milkyspit said:
Chronos, how's that ML1 working out for you?
Sorry, I've been incredibly busy with work and school. Yeah, work 70+ hours a week building a new business practice plus take 20 credits this semester at school, plus... sorry for the venting!
The ML-1 Cree is wonderful. I'm having a hard time keeping it out of my kid's hands, even as I type this!
I'll see if I have some free time this weekend- if I do, I'll try to take a few pics and beamshots. The output is great, far better than stock. I believe the 84 lumen number. I've had far larger LED lights that don't put out as much light, and very few with as nice a beam.
The beam is a nice smooth comination of a BRIGHT throw beam, a bright and large spill beam (far larger than the A91 Cree's spill, for example) and a dark corona. A couple of nights ago I did a quick comparo of the A19, the ML-1, the E1L, and the A2. I aimed them at a pond in the corner of my backyard, about 25-35' away. The ML-1 had by far the best overall coverage, as I was able to make out a lot of details in the large spill. The A19's output is far higher, but the beam is far narrower as well. The ML-1 is a warm tint (WH) which I prefer for outdoors work; the A19 looked silver/blue in comparison. The A2 had the third best beam pattern, more throw than spill, and the E1L is all throw with a tight little diamond beam pattern. If someone is looking for a tint similar to *X0*, this isn't it. However, if someone wants a great tint for outdoors, this is definitely it. A nice, warm vanilla tint.
Color rendition on the ML-1 was second to the incan A2. It was far better than the A19 or the E1L.
Craftsmanship is great. There is a GITD ring behind the window, a nice touch. It looks like a stock L1 until it is fired up. Then look out!
I don't have a runtime as I've only used it on-and-off for about 30 minutes, and the kids have run it for about 30 more tonight playing "flashlight wars."
Overall I am thrilled with this purchase. The runtime looks to be 3X that (at least) of the A19. The color rendition for outdoors use is the best I've seen in an LED. The beam pattern is a great combination for outdoors use, with that large and relatively bright spill. I prefer the size of the L1 as it fits in my big hands very well. I find the A19 and the E1L to almost be too small, in that my hand tends to cover part of the beam. I also love having two stages. The low is much lower than the high, low enough to use in the car at night, for example, to look at a receipt (my wife did this last night as I was driving) without blinding me, yet brighter than the stock low.
FWIW I do not have any horses in this race- that is, I don't own stock in Cree, I haven't even met Scott (yet), and I have paid for all of my lights and mods. Great work from a master. He's always done great work for me. This is what, at least my third light from you?
The ML-1 Cree is a definite keeper.
:goodjob:
Now, about the Kroma and SW02...