My new torch

[marctwo]

rhinochopig said:

marctwo said:

I took my Fenix L2D (2 x AA) out on Saturday for the fireworks and was amazed at how well it could illuminate trees half way across the park. You just don't expect this much light from such a small torch. *Must stop looking at the TK41*.

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/TK-421

Now I want one even more!

[Vespid]

tenohfive said:

I've got a couple of Ultrafire WF-501B 180 lumen torches that I use for general/around the house use:
http://dx.com/p/ultrafire-wf501b-cree-q2-180-lumen...

They're cheap ($10) torches, plenty bright enough and run on 18650's and they're perfect for round the house/car use. I want a couple more but don't want to wait weeks for them to be shipped. Anyone know of something similarly bright and cheaply priced but from UK sellers?

eBay? You're going to struggle to get under $10 though.

How about this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UltraFire-WF-502B-CREE-T...

[audi321]

Vespid said:

eBay? You're going to struggle to get under $10 though.

How about this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UltraFire-WF-502B-CREE-T...

Guys, I hate to be a party pooper, but these torches for a tenner will not be 1000 lumens. I have had one and compared it to an expensive 1000 lumens torch and it's not half as bright. Don't get me wrong, I use ebay for a lot of stuff, but there isn't any 'regulations' around lumen output, i.e. I could claim a 50,000 lumen torch which only outputs 500 and no one is going to have me for it! Plus, to actually measure the output of a torch, you need a specialist tool which the average person is not going to have lying around, so who's going to challenge me!

[5678]

audi321 said:

Guys, I hate to be a party pooper, but these torches for a tenner will not be 1000 lumens. I have had one and compared it to an expensive 1000 lumens torch and it's not half as bright. Don't get me wrong, I use ebay for a lot of stuff, but there isn't any 'regulations' around lumen output, i.e. I could claim a 50,000 lumen torch which only outputs 500 and no one is going to have me for it! Plus, to actually measure the output of a torch, you need a specialist tool which the average person is not going to have lying around, so who's going to challenge me!

Review here: http://budgetlightforum.com/node/273

It doesn't have a meter reading, but it does look pretty bright!

[audi321]

5678 said:

audi321 said:

Guys, I hate to be a party pooper, but these torches for a tenner will not be 1000 lumens. I have had one and compared it to an expensive 1000 lumens torch and it's not half as bright. Don't get me wrong, I use ebay for a lot of stuff, but there isn't any 'regulations' around lumen output, i.e. I could claim a 50,000 lumen torch which only outputs 500 and no one is going to have me for it! Plus, to actually measure the output of a torch, you need a specialist tool which the average person is not going to have lying around, so who's going to challenge me!

Review here: http://budgetlightforum.com/node/273

It doesn't have a meter reading, but it does look pretty bright!

Ok, have a look at the videos. Here's the cheap 'claimed' 1000 lumens torch, fast forward to 1:54 to see it in it's High Mode. Here's a decent (expensive) torch with a 'measured' lumens of only 760, again fast forward to 0:41secs.

I've bought a lot of torches (far too many!) and believe me, you get what you pay for. There's the odd exception, but mainly these cheap chinese high lumen torches are ste and certainly don't give out anything like the claimed lumen figures.

[5678]

I do like the Fenix stuff, just started a slippery slope with a LD01 for my keys.

Thanks for the video links. Something looks vastly different between the one you linked to and the review I found though?
I have no doubt you get what you pay for (as with most things!) but for under £10 or what ever it is, it's not a bad buy.

(That TK45 looks awesome! I need to find a use for one!)

[Vespid]

audi321 said:

mainly these cheap chinese high lumen torches are ste and certainly don't give out anything like the claimed lumen figures.

Fair one, but Solarforce (Chinese) are not bad, I have a couple and they are OK.

http://www.flashaholics.co.uk/solarforce.html

Nearly all manufactured goods we buy are made in China these days, you just have to sort the wheat from the chaff.

....but they do exaggerate their lumens.

[Vespid]

5678 said:

(That TK45 looks awesome! I need to find a use for one!)

Get a dog!

If not, you want one on your keychain, one in your car and two in your house.

The house ones should be one with a low output option (batteries last forever) for power cuts and one with a mental output for showing off to your mates when pissed.

Hope that helps.

[Digger]

I think I am gonna order me a FourSevens light. Decisions Decisions . . .

http://foursevens.com/light-finder/

[tenohfive]

audi321 said:

I've bought a lot of torches (far too many!) and believe me, you get what you pay for. There's the odd exception, but mainly these cheap chinese high lumen torches are ste and certainly don't give out anything like the claimed lumen figures.

I'm inclined to agree with you, but if I buy a claimed 1000 lumen torch and get 150 lumens I'm happy - for serious use I buy from brands that I trust (hence why my work torch is a Lenser.)

As per usual with anything torch related I've spent 3 times more than I meant to. Went with the WF502B and ordered another off the same seller - a zoomable UltraFire 1000LM CREE XM-L T6.

Whichever proves better will live in the house, the lesser will be relegated to the car. With a couple of batteries (I avoid the supplied Ultrafires) it came to a shade under £30.

[rhinochopig]

Digger said:

I think I am gonna order me a FourSevens light. Decisions Decisions . . .

http://foursevens.com/light-finder/

Of course Sir will be wanting the XM18.

[Vespid]

Don't want a Chinese torch?

Why not build your own torch?

Batteries from here:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-Torchy-2600mAh-18650-...



Charger from here:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-7V-UltraFire-WF-139-Re...



Host (torch body) from here, these are called P60 hosts:

http://www.flashaholics.co.uk/solarforce/solarforc...



Drop-in (the lamp) from Nailbender, he makes them himself in the States, probably one of the best drop-ins you can get. $40 each. $5 shipping to UK.

Just part of the many choices he does:

Cree XM-L (arguably the best LED)

U2 flux bin 1A 6500k+ Cool White

T60 flux bin 3C 5000k daylight white

T50 flux Bin 4C 4300K neutral white

T40 flux bin 5B3 4000k neutral white

T40 flux bin 6A3 3500k Warm white

T30 flux bin E7 3000K Warm White

Direct drive
1 Level only (potting and tape included this model only) works well in the 26650 Cooly's by Five Mega. Not made for continuous run.

1 level 2.2 amps 3.6-16 volts best for use with Multiple cells.

Available levels with memory (2.8-6 volts only)
1 level Regulated
2 level Low / Hi Regulated
3 level Low / Med / High Regulated
3 level Low / Hi / Strobe Regulated (rotation of levels may change between driver batches)
5 level Low / Med / High / SOS / Strobe Regulated

6 volt Drivers can be pushed at 3.1 amps and 3.5 amps or even 4.2 amps but high should be used for shorter periods

Either Smooth OR Orange Peel reflectors available (extra reflectors not available at this time.)

Potting with copper tape is now included

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php...

[Rosscow]

audi321 said:

OMG I HAVE FOUND THE BEST TORCH EVER! (IMO)

I ordered one of these which came yesterday, and I cannot believe it!

I've had a fair few torches in the past (I bit of an obsession of mine) and this is by far the best throwing light I've ever seen. Fully customisable too, with different LEDs available (even an Infra Red one for night viewing). It claims a beam of up to 1km and I would say that's about right!

Here's a comparison against another decent light (Klarus XT11), and it really is that much better. The Lumens isn't great at 600, but the lens focuses it like a little beam of sunshine shining onto the target. I have another 'claimed' 3000 lumen torch and the Night Master knocks it away with the brightness! On the video the beam is focused to it's smallest point, but that can be adjusted with a quick turn of the bezel into a wider one.

I can fully recommend this torch! It might be expensive, but if you want the best, here it is!

ETA - For those who are interested in torches, I find Going Gear on Youtube have a lot of really good review videos click. They have reviewed something like 150 torches and if you have the time, you'll quickly find out which ones to buy or not to buy!

Edited by audi321 on Sunday 14th October 14:15

Me want!!!!

I have a very energetic Dobermann, and that would be brilliant for keeping track of him when he goes thundering off across the fields in the dark.....

I'm a little worried that I might blind him though?!

[...Mole...]

Bought a LED Lenser P7 on friday as my crappy headtorch wasn't quite satisfying enough for pre-sunrise walking and setting up for photography. It's brilliant very happy with it, came with a little P3 one as well which is hanging from my keys just in case it's needed.

[rhinochopig]

...Mole... said:

Bought a LED Lenser P7 on friday as my crappy headtorch wasn't quite satisfying enough for pre-sunrise walking and setting up for photography. It's brilliant very happy with it, came with a little P3 one as well which is hanging from my keys just in case it's needed.

Try the lenser Headtorch. Much better for photography. I have a genuine one and a copy. The copy was off ebay and cost about 10-15 quid and the ONLY difference between them is the copy doesn't have the gold plated contacts or come with a neoprene pouch. I also have the top of the range one - as I used to get them at cost with being in mountain rescue - but TBH it's not as good as the smaller model. Yes it's brighter but also heavier and more complicated to use.

http://dx.com/p/flood-to-throw-zooming-focusable-c...

[Digger]

rhinochopig said:

Digger said:

I think I am gonna order me a FourSevens light. Decisions Decisions . . .

http://foursevens.com/light-finder/

Of course Sir will be wanting the XM18.

28 * 18650 cells

[Magic919]

Vespid said:

Magic919 said:

I've ordered a Fenix TK35

"820 lumens output......a beam range of more than 330 metres"

Nice.

820 lumens is the old one :-). The XM-L U2 claims 860. It arrived today. Pretty bright by all accounts.

[BelperJim]

Anybody got one of these? Thinking of putting it on my christmas list

http://www.torchdirect.co.uk/professional-torches/...

[5678]

BelperJim said:

Anybody got one of these? Thinking of putting it on my christmas list

http://www.torchdirect.co.uk/professional-torches/...

I've just bought a Fenix LD01 for the same sort of job and it's a nice bit of kit, bit more functionality than the Lenser appears to have too. That doesn't help with the Lenser at all though! Sorry!

[BelperJim]

5678 said:

I've just bought a Fenix LD01 for the same sort of job and it's a nice bit of kit, bit more functionality than the Lenser appears to have too. That doesn't help with the Lenser at all though! Sorry!

I like that, looks a little smaller and lighter. Also liking the twist to operate, less likely to go off in my pocket than the push button LED Lenser.