Lighting Reviews

If it wasn’t so corny I’d call the LitraTorch a pocket full of sunshine. Instead I’ll call it the future of portable constant lighting for videographers and photographers. On one hand the LitraTorch is really nothing more than a heavy-duty rechargeable battery with eight powerful LEDs built in, a virtually unbreakable form factor and a slug of neat accessories. Upon more thorough examination it becomes a superbly engineered and beautifully crafted lighting system.

Product Description
The LitraTorch, the heart of the Litra Adventure Light system, is a 1.5 x 1.5 inch aluminum –clad cube that can deliver up to 800 lumens of continuous 5700 Kelvin light. (That’s about the same color temp as noon daylight.) It’s powered by a rechargeable lithium ion battery and is waterproof and drop proof; it conforms to military standard 810G.

On one face of the cube there are eight LEDs. On the opposite face there’s a standard ¼-20 tripod mount thread, a covered micro-USB port for charging and a powerful embedded magnet for attachment to metallic surfaces. On two other opposite faces you’ll find another tripod mount and a waterproof on/off switch that selects 100, 450 or 800 lumen settings, or a 2200 lumen blinking strobe, depending in the number of times the switch is pressed.

The operating switch is encircled with an LED that changes color to indicate battery status. At the dimmest level (100 lumens) the battery lasts for about four hours; at the 800 lumen level, about 35 minutes. When used as a strobe, the LitraTorch will flash for up to seven hours—long enough for quite a bike ride.

Specifications
Although I described the LitraTorch as a 1.5 x 1.5 inch cube, actual measurements are 1.5 x 1.5 x 1.65 inches (38mm x 38mm x 42mm). Total weight of the cube alone is 90 grams (about 3.2 ounces). The LitraTorch is designed so it fits into all GoPro Session mounts. Included with every Litra Torch is a GoPro adaptor allowing it to mount to most GoPro accessories.

Accessories
The LitraTorch is supplied with a bevy of neat accessories, including a white silicon diffuser, a black silicon protective body skin, a belt clip, GoPro ¼-20 finger mount and a USB charging cable. The charging cable does not include a wall plug.

Optional accessories include (get ready for a long list): colored filters and filter frame, double and triple mounts with handles, cold shoe ball mount, tripod handle, lanyard, bicycle mount, head mount, hat mount, chest mount and selfie pole. Note that not all accessories are available from all retailers, but if you look with any energy you can find them easily.

The handle is equipped with a sturdy lanyard and features a durable, non-slip rubber finish. I am very impressed by the design and construction quality. In fact, the fit and finish of all parts of the Litra Advanced Light system are first class. I’d like to see a powered tripod handle that contains a NiMH or Li-Ion cell that extends the already long life of the Torch.

Conclusion
Do not look at the LitraTorch when you switch it on—it’s bright. 800 lumens is roughly the same output as a 60W incandescent bulb, so it’s nothing to stare at. And, as you can gather from the body of this article, the entire system is very well made. I did not have a chance to use it underwater, but judging from the build quality I’m confident it will sustain submersion to a depth of 30 feet as advertised. The weight is just right—light enough to carry without even noticing it and heavy enough to provide robust tactile feedback.

I like it. Current street price is about $79 and I think it’s a good value. The only caveat I feel compelled to share is that the permanent Li-Ion battery cannot last forever, i.e., all chemical batteries have a finite lifespan. So the day will come when the LitraTorch becomes an inert paperweight incompatible with green landfills and should be recycled.  

—Jon Sienkiewicz