I've used coal-oil lamps for years (old term for them) - kerosene or parrafin. They can work well --- within their limitations.
Dietz is a good brand, and has been around for many decades. And there are other good manufacturers as well. But almost all of my coal oil lanters are originals from the early 1900's and late 1800's.
But temper back your expectations on how much light you will get out of them. They do well, but will not give out as much light as any electic, carbide, or white gas lantern. (carbide is actually acetylene gas generated from carbide crystals and water, and white gas is unlead gasoline without addatives) The more you turn up the wick, the more flame you get and the brighter the light. But you also get more SMOKE - which then smudges the inside of the glass chimney and starts to cloud the light. The balance point is having the wick turned up to a point just below that "smoking" point. That's the best/most light you will get. But normal use is still a little below that.
Having that wick turned up too far is one of THE MOST COMMON problems people have when using a kerosene lantern! They try to get MORE light out of it than in normal usage. And then complain about having to clean that oil soot/smudge off of the inside of the glass globe.
The other big problem is that people don't maintain and trim the wick when necessary. The end of that wick does char back over time in use. And that extra charred material interferes with the burning kerosene - making it sputter, smoke, and give off less light. So the end that is too charred needs to be trimmed every so often. This was one of those "common everyday chores" when kerosene lamps were the norm for lighting - just as daily refilling.
You also need to treat the whole lantern carefully. They will stand up to some hard use, but that glass globe can break - far more easily than you might think. And the bottom oil tank can get dented and leak. Plus, that burner assembly for the wick is just a twist-in friction fit on most lanterns. There is no gasket or rubber seal. If you tip the lantern, the kerosene can/will leak out through the burner - and through the wick. Really good/expensive versions will have a cork/rubber gasket to help control any leaks, but they will always leak through that wick if tipped far enough over.
Most of the coal oil lanterns will burn for 6 to 8 hours. But that depends upon how big the tank is, and how far you have turned up the wick. The larger the flame, the faster the oil burns. That's just the "nature of the beast".
Candle lanterns are also great - within their known limitations. That one candle is self-limiting in how it burns. It only gives off soo much light. That's it. Modern parrafin/styrene candles burn for a fair amount of time, but bee's wax candles just tend to burn longer. And smell better. But use caution with any WOOD candle lantern. If the candle tips over, or the wax puddles and builds up too much on the bottom without a metal pan/socket, they can catch fire and burn. Ditto if the whole lantern tips over. I've personally seen 3 that burned, and two that took most of the tent/gear with them. I've also heard or read about a dozen more where a wood candle lantern burned and took the tent and gear with it. I have a wood one I traded for many years ago, but it just sets up on the self waiting to be dusted. But for using, I have 5 tin ones. I still use them carefully, and worry about the candle tipping over and the heat breaking the glass, but cautious use/placement takes care of that.
I hope these humble rambling thoughts help.
Mikey - that grumpy ol' German blacksmith out in the Hinterlands
