Wow, that’s a great array of cameras! I specially like the 7D mkII in there! Mine is a 5D mkII also (that just had a failure on its shutter after 118k clicks :cry: ). But shutter replaced already.
Ok, since we are talking about photography I’ll show you how I got here:
A couple of weeks ago I was camping and photographing the nightsky with a friend. I was with my cheap and good $3 ebay headlamp (very good with low lumens and lighting the close path), and he had his headlamp and also a Fenix (I don’t know the model) beast-light. That was the first time I saw a true serious light. I didn’t even know that they existed in such a compact body. I was impressed and amazed on how far it reached and helped us a lot along our way. At a given moment while I was photographing, he walked away to try to reach the mountain and I was able to photograph his light path. I have made a gif composed of 7 pics that I shot at that moment and posted it below (14mm, f2.8, 25s each picture, ISO3200) :
By the way, I am located in Brazil, this is the southern Milky Way and the brightest star in the pictures is actually Mars! Edit: the idea was not light paint the mountain. He was lighting his way while he was walking. But it was a nice example to post here.
I guess his light was 1” diameter only, and that was already very nice to me. Look how he lightened the rocky mountain (but remember this a vey long exposure). That’s why I am trying to keep size down, that was already a heck of a light for me. Anything much bigger in diameter and it will bother me more than help (still thinking if X6 is small enough).
So now that I accepted an external charger, I was finally considering the Astrolux S2 version (with higher output). But now I see it does not have the lateral button like the X6R. Oh God, why? I may accept that but the lateral button would be nicer.
Well, that’s for path-finding throw. Now changing a little to light painting topic, here’s another example of a picture of mine. A lavander field I light painted with my cheap $3 ebay headlamp:
500px (for the photographers interested you can reach my gallery from there)
Now the Jaxman E2 enters the field. I don’t use light painting normally, but when this moment arrives it will be handy. The CR Index on the review I posted earlier was so nice that sold me this light. Even if the output is much lower, it will be enough for me illuminating the close foreground (the flood-type reflector might also help). In fact I saw a video on youtube of Jaxmen E2 and it seemed pretty strong in output, not close to the X6 but still decent. I could use it also for other kind of shots like macro or product-studio-alike
I have not seen any CRI review for the Astrolux S1 / Manker E14. It may be much more than I need with 4x Nichias, and I am afraid the glass used can add some kind of tint (no review I saw measured that).
If I could avoid modding I would save my time to photograph more, but if it justifies the work and I can handle it, why not? Would it be better than the Jaxman E2 CRI measurements?