At first glance,the DGX Gears 1000-6 and 1000-8 handheld lights appear to be virtually identical, but there are some important differences. Both these lights are intensely bright and we describe them both as having 1000+ system lumens but these two lights are a good example of why you can't just look at the raw lumen ratings and assume that tells you everything.
- The 1000-6 uses the Luminus SFT-40 LED: Raw Lumens = 2000 (high), 900 (medium), 250 (low) and a 6° SMO reflector with a burn time of 90 minutes in high, 168 minutes in medium, and up to 10 hours in low mode.
- The 1000-8 uses the CREE XHP50.3 LED: Raw Lumens = 3000 (high), 1100 (medium), 350 (low) and a 8° OP reflector with a burn time of 60+ minutes in high, 120+ minutes in medium, and up to 10 hours in low mode.
The 1000-8 has a typical 8° degree beam width and OP (Orange Peel) reflector design that is used to make less noticeable any clutter, rings, or other noticeable defects in the beam profile. This is done by rippling the surface of the reflector, and is at the expense of some throw (i.e. the maximum distance the beam will project.) The 1000-6 is an SMO (Smooth) reflector with a tighter 6° beam width where the goal is to achieve maximum throw. A smooth reflector will have a surface like a mirror; it will throw further but will also show small defects in the beam profile.
Because the tighter 6° beam width concentrates the 2000 raw lumen output of the XF-40 LED in a smaller area as compared to the 3000 raw lumen output of the XHP50.3 LED with the 8° beam, the two lights appear to the diver's eye to have a similar brightness, especially underwater. Regardless, the laws of physics still apply and because the XHP50.3 LED puts out more raw lumens it must consume more energy and therefore has the shorter burn time. Overhead environment divers might prefer the tighter beam and longer burn time of the DGX Gears 1000-6, while sport divers may prefer the wider more even beam of the DGX Gears 1000-8. Advanced divers that prefer having multiple lights will benefit from carrying both a -6 and a -8.