LED Flashlights

[Slacker87XJ]

As I understand it, nothing is made overseas for them - all the manufacturing happens in Southern California (which is, I'm sure, a contributing factor to price...) but even their batteries are made by them, to their specifications, specifically for their lights. Yes, they do last longer than the $8 each Duracell and Energizer cells - I've checked (by about 15%.) They make the lamp bodies, they make the bulbs, they make the switches, they make the batteries - they don't make the Luxeon LEDs, but they are terribly selective about them.

That's what I figured, and it's good to hear it backed up. I have a lot of a respect for a manufacturer that makes a point of making the best product they can, and counting on that quality instead of a marketing dept to sell their product - especially when they do it here. If they are putting that much R&D into their designs, the cost makes sense. I own a $350 Fluke DMM for the same reason - tired of disposable chinese DVMs from Radio Shack.

-i

 

[5-90]

Would not recommend the "multi-LED" lights, as they are not terribly bright, do not have very good throw, and are ugly color of blue.

There's actually a very good reason for that.

Similar to a LASER (and, in fact, for a similar reason) an LED is a "monochromatic" emitter - and in a very narrow band.

Problem is, "white" light is a combination of all visible colours of light.

So, in order to get "white," they have to make an LED emitter work in a range that you can't see (usually near ultraviolet,) and have it excite a phosphor to emit light - in a manner similar to fluorescent lighting.

Nearly any "white" LED source is going to have a slight bluish cast to it, due to this fact. Generally, the selection of phosphor and the wavelength of UV used to excite it is going to determine just "how much blue" you get - and it is possible to go entirely white with emitted light (just not very easy.)

Of course, this property makes the LED useful in industrial applications, where the fact of it being a monochromatic emitter can be used to help to "filter" a signal - especially when you use it in the near infrared or far ultraviolet ranges.

I won't go into too much detail here - it makes my brains itch - but I just wanted to clarify why a "white" LED can't exist, in a pure sense, and why most "white" LEDs have that bluish cast to them. It's not the fault of the LED - physics dictates that it can't emit white light.

Incandescent light can be "white" simply because it doesn't depend on electrical excitation of material - it just heats a metal filament (usually pure tungsten, sometimes an alloy) to "white hot" - and you get the same sort of white light you would get from heating a chunk of steel stock to white head with a torch - and for much the same reason, again. You also get a healthy dose of IR with that white light - and, if you heat it too much, it will also start to emit in the near ultraviolet range. Electric arcs are the same way - which is why you could usually spot an old welder by the pattern of tan on him...

 

[alsodon]

I agree, Surefire beats out Streamlight but it's pretty close. I have the Surefire 9P and a Streamlight Ultra Stinger. The build quality on both is excellent. With the high output bulb, the size / brightness ratio of the Surefire can't be touched. The Ultra Stinger is about 3 times as big as the Surefire BUT it's rechargable. It is neck and neck with the Surefire on brightness and scores major points with me for versatility with the ac/dc recharger. It did break a bulb on me when I dropped it camping once (subtract points for that, the Surefire's been bounced around quite a bit with no ill effect). If anyone is looking for max brightness and wants inexpensive, I bought a couple of "Vector" brand 1 million candle power hand-held spotlights at Target a couple of years ago for $20 each. They're too bulky to replace a flashlight and I know you can play games with candle power ratings but they are brighter than any other hand held light I've ever used. It's basically a car headlight with a small 12v lead-acid battery attached. You do have to be disciplined and watch overcharging it; my wife toasted hers from that but mine's still going strong.

 

[5-90]

I agree, Surefire beats out Streamlight but it's pretty close. I have the Surefire 9P and a Streamlight Ultra Stinger. The build quality on both is excellent. With the high output bulb, the size / brightness ratio of the Surefire can't be touched. The Ultra Stinger is about 3 times as big as the Surefire BUT it's rechargable. It is neck and neck with the Surefire on brightness and scores major points with me for versatility with the ac/dc recharger. It did break a bulb on me when I dropped it camping once (subtract points for that, the Surefire's been bounced around quite a bit with no ill effect). If anyone is looking for max brightness and wants inexpensive, I bought a couple of "Vector" brand 1 million candle power hand-held spotlights at Target a couple of years ago for $20 each. They're too bulky to replace a flashlight and I know you can play games with candle power ratings but they are brighter than any other hand held light I've ever used. It's basically a car headlight with a small 12v lead-acid battery attached. You do have to be disciplined and watch overcharging it; my wife toasted hers from that but mine's still going strong.

SureFire also makes rechargable torches - check them out. www.surefire.com.

Both "native rechargable" and conversions for some of their models - like the G2Z. And, nearly all of their rechargers are AC or DC compatible - makes sense, since their roots are with visible laser sights for cops in the 80's...

 

[Weasel]

The surefire leds are alos spendy because they have a micro computer type chip that controls them.

The coolest surfire ad is the one where the flashlight stopped a bullet fired at an officer and still works.

Also while bulk led's are very cheap, they also are very cheap quality. When you get into the high quality, handselected LEDS, the price jumps quite a bit.

 

[alsodon]

SureFire also makes rechargable torches

Yes they do, their drawback in my eyes is the drop-off in brightness. Notwithstanding "The Dominator", they maintain the small form factor of the rest of the Surefire line. Very cool, still very bright for their size but no longer in that upper echelon of brightness. The 9P puts out 200 lumens with the brighter bulb, my uncalibrated eyeball says the Ultra Stinger is right up there with it. The trade-off is its larger size. The regular rechargable Surefires max out at 140. I'm not saying I wouldn't be interested in getting the conversion head for my 9P, but in general I think the rechargable Surefires take a back seat to the Streamlight model. The Dominator may be in my future someday (that reminds me, I need to get a Lotto ticket) but it is currently too pricey to get just to satisfy my inner gadget-junkie. The 9P was about $150 after I got the high output bulb, the bulb/battery caddy and a supply of batteries. The Ultra Stinger was about the same with the ac/dc recharger. That Dominator beast of a flashlight would be $500 with the good bulb and its charger.

 

[5-90]

Um, if by "Dominator" you're referring to their handheld HID light, it's a lot more than $500!

It was finally released as a "Limited Edition" light (read: collectible) for about two large. Nice idea, but damn!

Of course, the fact that it pegged their integrating sphere (device used to measure lamp output) when it was switched on is something I found interesting... Slamming and burying a needle somewhere past 1000 lumens with a handheld light is, no matter how you cut it, impressive.

I'd like to get a M6 Devastator to keep in my truck for "those special times" when you just need a bright-assed light (something like riceboys with "bloo" full beams comes to mind...) but it's going to have to wait. Besides, they still get the point when I shine the Z3 at them, so I'm not too worried about it yet...

I do like the idea of having a flashlight that looks like a hand grenade with a reflector and lense at one end, tho...

 

[alsodon]

Um, if by "Dominator" you're referring to their handheld HID light, it's a lot more than $500!

That HID light definitely has to wait for me to hit on a quick-pick, I'm married with children. No, I was referring to Surefire's "10X Dominator", a 500 lumen, rechargable contraption that once again proves that with enough power and good engineering, anything is possible.

 

[5-90]

That HID light definitely has to wait for me to hit on a quick-pick, I'm married with children. No, I was referring to Surefire's "10X Dominator", a 500 lumen, rechargable contraption that once again proves that with enough power and good engineering, anything is possible.

Ah - I probably got my signals crossed. Now that I think on it, they were calling that HH HID light "The Beast" when they were working on it for the last couple of years...

It's amazing what you can accomplish once you stop caring about price points. Seems to be a case of "build a better mouse-trap" to me - and it shows that there are still people who don't mind paying extra for something, as long as you get what you're paying for. Odd attitude for a Scotsman to take, but I've long thought that you spend less overall if you're willing to spend a little more up front...

 

[MOSSGREENMACHINE]

This is the best I've owned, Used it on many adventures, extreme light output, awesome warranty, plus its hands free. Check it out.
http://www.brunton.com/product.php?id=397

I also own a few other high end gadgets from Brunton, I dont think I'll be replacing any of it for many years.

 

[ChairOhKey]

I have a 2D LED Maglite. That sucker is bright. I know there are much better (and expensive) alternatives, but I like the fact I can beat someone with a Maglite.

 

[Rev Den]

but I like the fact I can beat someone with a Maglite.

Once.

Good news is they are cheap to replace. Mag is a very good cheap light.

Rev