Commuting - Cateye HL-EL520

Just got my Cateye 520 headlight in the mail. It's a bit bigger than I thought it would be. I sort of liked the shape of the EL-410 better but it's only 180 candlepower compared to the 1200 candlepower of the 520. I was debating between those two and the EL-320. Anyone have either of these lights.

I like both the lights you mentioned, but decided on the EL-530.

Do you do a lot of night riding?

I just replaced a Cateye HL-EL300 is was using with a pair of Cateye HL-EL530's. I live and ride out in the country and the pair of 530's is adequate lighting. I noticed that cars coming up behind me did not wash out the 530's. The pair of spots set out about 100 ft or so covers a two lane rural road with adequate light and the dimmer rings light up the sides of the road and right in front of the bike enough to see. My problem with the single 300 was that I ran up on animals several times on dark nights, possums, beagles, an armadillo. If I had hit one of these it would have sucked. The pair of 530's is not like daylight, don't get me wrong, but they seem to be adequate for rural road lighting at my speeds (12-18 mph).

I got mine from Bike Nashbar, with a discount they were $36 a piece. I bought a couple of AA battery chargers with batteries off of e-bay, and I'm ready to go. Note: I have only ridden with these lights twice since I got them, but from what I've seen, I like them.

I don't ride after dark in the summer due to the extended daylight hours...usually it's an after work and dinner ride...but in the winter it gets dark early. Even so, my route is usually well lit so I didn't think I needed a super powerful headlight and figured that the 520 would at least allow me to be seen.

I have the 520 on one bike and the 530 on the other. I like the mounting system that came with the 530 much better. I'm amazed how much brighter the 530 is compared to the 520. Still, they both work better than the headlight I had before.

Are there any light shots of the EL530 and EL520??

Are there any light shots of the EL530 and EL520??
I have both lights, so I'll see what I can do with my camera.

I have both lights, so I'll see what I can do with my camera.

Thanks


Zero_Enigma

OK, I tried to snap some pictures. Obviously the brighter one is the 530. I hope this helps:

http://www.durhambikeracks.com/images/bikes/bike%20lights%20002.jpg side by side

http://www.durhambikeracks.com/images/bikes/bike%20lights%20003.jpg 530 only

http://www.durhambikeracks.com/images/bikes/bike%20lights%20004.jpg 520 only

http://www.durhambikeracks.com/images/bikes/bike%20lights%20005.jpg 530 left, 520 right

http://www.durhambikeracks.com/images/bikes/bike%20lights%20006.jpg 530 left, 520 right

http://www.durhambikeracks.com/images/bikes/bike%20lights%20007.jpg side by side on ceiling

Beam shots Nice..

Cateye HL EL500 10 ft.Those silly cateye engineers and their Cathead beams:)
This light was KIA. Not from biking. I used it as flashlight and dropped
about 10 in from pocket to concrete. Be warned. No epoxy could repair it:(
Great light but no more plastic cateyes for me.

OK, I tried to snap some pictures. Obviously the brighter one is the 530. I hope this helps:

http://www.durhambikeracks.com/images/bikes/bike%20lights%20002.jpg side by side

http://www.durhambikeracks.com/images/bikes/bike%20lights%20003.jpg 530 only

http://www.durhambikeracks.com/images/bikes/bike%20lights%20004.jpg 520 only

http://www.durhambikeracks.com/images/bikes/bike%20lights%20005.jpg 530 left, 520 right

http://www.durhambikeracks.com/images/bikes/bike%20lights%20006.jpg 530 left, 520 right

http://www.durhambikeracks.com/images/bikes/bike%20lights%20007.jpg side by side on ceiling

What is your distance from the light unit to the light? 3meters? etc? Also are you able to take a photo of the 530/520 in combarison to oh.. I don't know say a 35mm film canister or 4xAA's?

Thanks.


Zero_Enigma