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If everything about the cameras is fixed, they'll give you some idea, yes... But keep in mind that just seeing which one lights up further objects more can be misleading, since a really bright hot spot nearby can prevent your visual system from accurately viewing objects in the periphery, and stuff like that. Our eyes are really really really different from cameras.

Yup, a photogoniometer basically lets you measure luminous flux as a function of spherical coordinates.

I would say Hella makes good auxiliarly lamps... though I'm confused and scared by these boxes I see at my local auto parts store with the label "Optilux by Hella" on them. They have really dangerous items inside, like "Electron Blue" fog lights with blue-tinted lenses. I found it hard to believe Hella would make such a stupid item, so I tried searching online for more info about it, and haven't really found anything. Doing a search for Optilux on Hella's web site turns up no results. So I don't know what's going on there. In general, Hella's quite good though. Cibie's probably a notch higher, though, but harder to find and more expensive.

I dunno... I picked up the emoticon somewhere... It's an image hosted on my server, not on Legacy Central.

Photogoniometer. Photogoniometer. Photogoniometer. Photogoniometer. Photogoniometer. Photogoniometer. Photogoniometer. Photogoniometer. Photogoniometer. Photogoniometer.

vrg3, you're absolutely right about our eyes being very different than cameras. And if the camera settings are altered and the photographer/publisher of pics not totally truthful, that could greatly alter the pics too. Your reminder gives me more to consider (like a hot spot in the foreground). Thanks!

In the past I've always noticed that Cibie lights were noticeably better than Hella lamps -- and this is from actual, personal experience. But since the introduction of projector beams, HID lighting, freeform reflectors, etc., I'll have to rely on what others tell me as I have no personal experience with them. . . yet.

Hmmm, "Optilux by Hella" -- it's like saying "made by Michelin." The salesman tries to convince a customer "the made by Michelin" tire gives the same or better performance than the regular Michelins but I've never found that to be true.

Wow, you "photogoniometered" ten times quickly without even a stumble! Impressive!

93Leg-c wrote:Hmmm, "Optilux by Hella" -- it's like saying "made by Michelin." The salesman tries to convince a customer "the made by Michelin" tire gives the same or better performance than the regular Michelins but I've never found that to be true.

Yeah, maybe it's just that Hella manufactures the optics and then a third party replaces (or just tints) the lens and stuff... I should look more closely at one of those boxes and see if there's fine print.

Wow, you "photogoniometered" ten times quickly without even a stumble! Impressive!

Yep, I'm that good.

Anyone have anything to say about the harnesses that Daniel Stern sells on his website that allow you to run H4 bulbs in the 90-91 style lights? I'm pretty sure I'm right in thinking thats what they do...in addition to giving all the normal benefits of a good harness with quality relays and wiring and such.
thanks
Micum

Uh, he sells no such harnesses... You can't run H4 bulbs in 90-91 lights... I'm not sure what you're thinking of.

From the Daniel Stern Lighting website, products page:

RIK-H4R kit to properly install H4 or 9003 headlamps in place of 9004 or 9007 headlamps: $55 (Audi, Mercedes, Subaru, Saab, Volvo, etc.)

I guess it would be wrong for me to say he sells the harness, but he sells a kit, one just needs to provide your own wire. Maybe I'm just misunderstanding what this is intended for...maybe this is meant for those who are replacing their entire lamp assembly with one designed to take H4 bulbs...rather than somehow allowing H4 bulbs to be run in a headlamp designed with 9007's in mind. Although I thought such a thing was sold, I would kind of wonder if the differences in filament type/position etc would screw with the beam pattern.
So anyone know what the story is with this?
thanks
Micum

If I'm not mistaken, that is a wiring harness to facilitate the installation of complete EDM headlamps. It just makes it plug-and-play so you don't have to cut wires.