Commuting - LD1000, Superflash, Dinotte Tail Light Shootout

Welcome to my rear tail light shootout (sorry to be missing Mech's bull). All lights with fresh batteries, Canon EOS 5D, 24-105L lens @40mm, ISO 400, manual exposure, 1.3 seconds @ f4.0, Raw, minimal adjustments (resize, smart sharpen) same settings for all three shots.

Cateye LD1000

http://ct.pbase.com/o5/34/656134/1/69200055.y7OImQg3.cateye1.jpg


Planet Bike Superflash

http://ct.pbase.com/o5/34/656134/1/69200054.hhfepw8N.Superflash1.jpg


Dinotte Rear Tail Light

http://ct.pbase.com/o5/34/656134/1/69200059.Qz2IWsMn.dinotte.jpg


Gee ... ummm ... do we have a clear winner? #1 Dinotte, Distant #2 Superflash, #3 LD1000



Since the first shot got blown out by the Dinotte, I reshot using different exposure, 0.8sec @f4.

LD1000

http://ct.pbase.com/o5/34/656134/1/69200056.8MhfOiB3.cateye2.jpg


Superflash

http://ct.pbase.com/o5/34/656134/1/69200061.G5FdHIfc.superflash2.jpg




Dinotte

http://ct.pbase.com/o5/34/656134/1/69200057.GMdDjrsN.dinotte2.jpg


So, big difference ... yes?

I shot one more set with the bike pulled about 20 feet away from the door. 1/10 second @f4, ISO 400.

LD1000

http://ct.pbase.com/o5/34/656134/1/69200060.4xod4mk1.sateye3.jpg


Superflash

http://ct.pbase.com/o5/34/656134/1/69200062.xoGpfP1k.superflash3.jpg


Dinotte

http://ct.pbase.com/o5/34/656134/1/69200058.O3jc8TXO.dinotte3.jpg


The difference is every bit as big as the pictures show. The Dinotte tail light rocks!

Which pics comes closest to simulating the naked eye? Do you think you can take some rear view shots from 30 to 40ft?

I think the distance shots and the first set are closer to what the eye sees. The second set I did is darker than what you eye would see just so that I didn't saturate the camera sensor when the Dinotte kicked in. Like I said, the difference is every bit as big as the pictures shows. It is incredible (but I'm still not going to call out the bull) but mine is weighs much less than the bull and is much smaller.

Is the Superflash visible from the side like the LD1000?

Not much.

Is it just me, or are some of the pictures not working (ie. every picture but the first two)?

That Dinotte is mighty impressive, it's a single 3W luxeon?

Somethings screwy with the pictures. I'll try to figure out what's going on. If you want to see them you can go here.

http://www.pbase.com/colorchange/general&page=3

Welcome to my rear tail light shootout (sorry to be missing Mech's bull). All lights with fresh batteries, Canon EOS 5D, 24-105L lens @40mm, ISO 400, manual exposure, 1.3 seconds @ f4.0, Raw, minimal adjustments (resize, smart sharpen) same settings for all three shots.

mech's bull.........OH ! you mean his Nova Bull taillight! :D

Nice shots, good quality photos ColorChange. But the file size is almost to big for my DSL. Next time smaller files would be easier for everyone to view. That's probably the reason some can't see them all.
I didn't the first time. Not a big deal.

Alkaline batteries? The type of battery makes a noticeable difference. Not enough to change the results of the comparison but enough to see.

Just in case you missed it somehow......... here is the "Death Star" the worlds most powerful bike taillight.

Followed by "Son of Death Star" or SODS.

Neither light is cost effective, practical, or even convenient, but they are bright. :D

Friend and I did an all night 200k a few weeks ago during the harvest moon. He said my ld1000 looked like it was as big as a basketball from aways back.

2many ... OK, two exclusions, the death star and mech's bull. :)

This little Dinotte absolutely cranks. Not cheap though, around $112.

2many ... OK, two exclusions, the death star and mech's bull. :)

This little Dinotte absolutely cranks. Not cheap though, around $112.


The Death Star was never deployed so it can be excluded from a list of lights to use. :)
The SODS was deployed, it is very functional, but it takes 12 aaa batteries. It's not convenient or
cost effective.

mech's Nova Bull is much better to live with, as is the Dinotte.

ColorChange,

Nice job with the pics! Thanks for posting that.

Somethings screwy with the pictures. I'll try to figure out what's going on. If you want to see them you can go here.

http://www.pbase.com/colorchange/general&page=3

Great comparitive pics. Thanks!

One question, though. How visible is the crab from 20 feet away?

I want the Superflash even more now...'cause I don't have that much to blow on a Dinotte.

2manybikes, you are the King! :lol:


That Death Star is outrageous!

Now I get it ... I love super size red king crab. :)

Great post! Due to the side visibility of the LD1000 ... I'll stick with that! On sale, you can find it for $25 (regular $40). I love mine!

What about battery life? 100 hours for the LD1000 is fantastic, personally.

What about battery life? 100 hours for the LD1000 is fantastic, personally.

It's a good light but I haven't seen half that duration.

LD1000 did better w/ lithium batteries. Looking for som Li AAAs for my superflash. I'm also planning on multiple superflashes but not just yet.

I'm happy with my 1000 but will upgrade to Full (f/r) Dinotte soon. What to do with all of these spare red blinkers...

LD1000 did better w/ lithium batteries. Looking for som Li AAAs for my superflash. I'm also planning on multiple superflashes but not just yet.

Same here...just today I ordered a second SuperFlash, to be mounted low on the left seat stay (the current one is on the seat post).

My only minor quibble with the SuperFlash is the fact that it is not "infinitely adjustable" for aiming in the vertical plane, due to the "cogs" on the attachment bracket. On my seatpost mount it's either aiming a little too high, or a little too low, depending on which cog I select. Regardless, it's bright enough to get the job done, and with two I should be highly conspicuous day or night.

hawt! :beer:

I'm happy with my 1000 but will upgrade to Full (f/r) Dinotte soon. What to do with all of these spare red blinkers...

That's easy, just get more bikes. Just make you sure you don't get too many, then you need
more blinkies. If you get too many blinkies, of course means you need more bikes...........



It's a good light but I haven't seen half that duration.

"Ad Copy" lists things at the absolute best possible situation, to sound good. That probably means one bank only, and one of the back and forth modes, that way only one LED is on at one time. A lot less juice used.

I'm happy with my 1000 but will upgrade to Full (f/r) Dinotte soon. What to do with all of these spare red blinkers...

Start a contest!

Crab leg eating would work!

These 2 pictures tell it all :D

http://www.dinottelighting.com/images/TAIL_3_large.jpg

http://www.dinottelighting.com/images/TAIL_2_large.jpg

In the above picture, the Dinotte Tail Light looks to rival the head light :lol:


Can you imagine how wicked that would be with a LM Arc Headlight? :D

Can you imagine how wicked that would be with a LM Arc Headlight? :D


Yes ... I can. :) I will try to get some shots of my set-up (that's what I have).

Yes ... I can. :) I will try to get some shots of my set-up (that's what I have).

Looking forward to the photos

2manybikes, you are the King! :lol:

:roflmao: :roflmao:

Do you think there is any way you could explain that to my kids ? :)

How do you adjust the aim on the Dinotte?
From looking at their website it appears it would allows be pointing at the ground.
I like the power of the light but am concerned it may not be used to best effectiveness.
Craig

Yes ... I can. :) I will try to get some shots of my set-up (that's what I have).

I'm should have the Dinotte tail light at home tonight and I have an Arc too. Thanks for the tip, Color Change. I'm looking forward to a hassle free season of night riding!

My Cateye 1000 seems to do the trick. I've driven behind cyclists who have the same light and I think that it's plenty visible (when running on batteries with good juice - performance degrades pretty quickly... mine if low right now).

I don't doubt this other light is a lot brighter, I just think the LD1000 will suit many folks' needs just fine at $30.

My Cateye 1000 seems to do the trick. I've driven behind cyclists who have the same light and I think that it's plenty visible (when running on batteries with good juice - performance degrades pretty quickly... mine if low right now).

I don't doubt this other light is a lot brighter, I just think the LD1000 will suit many folks' needs just fine at $30.

But I think the Planet Bike Superflash (http://www.biketiresdirect.com/productdetail.asp?p=PBBSF&tnum=3820921&c=5091599) is even brighter, and only costs $20.

How do you adjust the aim on the Dinotte?
From looking at their website it appears it would allows be pointing at the ground.
I like the power of the light but am concerned it may not be used to best effectiveness.
Craig

You set it up like this: http://acidinmylegs.blogspot.com/2006/10/light-mount.html

But I think the Planet Bike Superflash (http://www.biketiresdirect.com/productdetail.asp?p=PBBSF&tnum=3820921&c=5091599) is even brighter, and only costs $20.

We've discussed how the 1000 is better for city riding and the superflash is better for rural/bikepath riding.

We've discussed how the 1000 is better for city riding and the superflash is better for rural/bikepath riding.

I must have missed that thread...got a link?

I would think the SuperFlash has the advantage in city riding too - specifically, its brightness allows it to better be seen when one is competing with other light sources (street lights, car headlights, retail and advertising lighting, etc.).

Standard strength LED's tend to get overwhelmed in the presence of other light sources (I find they do work well on dark rural roadways, however).

I must have missed that thread...got a link?

I would think the SuperFlash has the advantage in city riding too - specifically, its brightness allows it to better be seen when one is competing with other light sources (street lights, car headlights, retail and advertising lighting, etc.).

Standard strength LED's tend to get overwhelmed in the presence of other light sources (I find they do work well on dark rural roadways, however).

The Cateye is almost as bright as the Superflash. The Cateye has two LED's On each side facing out 90 degrees from the rear. It's better from the side and the front. It is daylight visible too. Not like the old LED lights. It's only a couple of years old, maybe less.

I have posted lots of comparison photos of the two side by side. And lots of comparisons to other lights. There are videos of the two flashing side by side and just about everything you can think of in the forums. Search the forums for "Cateye TL-LD 1000" Or "Plante Bike Superflash" etc. you will be amazed at all the stuff here. You don't have to take anyones word for how bright any lights are, you can see for yourself.

The lower bank of LEDs on my LD1000 has become noticably dimmer than the upper, regardless of the batteries.

The lower bank of LEDs on my LD1000 has become noticably dimmer than the upper, regardless of the batteries.

That's the first time I have heard that, thanks for brining it up. Take the batteries out squirt a little
WD-40 in there. Tip it all around to spread it around. Try and shake as much out as possible leave it draining open side down at least over night. Try it again.

Do you bring the light inside and open it overnight to dry after a ride in the rain?

Now if I can just squeeze two Planet Bike superflash between the four Cateye 1000 they should be able see me on the moon.:)

That's the first time I have heard that, thanks for brining it up. Take the batteries out squirt a little
WD-40 in there. Tip it all around to spread it around. Try and shake as much out as possible leave it draining open side down at least over night. Try it again.

Do you bring the light inside and open it overnight to dry after a ride in the rain?

You're telling him to squirt WD-40 on to a PCB? :eek:

Take the thing apart and clean it with spray electrical cleaner for digital components. There are different kinds of cleaner you can get, some more acidic than others. You don't want to buy one for cleaning the alternator in your car and use it on that little PCB.

You're telling him to squirt WD-40 on to a PCB? :eek:

No. A little squirt in the battery compartment. Litttle. Just the battery compartment not the other small hole.

It looks as if there is a clear plastic seal between the board and the battery compartment. Although it is open on the end where the batteries go. I was hoping to get some down onto the switches on the other end. And not on the board by draining it with the end cap facing down. And keeping the rear light side facing up all the time.

It is better to use electronics cleaner in case some fluid gets in the other chamber.

I'm happy with my 1000 but will upgrade to Full (f/r) Dinotte soon. What to do with all of these spare red blinkers...


Pay em forward like Mech did for me. ;)