Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - Dinotte 200L vs light and motion stella 200L

which one is better and why?

http://www.gearreview.com/LEDs08_intro.php

which one is better and why?

Don't get the 200L if you're riding on roads with

1) cars
2) streetlights

For 1) it's not swivelable at all (look at the mounting system), and for 2) it's not bright enough to blast through the dark patches, making it useless. If you're using it for say, mountain biking then hell yeah. Especially with the helmet mount.

Don't get the 200L if you're riding on roads with

1) cars
2) streetlights

For 1) it's not swivelable at all (look at the mounting system), and for 2) it's not bright enough to blast through the dark patches, making it useless. If you're using it for say, mountain biking then hell yeah. Especially with the helmet mount.

I disagree. I use mine all the time on suburban roads with some cars and streetlights. I don't think that it matters that it doesn't swivel, I've never had a reason to swivel it left or right. I agree that it would be nice to have 400 rather then 200, but if you can only afford a 200, the Dinotte is a very nice light.

it does tend to wash out a fair amount with street lights but that's typical of that size of light. it really washes out with rain and streetlights.
but these conditions take the most light. for the price it is the best light out there.

If there are streetlights, the problem isn't being able to see the ground, it's being seen by others. Both the Dinotte and Stella are fine for this.

The Stella I've seen at my LBS has a strap mount that's not pictured at the gearreview.com page, but it's on their own website. (http://www.bikelights.com/info.asp?uid=225&p=13)

So, they're both about as bright. The runtime for the 4-cell lithium Dinotte is crazy, though. I also like the various flash settings of the Dinotte -- two of them do a high-low pulse pattern and are constantly on, which I feel makes it easier for an onlooker to judge your speed and distance.

I might get a Stella for a helmet, although I kinda liked putting the whole Dinotte system -- light and battery -- on my helmet. It basically balanced front to back, and keeps the helmet as a self-contained unit without wires dangling into my back pockets like I'd have to do with the Stella.

I'd put the edge to the Dinotte.

my problem is seeing leaves. even on the lighted streets it just dark enough I can't see the leaves. the 200 is not quite enough for that and in the rain is useless. not the lights fault it is just not enough light.

I always advise to get 2 lights, one on the handlebars, and another on the helmet. The helmet doesn't have to be as bright, but it is great to add extra light where you need it, such as on a patch in the road, or to read signs, or to flash at motorists who might not see you. It also is a backup in case the main fails. I have a Prinecton Tec EOS helmet light (about $30) which is made to go on the helmet, but there are others. A fenix might work well also.

http://www.gearreview.com/LEDs08_intro.php

This is a good review, one that I had not seen before. However, it compares the Dinotte to an older version of the Stella. The older version cost more, and is rated by the Mfr at 180 lum (vs. 200 for the new one).

I had been shopping hard for a helmet light to compliment my bar lights. Both of these lights were on my short list, although I was looking at the NiMH versions, not the Li-Ion.

My criteria was (in no particular order):
- Total cost
- Helmet mount (if a light did not come with one, the optional one was factored into total cost)
- Run time (more is better, minimum was 2hr on high)
- How easy to move from commuter to road bike (if an evening ride was anticipated to go into twilight)
- Fairly bright (Probably 100 Lum minimum)

My short list was MiNewt USB, Dinotte 200-AA, Stella 120, Stella 200N, Cygolite Rover 2, Cygolite HiFlux2.

If the price was equal, I probably would have bought the Stella 200N. However, the current Dinotte sale ended up to be the deciding factor. I have 2700mAH NiMH AA's on the way as well.

If the price was equal, I probably would have bought the Stella 200N. However, the current Dinotte sale ended up to be the deciding factor. I have 2700mAH NiMH AA's on the way as well.

so what dinotte sale would that be? gotta link?

so what dinotte sale would that be? gotta link?

Go to http://www.dinottelighting.com/ , click on the online store on the left, then start shopping. Direct links don't seem to work when we post them here.