My new torch

[defblade]

Tonberry said:

Real lumens and there isn't really a budget - but for arguement sake, not too far north of £100, preferably under.

Thanks for the link to the Trustfire model. I get the impression though that something like that will be a little hit and miss?

Just so you know what I've been looking at;

Eagletac SX25A6
Eagletac G25C2 MKll
Fenix TK35
Nitecore SRT 7

Do I need something powered by 18650s or will regular AAs do?

I don't need to splash out on the above so if I can get better for less, let me know!

I've also got (amongst others...) a Tiablo ACE-G (details here and here ) which puts out 700 real, out the front lumens, and is very similar in brightness to the trustfire which is why I say the trustfire is not far off. 1000 ~real~ out the front lumens is quite unusual/unlikely for a single emitter torch.

If you're determined to spend money, I like Fenix as a good balance of power, quality and price.

The Ace-G cost well over £100... and mainly lives in the cupboard as the trustfire gets used as my #1 everything torch. If you can find the trustfire version somewhere other than manafont, it shouldn't be too much of a lottery... and you can buy a few for your budget anyway!

I too would advise 18650s so long as you're going to head above about 200 lumens, unless you like carrying outers of duracells around with you. Voltage and capacity are sooo much better, there's really no contest. Protected cells and better chargers have taken most of the exploding risk out of using them... you probably don't worry about the one in your phone, after all

[LocoBlade]

It seems you can get that one on Amazon Marketplace for £20 delivered from a European retailer...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Trustfire-Z5-Lumens-Zoomab...

defblade said:

I've had this torch for a good while now - reliable, quality is fine, andosing is rubbing off a bit in places but I do use it a lot, not too far off 1000 lumens allowing for chinese counting. But manafont messed me around last time I tried to use them, and the security certificate's lapsed, so approach with care - maybe look for the same thing elsewhere.

[cuneus]

LocoBlade said:

It seems you can get that one on Amazon Marketplace for £20 delivered from a European retailer...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Trustfire-Z5-Lumens-Zoomab...

[steve_bmw]

Check this out, made from plastic, sealed with rubber o rings so probably splash proof ish, easily scratched plastic window and runs on 3 aa batteries and cost £2.50 from wilkinsons.
Its actually rather brilliant.

[DoubleSix]

TheBlondeFella said:

So I'm looking for a torch for "painting with light" for photography.

It needs to project a very even light with no 'hot spot' in the middle. Range 20-30 feet.

Any ideas?

Fenix PD range have a very even beam with no hotspots or rings, nice colour that won't alter the subject too.

[Sammitch]

steve_bmw said:

Check this out, made from plastic, sealed with rubber o rings so probably splash proof ish, easily scratched plastic window and runs on 3 aa batteries and cost £2.50 from wilkinsons.
Its actually rather brilliant.

Christmas cracker torch.

It has no place here, but trying to be positive, it is very cheap and might be OK for throwing in your toolbox.

[tenohfive]

So did anyone get any nice torch related Christmas presents?

I got some strange looks from my family at just how happy I was with the tritium keyring I received following some hints. Definitely a bloke thing. Thought it would be bigger from the photo's (smaller is better) but it's only about an inch long, so doesn't add any bulk to my keys.

Quite tempted to pick up a few cheaper versions for the camping gear to stick them on tent zips etc.

[Tonberry]

So after much thought, the arsenal will start as such;

http://www.amazon.co.uk/JETBeam-Intellicharge-i4-V...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B007IFZPMI/ref=...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008QRPYEG/ref=...

If the bug catches on there will be x2 3400mah 18650 on the way as well as a beefier light.

[cuneus]

Consider using Torchy the battery boy as well

[Fastra]

Seems like a lot of DX's stuff is turning up on Amazon now:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zoomable-Adjustable-Flashl...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00GHITJB0/ref=...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00EAMAJ8C/ref=...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/ULTRAFIRE-WITH-CREE-XM-L-U...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/lumens-Flashlight-Torch-Ba...

Edited by Fastra on Monday 30th December 11:32

[tenohfive]

Just treated myself to a new keyring torch, the Trustfire Mini-02 that was recommended a couple of pages back. I don't suppose anyone knows if 16340's can be charged in an Ultrafire WF-139 charger?

[The Nur]

Afternoon chaps, a quick recommendation if you will

Small, bright and preferably under £20 if possible. I don't mind if it is 18650s or AA/AAA but I don't want any Chinese crap, have been caught out by the Chinese stuff before so would prefer not to make that mistake again

I have been having a look but I don't know what I am looking at in truth. The Lenser L7 looks like the sort of thing I am after (I think) but they do not appear to be available at my price range any more. Any recommendations?

[silverthorn2151]

tenohfive said:

So did anyone get any nice torch related Christmas presents?

I got some strange looks from my family at just how happy I was with the tritium keyring I received following some hints. Definitely a bloke thing. Thought it would be bigger from the photo's (smaller is better) but it's only about an inch long, so doesn't add any bulk to my keys.

Quite tempted to pick up a few cheaper versions for the camping gear to stick them on tent zips etc.

I LOVE my little key ring bit of radioactive geezerbling. So pleased was I that I found some cheaper ones on some web site or the other and ordered 4. Turns out that these were crappy luminous ones not radioactive and even so, didn't and don't glow no matter how much sunlight they get.

That'll teach me.

I will however be getting some more of the proper ones though.

[tenohfive]

silverthorn2151 said:

I LOVE my little key ring bit of radioactive geezerbling. So pleased was I that I found some cheaper ones on some web site or the other and ordered 4. Turns out that these were crappy luminous ones not radioactive and even so, didn't and don't glow no matter how much sunlight they get.

That'll teach me.

I will however be getting some more of the proper ones though.

Will make a point of looking for proper tritium ones, can't afford £19 a pop for the holder alone very often though.

[silverthorn2151]

My one is a simple plastic hexagonal rod with the glowing bit encased.

I'll have to fine the link for the one that I love.

[stemll]

tenohfive said:

silverthorn2151 said:

I LOVE my little key ring bit of radioactive geezerbling. So pleased was I that I found some cheaper ones on some web site or the other and ordered 4. Turns out that these were crappy luminous ones not radioactive and even so, didn't and don't glow no matter how much sunlight they get.

That'll teach me.

I will however be getting some more of the proper ones though.

Will make a point of looking for proper tritium ones, can't afford £19 a pop for the holder alone very often though.

They sell cheaper, polycarbonate, ones too

http://www.edcgear.co.uk/prodcat.asp?Cat=glowfobs

[Tonberry]

Tonberry said:

So after much thought, the arsenal will start as such;

http://www.amazon.co.uk/JETBeam-Intellicharge-i4-V...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B007IFZPMI/ref=...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008QRPYEG/ref=...

If the bug catches on there will be x2 3400mah 18650 on the way as well as a beefier light.

The beast just arrived in the post and my god is it a weapon.

For chinese crap the build quality is pretty damn good with a milled metal body and decent anodizing.

Very nice heft to it with batteries inside so will deliver a few good blows to the head if the ever the need were to arrise.

Did I mention I nearly paralysed myself when I turned it on and it went sraight into strobe mode at turbo output.....

Doesn't look as if it will throw very well but should make a decent enough flood light.

Edited by Tonberry on Tuesday 31st December 19:09

[tenohfive]

Next item on my list is a head torch for running down dark trails. I've been using my Alpkit Manta and whilst it's a bloody good torch it just doesn't quite have the throw for looking well ahead across the fields.

Can anyone recommend a cheapish DX type headtorch with as much throw as possible? Say upper budget £20 and no more than 200g.

ETA:
These are the ones standing out the most right now:
http://dx.com/p/yp-30558-cree-xm-l-t6-xp-e-r2-3-mo...
http://dx.com/p/flood-to-throw-3-mode-cree-q3-led-...
http://dx.com/p/singfire-sf-520-cree-xm-l-t6-900lm...

Edited by tenohfive on Tuesday 31st December 19:20

[defblade]

defblade said:

Whoops.

After going on DX to provide the links in my post above, I accidentally ordered this and this, along with a few more 18650s
(And I stuck this in my wish list, in case the Darth isn't bright enough!)

Arrived today

The headtorch is chunky, happily the strap is plenty long for my XL head, not the lightest thing but a good powerful white beam which gives a clean flood or down to a not-very-well-focused-but-acceptable spot with a nice clicky action. I've already got a button styled headtorch that runs on AAAs with much less power when light weight is important, this will do nicely for everything else Only reservation at the moment is the quality of the wiring inside the babtery box, but that shouldn't take too much abuse.


The Darth is a rather lovely thing. Sits firmly in the hand, not too long, not to chunky (for me.. but then I do have lanky fingers). The selector moves smoothy with positive points for each leevl. Low is reasonably bright, high is quite silly. Strobe actually makes me feel slightly sick! It suddenly makes my T6 look a bit dim. The "hot spot" is as large as most torch's spill (reasonable with 3 seperate emitters involved), which makes it hard to judge the overall power... more of a wall of light torch than a thrower... but what a wall! My garden certainly isn't big enough to really test it.

I'd recommend either torch at this point for both quality and output.

[audi321]

audi321 said:

Sammitch said:

defblade said:

Whoops.

After going on DX to provide the links in my post above, I accidentally ordered this and this, along with a few more 18650s
(And I stuck this in my wish list, in case the Darth isn't bright enough!)

Don't do it, folks. Lumens, just say NO!

Jesus Christ! 5 x Cree XM-L U2!

Like that headlamp - I'm off to do some man maths.

Right, I'm going to order one of the 5 LED ones for $36 ( these), so before I do, is there anything else from DX which would tickle my fancy!

Came today DOA