Tactikka XP head torch - not for the darkroom

[FrankB]

After a few blackouts in my area I bought myself a head-torch and went for one with a red filter on the off-chance it might be okay in the darkroom (nothing in the maker's literature suggested it would be - I just thought I'd give it a go).

The unit in question is a Petzl Tactikka XP - a high-power LED torch powered by three AAA batteries and weighing in at 95g (including batteries). It's also available without the coloured filters as the Tikka XP for a couple of pounds less.

As a head-torch, it's excellent - amazing even. However, after doing a safelight test this afternoon (methodology as in Tim Rudman's excellent Master Printing Course) I have to report that even at its lowest power setting it's not suitable for darkroom use.

I thought I'd post this to save anyone else having to check it.

 

[Paul.]

Thank you Frank, very decent of you to go to the trouble of testing and reporting your findings.
Regards Paul.

 

[David Brown]

I have a red light in a fixture in my darkroom. I use it when I need to turn on a light momentarily to "see" to do something, but don't want to turn on the bright white lights. Just a little trick I learned from the astronomy boys - the dim, red light saves your "night vision". Anyway, I do have to remember that it IS NOT a safelight!

 

[Bob F.]

An LED rear bicycle lamp I have works well in the darkroom for when I need to adjust enlarger settings or manage to drop something small. Only snag is that you have to cycle it through several flashing modes before you get to the constant-light mode...

Cheers, Bob.

 

[ben-s]

I use a 2xAAA maglite with a 3mm red LED in place of the bulb. Works very well, and is very safe.

 

[Lee L]

Astronomers use red lights all the time. There are a number of red LED flashlights on the market for this purpose. Here's a deluxe model with variable brightness red light, and white light as well. http://www.scopestuff.com/ss_fla3.htm

I don't own this model, but I've dealt with the vendor on several occasions, and he's great to deal with. Google will bring up 1.25 million options (literally) for "red led flashlight", so you could probably find something there as well. Just don't go for the ones with high output for the darkroom.

The red filters for white flashlights/torches are seldom selective enough in cutoff to be safe for paper.

Scopestuff also sells rubylith for use over white lights and computer screens. Look down the long list that is their main page for the heading: Red stuff

I should also mention this red LED keychain light: http://www.scopestuff.com/ss_fla1.htm It's US$3.50 which includes shipping in the US, and it has a replaceable battery. I use a similar one in the darkroom all the time.

Lee

P.S. Running 3V straight into a typical red 3mm LED is overdriving it, and will shorten its life, although you might not notice that with intermittent darkroom use. They typically like about 1.2 forward Volts, and designs typically use a current limiting resistor to achieve this.

 

[Early Riser]

I use the tacktikka for night work because of the flip on red filter. As a headlamp I think it's one of the best. All of my flashlights have either red LEDs or a red filter. It makes a huge difference when you can maintain your night vision and have additional illumination. Army Navy stores sell small, cheap, old style military flashlights. They have the 90 degree angled lamp and have changeable color filters including red and amber, the combination of those two should cut the output enough and also make a good safelight color match.

 

[Bob F.]

Astronomy stuff is a good idea - in the UK: http://www.astro-engineering.com/Aids/astronomyobservi.html#phaser

Also found this replacement for a 2x1.5V battery torch bulb: Dead Link Removed

I have not tried either.

Cheers, Bob.

 

[FrankB]

I came across the Tactikka XP originally as a present for a friend who needed a full-featured, powerful, lightweight head-torch for farm work and also needed a solution for astronomy that wouldn't scupper his night vision. Shortly afterwards I was instructed to buy his wife one as well! :rolleyes:

The safelight test I did showed very slight exposure increase on paper exposed to a mid-tone after about a minute. For a quick sneak-a-peek on low power it would probably be okay, but a proper RH Designs safe-torch would be a better (and, I think, cheaper) solution.

For hands-free operation, Petzl also do a head-torch called the e+lite (27g including battery!) which also has a red light mode. However, instead of using a white LED with a red filter it uses a red LED to produce this. I don't have one and so can't test it...

 

[David Brown]

I should also mention this red LED keychain light: http://www.scopestuff.com/ss_fla1.htm It's US$3.50 which includes shipping in the US, and it has a replaceable battery. I use a similar one in the darkroom all the time.

Yep! I also use one of these: http://www.brookstone.com/shop/ense...earch_type=search&search_words=led&prodtemp=E

They are available in red in their stores. But Lee, your's is certainly cheaper!

Cheers,

 

[Lee L]

Yep! I also use one of these: http://www.brookstone.com/shop/ense...earch_type=search&search_words=led&prodtemp=E

They are available in red in their stores. But Lee, your's is certainly cheaper!

Cheers,

Superbrightleds.com sells them in multiple colors for $2.99, but charges some shipping. You can even get a UV one there for $2.99 for selective burning in on your alt process contact prints.

Lee