For all the things that it's able to do, the GoPro Hero still isn't much better than other video cameras when it comes to shooting in the dark. That's why Knog introduced its made-for-GoPro Qudos camera light last year. Now, not surprisingly, the Qudos has a competitor – in the form of the Sidekick.
The Sidekick is made by California-based company Light & Motion, which is already known for manufacturing quite decent outdoor activity lights.
The base Sidekick Flood model is made mainly from a single milled block of aluminum, is watertight down to 200 ft (61 m), and uses a Cree XM-L U2 LED to put out a wide 600-lumen beam of light. The Sidekick Duo model allows users to switch over to a 400-lumen spot beam when desired.
By contrast, 400 lumens is the maximum output on the Qudos.
Power is provided by a USB-chargeable 18650 lithium-ion battery, the charge level of which is displayed by a colored LED indicator on the light. Running at the full 600 lumens, one charge should be good for about an hour of use.
Although the Sidekick doesn't match the dimensions of the GoPro as nicely as the Qudos, its attachment method is pleasingly simple – the GoPro's existing mounting bolt is replaced by a longer one, run through an extender nut, and then screwed right into the side of the light.
Light & Motion is currently raising production funds for the Sidekick, on Kickstarter. A pledge of US$80 will currently get you a Flood, with $135 required for a Duo model – assuming all goes according to plan. The retail prices for the lights will be $129 and $149 respectively – the Qudos is priced at $119.
Potential backers might also want to check out the recently-successfully-funded Lume Cube, which puts out a whopping 1,500 lumens, but isn't fully submersible.
Source: Kickstarter