SysLite DUO and Tripod disappoinment

[dale grimsman]

I recently purchased a SysLite DUO and Tripod which I find to be lacking a few basic features;

The light does not have an on/off switch, it has to be plugged/unplugged.
It does not have a dimming feature.  In my work environment (hobbyist) I find it to be uncomfortably bright working along side of its 180deg span. It would be helpful to have some control of the intensity.

The tripod does not have a tilt head feature to adjust the light angle.

Both however are built sturdy and will withstand commercial job site abuse for which they have been designed.

 

[charley1968]

Try and diffuse the light by draping a tablecloth or such over it.

 

[Svar]

The light does not have an on/off switch, it has to be plugged/unplugged.
The tripod does not have a tilt head feature to adjust the light angle.

For what it costs this is ridiculous, especially the first "feature". Back to the drawing board and do it again.

 

[Svar]

Try and diffuse the light by draping a tablecloth or such over it.

To keep up with the system approach Festool should come up with Drape-SYS - a set of drapes with different transparency nicely packed in systainer for $300.

 

[Kev]

Try and diffuse the light by draping a tablecloth or such over it.

To keep up with the system approach Festool should come up with Drape-SYS - a set of drapes with different transparency nicely packed in systainer for $300.

Oh dear ... it looks like it curtains for the SysLite DUO [big grin]

 

[charley1968]

[big grin] [big grin] [big grin]

 

[#Tee]

Try and diffuse the light by draping a tablecloth or such over it.

To keep up with the system approach Festool should come up with Drape-SYS - a set of drapes with different transparency nicely packed in systainer for $300.

lolol sounds about right, i would prolly buy it so i can have another systainer stacked in the background of my project pix.

 

[stvrowe]

Try and diffuse the light by draping a tablecloth or such over it.

To keep up with the system approach Festool should come up with Drape-SYS - a set of drapes with different transparency nicely packed in systainer for $300.

Funny - started my day with a chuckle.

 

[Svar]

The light does not have an on/off switch, it has to be plugged/unplugged.

Another item Festool might consider offering in addition to SysDrape. A SysSwitch:
[attachimg=1]
A package deal would be nice.
I'm not trolling, just trying to help.

 

[leakyroof]

I recently purchased a SysLite DUO and Tripod which I find to be lacking a few basic features;

The light does not have an on/off switch, it has to be plugged/unplugged.
It does not have a dimming feature.  In my work environment (hobbyist) I find it to be uncomfortably bright working along side of its 180deg span. It would be helpful to have some control of the intensity.

The tripod does not have a tilt head feature to adjust the light angle.

Both however are built sturdy and will withstand commercial job site abuse for which they have been designed.

  For what it's worth, all of these points were known issues or at least discussed when the Duo first made its appearance.  Sorry you were not aware of the 'No Switch' and lack of Dimmable feature plus the other things you mentioned.  Can you return the Duo Light and Tripod still?
The Tripod issue IS annoying, but we're starting to see mods for it that are pretty clever. As the light is now, it's GREAT for totally dark housing jobs where a Syslite or two just wouldn't be enough light, but unless enough people complain about the issues you've noted, I'd be surprised to see a 2.0 version that had all of that with the except of the Non-Tilting Tripod, which seems the easiest to correct at this point.
Others are upset with the non-standard head/pole locking to Tripod diameter since I'm hearing 35mm is common with large Speaker Equipment and apparently we got 32mm on the Festool Tripod instead.... [blink]
Lastly, can you switch out the Duolight to one or two Syslites, which can be mounted on a normal Camera tripod and are dimmable?

 

[dale grimsman]

Thanks to all for your input. 

In retrospect I should have done more research before purchasing the light and tripod.  It is definitely a no frills tool combination but works as it was designed. I have added a remote power switch and am working on a ball joint interface between the tripod neck and light base socket to get tilt/turn adjustment. For the light intensity, it's "curtains" for now. 

Dale

 

[Laminator]

When the duo was first advertised I thought that it not having a switch was absurd.  Then I realized that the LED lights that I was presently using had switches but that I never turned them off as it was easier to unplug them (especially since I could daisy chain all four of them).

I just got my second duo and they together have replaced the 4 other lights with a much easier to transport and use lighting system.  In my short time of using them, I have never wished I could dim them.

Recently A painter came by a job I was working and was really impressed with the (one) duo.  He coughed at the price until I told him to figure the longevity vs price over several years.  He then stated that for his painting crew he probably spends $150.00 or more per year on halogen lights and bulbs, not counting frantic trips to buy bulbs which he said always burn out when you need them most.

The duo(s) works extremely well for me.

 

[PreferrablyWood]

I have the duo, which turns night in to day in the dark winters here in Scandinavia. I wonder if you could use a separate dimmer unit with it? I use one of my many tripods with it so can work with them to get the needed angle..