Flashlight-Fi (LED & Conventional)

[rasmushorn]

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Congrats on the new Quark!

Thanks kwarth! 

 

[rasmushorn]

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Total noob to this thread, but I certainly appreciate a quality piece of machinery... and flashlights are a necessity, especially for camping, hiking, earthquake country, etc.

 

So how did you choose this particular one? Did you look at comparables by other mfgrs? The Olight I25 - T25 (205 lumens) looks interesting. Do you (or anyone else reading this) have recommendations?

I'd like to stay with AA as they are everywhere and I've got a ton of rechargeables.

 

Thanks.

Flashlights is a must together with a good knife. Well I chose this based on these parameters - prioritized order. 
 
1. Price/value
2. Durability and build quality
3. Size (has to fit in a pocket so AA was my first choice and you can purchase AA-batteries everywhere on the globe)
4. Lumens / batterylife
5. Its ability to switch mode between Highest lumens and 4 low modes and strobe
 
I have not been to every hardware store or website. So maybe there are other choices or brands out there with better or just as good offers? 

 

[kwkarth]

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Thanks for the link.
Yeah, the CR123's are shorter and have better power and shelf-life, but they are not, as you put it, ubiquitous. For my purposes, and for convenience, the AA would be the better choice. If I throw one in my wife's glove box, she'd be able to deal with AA batteries easier than CR123's.
 
Yes, the 4sevens has a very good selection and the AA2's look like they would suite my purpose pretty well.
 
Between it and the Olight, (or ITP) is there much of a build quality, durability / operational difference?
 
Thanks.

ITP branded lights, in my experience, don't seem to have as good a quality control as the Olight branded ones.  
 
I have a couple Olights, the M21, and the M30 and I like them both very well.  One of my Olights (the M21) arrived with a film on the inside of the lens.  It was easier for me to dismantle it and clean it myself than to send it in for replacement, but the seller would have stood behind it.
 
I have many of the 4Sevens small lights several of the AAA, AA, CR2, and CR123 based models.  I have to say, the 4Sevens have been consistently good in terms of quality.  The Revos, Preons, Mini Quarks, and Quarks have all been top notch.  I would feel comfortable recommending any of them.  
 
So find the ones that meet your need for size and power cell and buy with confidence from 4Sevens.    The lights all have their own user interface and I find more UI consistency model to model with the 4Sevens lights.  
 

1. Going from100lm to 200lm subjectively seems about 30 to 40% brighter, even though the number of lumens has doubled.  
2. Such is the logarithmic sensitivity of the human eye to light.  Much like our sensitivity to sound.

 

1. Another factor to consider is the color temperature of the light.  
2. The neutral and warm white colors are FAR more pleasing to the eye for most people than the cooler white colors.  Color perception is more natural as well.  
3. Watch the "Limited run" neutrals and warms section at the 4Sevens web site.  From time to time as the LEDs become available he does limited runs of those lights.  I think you would be pleased.

 
Cheers,
k
 
 

 

[rasmushorn]

Just one hint to remember when buying from 4Sevens.
 
Americans should buy from: http://4sevens.com/
and Europeans from the Polish site: http://www.4sevens.pl/index.php?language=en
 
That choice will have a BIG effect on the price... When I ordered I had to cancel my order from the US-store or else they had shipped it and I would have to pay customs. They do not coorporate and transfer your order to the other store even though they have mostly the same products on stock.

 

[yliu]

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1. Going from100lm to 200lm subjectively seems about 30 to 40% brighter, even though the number of lumens has doubled.  
2. Such is the logarithmic sensitivity of the human eye to light.  Much like our sensitivity to sound.

So I shouldn't expect that of a big difference going from 200 to 760 lumen?

 

[kwkarth]

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So I shouldn't expect that of a big difference going from 200 to 760 lumen?

I didn't say that.  Where did you come up with those numbers?  That's almost doubled twice.  Of course you'll see a big difference.  First doubling, +40%.  Second doubling, +40-% brighter than the first, which would be about twice as bright subjectively overall.  760 OTF lm is a lot of light.  It's enough to turn night into day.
 
 

 

[yliu]

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I didn't say that.  Where did you come up with those numbers?  That's almost doubled twice.  Of course you'll see a big difference.  First doubling, +40%.  Second doubling, +40-% brighter than the first, which would be about twice as bright subjectively overall.  760 OTF lm is a lot of light.  It's enough to turn night into day.
 
 

I have a 200 flashlight, and I'm planning to upgrade to the Fenix TK45. So I thought that the Fenix would be almost 4 times brighter.
 

 

[kwkarth]

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I have a 200 flashlight, and I'm planning to upgrade to the Fenix TK45. So I thought that the Fenix would be almost 4 times brighter.

Keep in mind that The Turbo mode on the TK45 can be used for only very short periods of time, and the 760lm may not be true Out The Front lumens, but emitter lumens.  I have the TK40 and it's a wonderfully bright light rated at 630lm, but out the front is about 500lm.  In either Tk40 or TK45, the only practical battery is low self discharge NiMH cell.  Lithium ions do not work well and are not recommended in those lights and alkalines easily leak and will ruin your light.
 
The TK45 will look about twice as bright as a good 200 lm light and should have a nice throw.  The TK40 is good for 300m throw and the TK45 good for 200m.
 

 

[shane55]

@ rasmushorn & kwkarth.
Thank you gentlemen. Very helpful guidance. I'll post my observations after I purchase.
 
cheers.

 

[kwkarth]

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@ rasmushorn & kwkarth.
Thank you gentlemen. Very helpful guidance. I'll post my observations after I purchase.
cheers.

Happy hunting Shane!  Can't wait to hear about what you choose!
 
 

 

[kwkarth]

BTW, Shane, you're probably well aware of this site, but just in case you haven't had a chance to look around, there is a flashaholic web community at least as rabid for flashlights as we are for headphones.  CandlePower Forums.  http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/forum.php  Have fun!

 

[shane55]

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BTW, Shane, you're probably well aware of this site, but just in case you haven't had a chance to look around, there is a flashaholic web community at least as rabid for flashlights as we are for headphones.  CandlePower Forums.  http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/forum.php  Have fun!

Holy crap! That's just sick. Can you imagine being so obsessed with something... oh wait... nevermind.

 

 

 

[roadcykler]

I've found myself spending a lot of time there, as well as at watchuseek, and The Fountain Pen Network. So far it's cost me just over $200 and I haven't even bought a flashlight yet. 

 
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Holy crap! That's just sick. Can you imagine being so obsessed with something... oh wait... nevermind.

 

 

 

 

[rasmushorn]

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Holy crap! That's just sick. Can you imagine being so obsessed with something... oh wait... nevermind.

 

 

 haha... LOL
 

 

[yliu]

My Fenix TK45 arrived today, very nicely made flashlight and very unique and cool looking. Gives out plenty of output, although I found that 1 LED has a slightly greener tint than the other 2 but you can't see it from the beam.