I have been receiving questions pertaining to the color of the lighting provided by our RADION LED Lighting Systems. The answer is relatively simple if you understand the nature of illumination underwater. It is not the same as illumination in-air.
The RADION LED Lights have a color temperature around 6,500K (Kelvin). This temperature is considered a “full spectrum” light. The problem is not the light source, but rather the distance the light is traveling to illuminate.
We provide 15 feet of poles to lower the light into the water. As you can see in the information below, at 15 feet, you have lost your reds. This means that observing from above the light you see has no reflection of red. The object you are trying to view is even further away, say another 15 feet. Well, there went your oranges and some of your yellows. What you are left with is your greens and your blues. This is the reason your water will appear blue.
Water absorbs different wavelengths of light to different degrees. The longest wavelengths, with the lowest energy, are absorbed first. Red is the first to be absorbed, followed by orange & yellow. The colors disappear underwater in the same order as they appear in the color spectrum. Even water at 5ft depth will have a noticeable loss of red.
Do not forget to add in the horizontal distance. If you are 10ft underwater, and you are viewing an object 10ft away, the light has travelled 20ft, and all of the reds will be filtered out. Likewise, you are using a camera and you light up an object 5ft away, the light has to travel 5ft to the object, and 5ft back to your lens, for a total of 10ft, with a significant loss of reds. Therefore, you always need to get close to your subject to maintain the best color.
Yes, we can give you a warmer light. For in-air use we have a 3,800K light that would be considered a warm white. The problem of color loss remains the same as in the answer pertaining to color loss in water. For in-air use this would not be quite so “stark white” as the 6,500K lights. Yes, we do offer choices.
We did make the poles so the cable will be able to be threaded through the poles. The retaining sleeve of the connector must be removed first. Then the molded end of the cable will fit through the poles. Once the cable has been threaded you just need to replace the locking sleeve and you are set to go. Also, see “Threading the RADION cables through the poles” on our website. It gives a step-by-step procedure.
All our equipment is designed to be used either in-air or underwater. I say almost all our equipment. The exception is the ION LED Lights which are made in China. They are weatherproof but they are not designed to be used underwater.
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