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LED Headlamp comparison

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by marcinpisz, Aug 1, 2009.

  1. tino_ale

    tino_ale New Member

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    While you half depress the shutter button, press the AE button. On your camera it should be the "up" control button at the back. You need to have your camera in "manual" mode in order to enable this function. This will lock the exposure to the current setting (in this case the LED illumination) for all the next frames until you press the button again, switch off the camera or change the zoom setting...

    Obviously you will also need to set the flash to off. You might also want to set the focus to "infinite".

    So setup you camera for the LED prius, lock the exposure, take a shot, then swap the car without touching the buttons on your camera and re-shot :)
     
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  2. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    Thanks, I'll be sure to take the pics and get them up here ASAP! I've been wanting to do this since his came in, so glad to finally have the desire to get it done.
     
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  3. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    He's got it right. It's to minimise the glare caused by the light scattering off the dirt and crud on the headlights. Halogens aren't much of a problem because they're a softer yellow.
     
  4. marcinpisz

    marcinpisz New Member

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    I'm curious about what the pictures will show. Putting the camera in manual mode with exactly the same settings for both pictures should yield an accurate result. With the camera in manual mode, the camera will not compensate for the lack of light. It will be also interesting to note any actually objective comments as well. From my point of view, all I'm interested in is the actual brightness of the headlamps. Unfortunately I don't think spending a ridiculous amount of money on LED headlamps is actually going to yield any considerable energy savings. The reality is a slightly better driving style will make a lot more difference in energy efficiency and saving 50 W on like bulbs. Regenerative braking alone can save more energy and five minutes in these light bulbs running for four hours. That is five minutes of driving was probably not more than 30 seconds of breaking in it. LEDs are expensive to buy, in 15 years down the road if it has to be replaced I'm sure it's not going to be cheap, especially when you consider what the vehicle would be worth then. And if the argument is, nobody keeps car that long, when you trade in your vehicle after five years, somebody else is going to buy it and he's going to replace those bulbs in the 15 years. And if replacing the unit is going to cost more than what the car is worth the time and it's going to go to the wreckers, anyone would have to be to replace the early and it takes a hell of a lot of energy to make a car. A lot more than these light bulbs were ever save during the life of the car. What I read about LEDs they give off less like in total, hence the headlamp has to focus the light available more so than the halogen. I'm thinking the wash keep the area clean is not to disperse the light while blinding oncoming traffic. Since there is less dispersion, the area above the hood of the car does not get illuminated with these lamps as well as halogens. One might think that's actually a very good thing since it helps from blinding oncoming traffic. But if you drive on the highway a lot, and the wildlife gets on the road you will only be able to see its legs, and they're awfully thin and tiny, while history like actually illuminates the body, that is where the LEDs might do a lot worse. And that simple the door so the animal is above the hood of the vehicle. In fact if it's a moose, it's usually above the roof line of the vehicle. I'm only talking about passenger cars. They also come with a self-leveling feature. I'm not sure how much benefit there is in that feature, whether is more mechanical complexity. The one thing LEDs do have going for it, is that they give off light and higher spectral range, which makes the car look like expensive automobile as most of the luxury brands have some sort of higher spectral lights like HIDs and LEDs. That's probably the most compelling reason for buying these lights. The other compelling reasons this if they actually are brighter in real life then halogen lights. Curious to see the outcome:rockon:
     
  5. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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  6. 1SMUGLEX

    1SMUGLEX I love the smug!

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    A lot of other countries require headlight washers by law, so to save costs, we get them here as part of a HID/LED package.

    (edit someone said this :D)

    Canada requires them as well.
     
  7. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    requires... for a whole different reason lol.