First-hand review: Thor Colossus
Nikolai
Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
I have recently acquired what is arguably the most powerful portable spotlight one can find online (in US, at least).
Made by Cyclops, Thor Colossus deserves its name, delivering 18 million candle light power in its high beam mode. Low beam is designed to save the power and provide more conventional all around light without drying the battery fast.
Since my first reaction when I received it was a pure shock from its size, I decided to put this gallery up to show how this monster looks and works in the real life:-)
This is how most of the sites would depict this item (or worse):
As you can see, it's hard to tell how small or large it really is.
This is how it looks next to a familiar household item:
Now you'd think this beast weighs a ton. It does not, but the carrying strap (included) is a nice and useful accessory:
Its military green brought me some militaristic mood, so I've asked my model to pose with some sort of weapon (for the purists: it's an airsoft version of AK-47):
The image above shows Colossus in its low beam mode and not pointed directly at the camera - I was really afraid to damage the censor. And even then, I was at least a few feet away from it and still could feel the heat coming from this monster.
Next it was the time to do some night shooting.
Here is a couple of shots from the surrounding hills, taken about 6:30 pm.
View towards LA (East):
View towards Ventura (West):
Complete review (with a few more images) can be found here: http://nik.smugmug.com/gallery/2433831
(I'm not affiliated, gun's not real, model is my family, etc. etc.)
Made by Cyclops, Thor Colossus deserves its name, delivering 18 million candle light power in its high beam mode. Low beam is designed to save the power and provide more conventional all around light without drying the battery fast.
Since my first reaction when I received it was a pure shock from its size, I decided to put this gallery up to show how this monster looks and works in the real life:-)
This is how most of the sites would depict this item (or worse):
As you can see, it's hard to tell how small or large it really is.
This is how it looks next to a familiar household item:
Now you'd think this beast weighs a ton. It does not, but the carrying strap (included) is a nice and useful accessory:
Its military green brought me some militaristic mood, so I've asked my model to pose with some sort of weapon (for the purists: it's an airsoft version of AK-47):
The image above shows Colossus in its low beam mode and not pointed directly at the camera - I was really afraid to damage the censor. And even then, I was at least a few feet away from it and still could feel the heat coming from this monster.
Next it was the time to do some night shooting.
Here is a couple of shots from the surrounding hills, taken about 6:30 pm.
View towards LA (East):
View towards Ventura (West):
Complete review (with a few more images) can be found here: http://nik.smugmug.com/gallery/2433831
(I'm not affiliated, gun's not real, model is my family, etc. etc.)
"May the f/stop be with you!"
0
Comments
Careful you don't get the FAA on you for blinding a pilot or two....
Your words are actually very close to the reality. Some choppers got really interested in my nocturnal activities, so I decided to retire while I still could:-)
I saw it reaching a hill about half-a-mile away. It did not reach another one 5 miles away.
I hope I can get it to Glacier NP this Spetember, to light me some ice:-)
The green 200mw lasers are real good at doing just that
Nik, is this thing punching a hole through the space-time continuum?
Might just attract a real Alien Bee. Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Its OK by me if you tote it along to Glacier, as long as it doesn't attract the bears.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - Wayne Gretzky
Yeah, I know, my friend has one:-)
It's more expensive though (but way more compact:-)
Yep:-)
They will run away - this is is *bright*, you can damage your cornea easily
Yessir, it is.
Thanks for checking!
Just a spot. It has some wider circle, but it's nothing compared to the primary beam.
You prolly can mod it to adjust the focus...
Good, then bring it along. Lights for everyone!
Don't give him any more ideas!
Ummm. Just a thought. You weren't testing this thing on that hill a couple weeks ago, were you? (fire)
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - Wayne Gretzky
No, it wasn't me, it was DavidTO, it's his turf:-)
- my photography: www.dangin.com
- my blog: www.dangin.com/blog
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What was your experience with it thus far?
you think other drivers would be upset if i mounted it on my motorcycle and used it as a headlight?
just think, you could use it for frog gigging and flash-fry the frogs on the "spot"...frog-legs, anyone?
when people complain about how bright your flash is, mount this on your flash bracket. they'll shut up.
check out what the bottom of a black hole looks like...in another space-time continuum.
use this lens:
and use the spot as your lighting at night.
hmm...what else?
I mean, what use does one have for such a light?
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au
lamping rabbits and foxes???
Hope you'll see it in Glacier NP this fall
Shutter 1/1000000000000
Aperture f0.000000001
A slightly narrow depth of field, but good exposure.
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au
Any idea what that thing costs? I did notice that it weighs 564 lbs! Even gus couldn't hand-hold that thingy.
-joel
Link to my Smugmug site
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