LED Flashlights.. CREE, Xenon and Luxeon, oh my!

[quirdan]

Originally Posted by Rollsta

anyone know what the strongest light output is for a 2xaa or 2xaaa battery torch?
link too if possible

2xAA

180 Lumens: Fenix L2D Q5
175 Lumens: Fenix L2D Rebel 100

They use different brands of LEDs. Just like the Coca-Cola/Pepsi debate, it's down to personal preference.

These lights are incredibly bright. You can get them locally from www.torchworld.com.au (not sure about the availability of the Q5)

[jakiman]

I've been buying a lot of flashlights from DX/KD recently and have written up a round-up review at CPF.
Some may find it useful as there's so many to choose from at DX and dunno which one to buy.

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/...d.php?t=176577

I'm still expecting a few more lights to arrive so keep checking.

For small bright lights, you need to use Lithiums as a single AA battery just doesn't cut it.
My current favourites are Romisen RC-F4 and Mini 3W Cree as they are bright and not big.

[-KoMoD0-]

I just got a WF-600 from DX

OMG its amazing, much brighter than my Dolphin light and it throws further, even better that its so small compared

Lights up stuff for a few hundred meters

[puppet27]

I have a LumaPower MRV, this torch is so powerful it has kick!
http://www.torchworld.com.au/catalog...roducts_id=415

i also have a fenix P3D which is a great little light but no comparisson to the MRV. check out candlepower forums for information on every torch in existance.

[Andres]

Recently got the MTE 5-Mode Rebel 100bin AA light. Quite bright for the size, although not super focused, so doesn't have a huge throw. Worth a look.

[phantompisser]

Well my C3 ultrafire underwent some further testing (full cycle of the washing machine) and it's still functioning fine .
It got a bit scratched up around the rim of the lens but that was it . It's obviously idiot proof

[Scorpion1080]

Ewww. Ultrafire, etc


If you want to get a torch at least get something which has a little bit of build quality.

Surefire, LumaPower, Fenix, Novatac, etc

[-KoMoD0-]

Those lights are a ripoff, SureFire charge $250 for a light which you can pick up for $30 in China. The built quality is pretty much the same (Its a anodized metal tube with a switch on one end and a LED on the other, its not some complex design) and both lights perform the same. They both use brand name LED's and the regulators are pretty much the same.

Aside from the brand name there is no reason to fork out mega bucks when you can get the same thing for a 10th of the price.

The build quality on my WF-600 and C3 is great, nice threads, o-rings, anodizing is even, nice white temperature, good switches and a glass lens. It cant get much better than that.

[Scorpion1080]

Originally Posted by -KoMoD0-

Those lights are a ripoff,

Snap-on, stahlwille, Mac = rip-offs? all they do the majority of the time is tighten or loosen things.. $2 supacheap ones can do that and are just as good quality.

shun, global, wusthof = rip-offs? All they do is cut.. all knives have a handle and a blade so the knife blocks you buy from coles are just as good.

Bmw, audi = rip-offs? daewoo have engines, roofs, wheels so why bother getting anything else?

callaway, titleist, ping = rip-offs? They are just metal sticks with heads on right.. so those sets from a-mart are fine.


Do not get me wrong. The ultrafires work and work reasonable well. But If I drop a surefire off a 2nd story balcony onto cement below, it will still work except for a few rare cases and if it stops working in 20years time, they replace it. Ultrafire are, "you bought it.. your problem now"

[-KoMoD0-]

Originally Posted by Scorpion1080

Snap-on, stahlwille, Mac = rip-offs? all they do the majority of the time is tighten or loosen things.. $2 supacheap ones can do that and are just as good quality.

shun, global, wusthof = rip-offs? All they do is cut.. all knives have a handle and a blade so the knife blocks you buy from coles are just as good.

Bmw, audi = rip-offs? daewoo have engines, roofs, wheels so why bother getting anything else?

callaway, titleist, ping = rip-offs? They are just metal sticks with heads on right.. so those sets from a-mart are fine.

All of those are very diffrent from a flashlight in construction and materials, knife blades are made out of special alloys and you cant use any scrap you have laying around. Same for tools and lets not go into cars and gold clubs.

A flashlight is just a aluminum tube, you cant really get it wrong when its such a simple device. While I haven't dropped my lights off a 2 story building I see no reason why it wouldn't hold up. Might have a few scratches.

The only thing the SureFires have is hard anodizing and borosilicate lens's

[[aE]-brent]

I recently received an Ultrafire WF-606A. It's great, really bright, build quality is good.

And thanks for the reviews jakiman, very helpful

[campbell]

Great reviews jakiman, I bought a KD AAA SSC buckle light based partly on your review at cpf's.

[MagyaR]

Mmmm lights, I'm going to buy the Romisen RC-F4 GITD Cree Flashlight Gray (3V~8V) & the Mini 3W Cree 1xCR123A Flashlight, do they come with CR123A's? How much are they? Can they be recharged? Why is dealextreme so much cheaper then torchworld?

[gtsman_05]

this torch certainly makes my 4D Maglite obsolete!!

http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView...=&SUBCATID=649

24W HID Rechargeable Torch

The brightest torch we have ever seen! This high intensity discharge (HID) torch is not for the faint hearted, it is so powerful it is capable of illuminating up to a kilometre away! Utilising the same technology used in aftermarket headlights kits for cars, no other torch is capable of such intensity in such a small package. This 24W rechargeable torch has a burn time over an 100mins and is housed in a very sturdy and weatherproof aluminium casing. It is supplied with a shoulder strap, coloured filters for varying lighting conditions, a 12VDC car and 240VAC mains chargers.

Specifications:
> Dimensions: 72(Dia.) x 380(L)mm
> Battery type: Rechargeable Sony G5 4400mAH lithium-ion x 6
> Light output: 1800 Lumens
> Bulb life: 800hrs
> Run time with full charge: 120mins
> Mains and car charger supplied
> Battery, lanyard and filter lens supplied

Price $499
http://www.jaycar.com.au/products_up...Large_9809.jpg

[jakiman]

Originally Posted by MagyaR

Mmmm lights, I'm going to buy the Romisen RC-F4 GITD Cree Flashlight Gray (3V~8V) & the Mini 3W Cree 1xCR123A Flashlight, do they come with CR123A's? How much are they? Can they be recharged? Why is dealextreme so much cheaper then torchworld?

No. they do not come with batteries or charger. Buy them seperately.

$5 for 2 x Trustfire Protected CR123A.
Also, you can get a charger for around $9.
$9 Trustfire one which charges all battery types.

BTW

I have updated my review and am waiting for even more lights to arrive.
I've also added a nice little chart to see all the lights' results in one go.

Seems my reviews are influencing a lot of people. Over 18000 hits since October! Wow.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/...d.php?t=176577

I'm glad RC-F4 is getting great reviews at DX also.
Mini 3W Cree is a good single cell direct-driven light with a turbo head.
Both lights are great value for what they do and how they are made.
but with anything, everyone has their own "needs" and "wants".
So you may not agree on my "star" rating that I've put up.
But the comments should stay true to what you will get as it's really "what it is" with no bias.

I'm trying to be as honest as possible. No need for "favourites" in a review imo.
I am constantly changing comments on each light as time passes due to this.
Please feel free to let me know what else you would like to see in my review.

Also...

There is a real cheap way to get huge amount of lumens. Super bang for buck!
http://www.kaidomain.com/WEBUI/Produ...px?TranID=1258
This light outputs 300+ lumens. That is helluva lot of light output for $12.
not that it's an incan lamp so it is prone to dying sooner than a LED.
Still that's is just like any other flashlight we use to use in the old days. =P

Lastly...

There is a huge 4 Cree Romisen light at DX now for $50.
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.10451
It is rated for 650 lumens and I'm sure it'll be damn close to it.
It uses 4 x Q4 bin LEDs and should light up the living room quite nicely. =P