I have used it for close work, but I prefer stationary lights for that.
I also gave away a Raysoon SK-98 clone that came with a head band. I worked well as a headlamp, but had a hollow pill as well as next mode memory.

I have all three lamps which you linked, first one I find too heavy for having all the weight on the front. The second and third are my favorite. The once with biggest lens, at least for me, had a suboptimal switch tactile feel, too hard to press and cycle. But gives high quality light once diffused.