View Full Version : +100 lumens torch
OK I'm after a torch of around 100 -150 lumens. Ideally under £100 and not having to change over to a different head unit.
Any ideas?
The Surefire 9P looks possible.
OK I'm after a torch of around 100 -150 lumens. Ideally under £100 and not having to change over to a different head unit.
Any ideas?
The Surefire 9P looks possible.
How about a Fenix P1D CE? Key chain sized LED with big light punch.
5 Output Levels: 72 lumens (2.8hrs) -> 135 lumens (1hrs) -> 12 lumens (21hrs) -> Strobe -> SOS
$70 US retail price
http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/9671/fenixp1d01cx6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Or how about a Streamlight TL-2? More tactical and incandescent for longer throw.
Up to 7,900 peak beam candlepower (114 lumens) for one hour.
Under $40 US.
http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/1829/streamlighttl2tacticallpb8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
I have the TL-2 and the P1D-CE should arrive any day now. I like both of these brands as well as others. But I think Fenix and Streamlight give great value for the money spent. I like and use my Streamlights more than my Surefires and a Fenix L0P is my EDC.
You can get more than one of each of the Fenix and Streamlight for the price of a Surefire.
something with a cree LED in it will give you more then 100lumens on the high power. The fenix puts out a lot of light for a fair amount of time or not some much light for ages
It runs on a CR123a cell which will cost about £1, it's a small light torch with many functions but I'm not keen on twisting it back and forth (on and off) to cycle through the functions
I have a Raw NS Cree, is smaller but heavier (48g) and will give about 25minutes on high but almost 30hours on low and is rechargable. To change from low to high to simply turn teh head round a bit more, cost is a lot higher
I did a full review of the NS
I'd go with Led over incandescent as no bulb to burn out, longer run times.
I have the Fenix P1DCE and use it as my EDC, it easily outperforms the bigger surefire 6P I have.
how far will the Fenix throw the light. I'm after something that will throw the light a fair (50m?) distance. Sort of mini/pocket search light - if you get my drift.
Just spotted this at Heinnie (http://www.heinnie.com/cgi-bin/heinnie_store/web_store.cgi?page=nextorch/fr-nextorch.htm). It's the Nextorch Flashlights - T9. 110 lumens for 90 mins and change from £30! No experience of it myself, but I have used Heinnies in the past and the service was excellent.
There's a whole new generation of Cree LEDs coming out.
If you can wait a month or so the new lights will outshine the old ones by a long way.
These lights are small and many can run on old fashioned AA or AAA batteries instead of CR123a.
Here's some links to a few.
http://www.qualityflashlights.co.uk/termekekmain.php?csoportid=32# 43
http://www.qualityflashlights.co.uk/termekekmain.php?csoportid=33# 44
http://www.qualityflashlights.co.uk/termekekmain.php?csoportid=34
http://www.qualityflashlights.co.uk/termekekmain.php?csoportid=29# 42
These are all made by Fenix and should be out next month. Other manufacturers will be coming out with Cree lights soon.
I was going to get the Fenix P1D CE but I think I'll go for the L2D because it runs on AAs and still puts out 135 lumens for 33 quid!
No bulbs to break, long run times and small size at a reasonable price make these lights really interesting. They've had a lot of good reviews over on Candle Power Forums and Flashlight Forums and the flashaholics are really excited about the latest LED technology.
Just think, one of these tiny torches puts out more light than a 4D Mag.
billycan
29-01-2007, 19:03
might be worth looking at www.ledco.co.uk
supposedly good reasonably priced kit, no affiliation etc...they make good head torches too.
how far will the Fenix throw the light. I'm after something that will throw the light a fair (50m?) distance. Sort of mini/pocket search light - if you get my drift.
For a keyring flashlight It's pretty potent, you wont be disappointed, every guy I've shown has bought one,the girls just say "what it's a torch"!
It must be a guy thing! :)
You can get brighter of course just not in such a small package.
There's a whole new generation of Cree LEDs coming out.
If you can wait a month or so the new lights will outshine the old ones by a long way.
These lights are small and many can run on old fashioned AA or AAA batteries instead of CR123a.
Here's some links to a few.
http://www.qualityflashlights.co.uk/termekekmain.php?csoportid=32# 43
http://www.qualityflashlights.co.uk/termekekmain.php?csoportid=33# 44
http://www.qualityflashlights.co.uk/termekekmain.php?csoportid=34
http://www.qualityflashlights.co.uk/termekekmain.php?csoportid=29# 42
These are all made by Fenix and should be out next month. Other manufacturers will be coming out with Cree lights soon.
I was going to get the Fenix P1D CE but I think I'll go for the L2D because it runs on AAs and still puts out 135 lumens for 33 quid!
No bulbs to break, long run times and small size at a reasonable price make these lights really interesting. They've had a lot of good reviews over on Candle Power Forums and Flashlight Forums and the flashaholics are really excited about the latest LED technology.
Just think, one of these tiny torches puts out more light than a 4D Mag.
Yeah I agree the L2D CE looks pretty good for a double AA solution.
More money on torches! doh!
My wife is a senior Mental Health Nurse and if I spent £40+ on a torch she may well have me taken in for a 72 hour assessment. Saying that, If I spent £40+ on a torch, I would ask her to take me in for assessment. Why on earth do you need to spend anywhere near that amount on a hand held light source? It can't really be justified surely?
My £1.99 headtorch and my £4.99 Lidl LED torch will do the same job around camp. This weekend I just used my head torch and one of the 50p keyring torches I sold here recently in a mini group buy and they did the job no problem
No offence meant to anyone here, its just all that money on a torch seems such a waste of cash.
PS, I took a candle as backup but it was not needed
rik_uk3 I know what you mean. But I've got an excuse this time, I'm after a small powerful torch for helping search for thing/people on the fells.
Sort of mini spot light. I guess some thing smaller and more powerful than my 3 cell Maglite.
My wife is a senior Mental Health Nurse and if I spent £40+ on a torch she may well have me taken in for a 72 hour assessment. Saying that, If I spent £40+ on a torch, I would ask her to take me in for assessment. Why on earth do you need to spend anywhere near that amount on a hand held light source? It can't really be justified surely?
My £1.99 headtorch and my £4.99 Lidl LED torch will do the same job around camp. This weekend I just used my head torch and one of the 50p keyring torches I sold here recently in a mini group buy and they did the job no problem
No offence meant to anyone here, its just all that money on a torch seems such a waste of cash.
PS, I took a candle as backup but it was not needed
Well thats what i tough, untill one cold dark day. The LED headlight i had just didn't provide enough light to walk around. I came awfully close to tree's i missed. Thankfully there weren't much streams and other thing you don't want to walk in to accidentily.
just ordered a Fenix L2D.
Using normal batteries swung it in the end.
British Red
30-01-2007, 13:57
My £1.99 headtorch and my £4.99 Lidl LED torch will do the same job around camp. This weekend I just used my head torch and one of the 50p keyring torches I sold here recently in a mini group buy and they did the job no problem
Just like your one basic Trangia then Rik? :D
Red
nzgunnie
31-01-2007, 10:38
No offence meant to anyone here, its just all that money on a torch seems such a waste of cash.
Until your POS cheap lights die in the middle of the night and you find yourself struggling along in the dark.
Not such a waste then, eh?
I'm not quite surewhich forum it's better answering you on
for throw larger diameter reflectors work better, I've seen the difference it makes with a modified mag which could have either a 5mm wide reflector or a 3inch one
all the really small pocket torches will of course have a narrow reflector so even if it puts out 100+ lumens it might not throw the light as well as a 60lumen torch
For throw I've always been impressed by the Streamlight 'Ultra Stinger.' Puts out a very long beam... Looks like an anorexic Maglite thought :rolleyes:
When I need throw I use either a Surefire M4 or M3T (but always carry a Surefire L4 with McGizmo McClickie protected tailcap) ;)
Regards,
Patrick
I received my Fenix P1D CE a couple of days ago and I like it a lot. It is thicker, as expected, than the the L0P that I have been EDC'ing. But it is ok in the pocket with the rest of my stuff.
The light is incredibly bright for any size light! The low setting (12 lumens for 21 hours) is really enough for most things, but the normal and high modes give you tactical brightness in a small EDC size package. I cannot vouch for run time yet as a couple of days usage hasn't diminished the brightness and I cannot tell how much juice remains.
There are a couple of dark rings around the super bright beam center, but they are mainly noticable up close. At any appreciable range (more than a few feet), it doesn't seem to detract from the light. And even up close, it is the beam center that counts.
We had a power outage last nigh so I got to use it in almost total darkness and it lights up a room on the normal setting (72) almost as brightly as an Inova T4 (100 lumens).
I am looking forward to taking on our next camping trip where there is more darkness and distance for me to test this little light. I will probably get a Fenix L2D CE to use as an outdoors (in pack) light too. I think it has similar options and brightness as the P1D CE, but runs on two AA batteries and has longer run times.
bingobadgo
04-02-2007, 10:34
For throw I've always been impressed by the Streamlight 'Ultra Stinger.' Puts out a very long beam... Looks like an anorexic Maglite thought :rolleyes:
When I need throw I use either a Surefire M4 or M3T (but always carry a Surefire L4 with McGizmo McClickie protected tailcap) ;)
Regards,
Patrick
I have an M2 with turbo head and an Arcmania W-bin 5W tower module. Puts out a LOT of light, good throw and pretty decent run time. This one has an overacheiving LED that is comparable to X-bin brightness. Which part of Kent are you in Patrick?
I'm up on the downs near Lenham (on the way to Maidstone)
You? (I didn't know there were other torch enthusiasts in kent ;) )
Patrick
bingobadgo
04-02-2007, 22:59
I'm up on the downs near Lenham (on the way to Maidstone)
You? (I didn't know there were other torch enthusiasts in kent ;) )
Patrick
Only other one i think, none of my friends know!! I told one mate how much my MiniHID cost and he nearly had a heart attack! I am on the coast in Whistable, i love being by the sea.
Raptordog
05-02-2007, 04:07
Anyone managed to get hold of a L2D yet, tried various suppliers and all appear to be pre-order, possible late February is the earliest I have found so far. :rolleyes:
http://www.fenixlight.com/flashlight/fenixl2d/fenixl2d01.jpg
Spec..........http://www.fenixlight.com/flashlight/fenixl2d.htm
The Fenix Store in the States is advertising them as being available to purchase now.
http://fenix-store.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_55&products_id=195
He's a well known member of CPF and is well spoken of but I haven't seen them available anywhere else. Also this is going to be a very popular light and it may be difficult to keep up with early demand so stocks might quickly run out on the first shipment.
They don't have them at this UK store yet.
http://www.qualityflashlights.co.uk/termekekmain.php?csoportid=34
She's a member of Flashlight Forums. I don't have any knowledge of how good her business is but the prices are pretty good for the UK and nobody has said anything negative about her.
Raptordog
13-02-2007, 02:32
Many thanks for the links Rebel, will give it a go direct, just got conformation back from a well known UK torch agent and their expected arrival date has now been put back to 19th march. :eek:
godfather
23-02-2007, 14:22
Just received mine and it took approx 14 days from the order date.
Regards
I got my Fenix L2D a couple of days ago. I ordered it from Lighthound:
http://www.lighthound.com/
I received it here in the UK within seven days.
Nice light. I think it's the brightest light I've got. :eek: Pretty amazing when you see how dinky it is; it's smaller than a Mini-Mag.
For me this is the perfect EDC light. It's not cheap (although it is if you compare it with some other brands) but it's not so super expensive that I'm afraid to take it out and maybe lose or damage it. It can run on cheap NiMh batteries so I don't mind running the batteries flat.
The turbo mode of 135 lumens gives a fantastic bright white light with enough side spill to make it useful. To give you an idea of what 135 lumens means, a standard Mini Mag (2AA batteries) produces only 4.2 lumens with a fresh set of batteries. The brightness quickly drops as the batteries lose power and the bulb ages. The LED light doesn't age and the current is regulated so that the light doesn't dim until the batteries are almost depleted.
Being able to turn down the brightness is great for things like map reading at night when a bright light reflecting off the paper is almost blinding and ruins your night vision. This saves me having to carry two torches.
I'm very pleased with it and the only major thing I would change in the design is adding the ability to have "momentary on." Other improvements could be notches so that it can't roll off flat surfaces and a model in silver so I can find it in the dark.
It's not mentioned in the instructions but you can "lock out" the light to stop it from accidentally turning on in your pocket by loosening the tail-cap about a 1/4 of a turn.
All in all I thoroughly recommend this light. Smaller than a Mini-Mag and brighter than a 4D Mag with multiple illumination levels all for 25 quid delivered to my door.
certain gave the local bunnies a fright last night.