Looking to purchase a flashlight? Here's an awesome resource! - Page 8

Ed, it's not just a flashlight, it's a tactical advantage against killer hamsters that see in the dark. Seriously, the Kroma was designed for personnel in high risk applications that need to have an efficient, multifunctional light in a compact package. SF lights are the tool of choice for law enforcement personnel and agencies that can afford them.

Hey Jeff, the Kroma that is currently on the SF site does not have the IR and Yellow-Green Lights; that one will be out soon (I'll keep you posted).

Didn't we already go through this before in this thread? Flashlights are no different from any hobby, the best ones always cost 10X more than the average person considers reasonable (*cough cough* headphones)

I scoffed at the Surefires before, but I spent $150 for an L4 and I love it.

If you want, there are plenty of good Portapro equivalent flashlights in the $30-50 range, but if you want the RS-1 equivalent flashight, you have to pony up some bucks

The new SureFire catalog is sitting in my shelf and whispering, "Buy something...now..." I'm actually undecided between the A2 and the L4. One of these days I'll own the M6 and tuck it under my pillow.

Some crazy people pay that much for headphones.

These are pretty nice flashlights, though. I looked around at some, but am uneasy about the CR123 lithium batteries. I saw them advertised at one place for $1.75 each. If you get an hour or so of light with $3.50 of batteries... don't they get expensive after awhile? Wouldn't it make more sense to use ones with less expensive batteries and longer life? I don't need a tactical advantage or anything, but a bright compact flashlight would be nice to find stuff in the closet or poking around the car's engine. I'm sure that's a complete n00b question, but I'd like to know. Maybe I'll pick one up.

Some CR123 flashlights are two stage, so you can get a hour or two of full power, or 8 hours of lower power. Most people find the lower power setting to be the one most commonly used. Look at the Surefire L2 graphs as an example of this. Some lights, like the HDS ones have programmable levels...and you will likely use a low or medium setting with high as a burst mode.

Also, some of the lights can take rechargeables, and heavy users will buy a light that can take special CR123 rechargeables.

Again, look at flashlightreviews.com

LOL, I'm afraid I'm going to have to convert to the ways of expensive flashlights.

Believe it or not, it was started by a mandate from my wife for a small, more powerful flashlight. She wants it for when walking the dog at night. Little keychain LED flashlight is not cutting it, and carrying around a 3D Maglight is just stupid.

So, I browsed the CandlePower forums and came across the Fenix L1P and L2P. Along with the Miller Modded ones.

Is the L1P a decent torch? It looks small enough to have approval from the wife. (and the budget.)

While Petery83 showed me his Surefire A2 Aviator? (I think that's what it was), holy crap that thing was bright in incandescent mode. I really want one of those, but I guess I'll have to troll eBay for a really beat up one for a decent sale.

Personally, I prefer a torch that can be powered from AA's so a variety of battery types can be used, (NiMH for daily use, Alkalines for extended outings, and Lithiums for emergencies/fun).

OK, have started down a very dark path into a new hobby for me? Well, the nice thing is that I'll have cool new toys to light my way.

-Ed

LOL, very true. I've spent far more than $300 on headphones and didn't really phase me too much.

-Ed

I like having a single AA powered one.

Fenix L1T

or

Fenix 1P

Which one is better?

-Ed

Yuck! what version of vBulletin is that?! Nevermind once you get into a forum it's not too bad. OH crap! I've been waiting for the LED Maglites for a while now!

No kidding.

Anyone that complains about the bugs that happen in this forum should go visit CPF. Try doing a search.

-Ed

Along with a slew of Surefires, I also have a Fenix P1, L1P. L1T and L2T and the Miller Mod L0P.
I would highly recommend the L2T for your wife. It uses 2 AA batteries, is two stage, long battery life, and about the same size as a 2 AA Maglite.
In spite of the fact that the L1T and L2T have the same 10 lumen rating for low brightness mode, I find the L2T is actually quite a bit brighter than the L1T even when they're both in low brightness mode.
Fenix Store - L2T

The L1T is superior to the L1P because it has 2 stages and the L1P does not. So with the L1T you have a low brightness mode (10 lumens) for reading and close work and then a high brightness mode (37 lumens) for distance work.

Just to put things in perspective, when you compare the Surefires with the Fenix torches, you'll find that the Surefiles are typically brighter (in some cases, many times brighter) and much more ruggedly built than the Fenix lights.

I have Surefire L2, L4, 2xE1L for LED based lights and E1e, 2xE2e, E2d, A2, and C3 for incandescent based torches.

The L2 is a 2 stage, 2x123 battery LED with around 80 lumens at high brightness. The L4 is a single stage LED with around 80-100 lumens output. Either one is more than tactically bright and will temporarily blind someone if you shine them into their face.

The E2 series lights are good for about 60 peak lumens, also tactically useful. The C3 is serious illumination at 200 lumens output!

The incandescent lights are all unregulated output except for the A2 which is quite unique with a 2 stage operation. Low level is 3 lumens LED unregulated, and high is REGULATED 50 lumens. (Note: 55 lumens is the rated high brightness of the Fenix L2T and the A2 lights up a far broader area)

Ed, if you're going to get your wife a Surefire, consider the E2d. It has a crenelated bezel and tail cap for self defense. You need to be aware that they eat CR123 batteries. Surefire is a good place to buy 123 batteries by the box. They charge 21 bux for a box of 12. The price has gone up a bit since I last bought batteries from them. Last time I bought, they were 1.25 each. Even with the increased prices, it's still cheaper than what you would pay for a 123 battery at a local store, which will nick you for about 6 bux for each battery!

Then if you want the O2 of the flashlight world, get the Surefire 10X Dominator! 500 lumens!!!

LOL, I'm going to have to start a little more slowly.

The Single cell ones are a good start.

I read that the Fenix L1T can be used with a single CR123 (with a custom smaller body tube) and can be used with a 3.7 Lithium Ion 14500 Battery. But where the heck can I buy a charger for it that's not a hobby charger that uses alligator clips?

Oh, and to look to the future, is there a pic with a beam comparison between the Surefire A2's Incandescent and the Fenix L2T? One of those shooting down the hallway ones, so see how far, wide, and bright.

Are there rechargeable 123 batteries that work with the Surefire A2?

-Ed

Hey Ed, glad to see you are now into yet another hobby
Overdriving LED-based lights with rechargeables can shorten the LED's life, in some cases, so I generally do not recommend this. However, a few folks have tried AW's MP700 cells and batteryspace.com's Powerizer RCR123a cells. The A2's a great light; kkwarth's recommendation of the Executive Defender is also great. And those are for the wife. Reserve a Kroma MILSPEC for you; it will light up just about anything and fit in your pocket.

Here is the A2 Rechargeable thread.