Re: SL Strion...initial thoughts...beamshots added
Compared: Strion, Stinger, PM6, TL-2
Initial testing was indoors using a variety of surfaces at ranges from 22-28 feet. The newly charged Strion was compared with a fully charged Polystinger, a PM6 with about five minutes of prior use and a TL-2 with fresh SF 123's.
Result: The Strion's excellent Stinger-like beam was at least as bright and slightly whiter than the Polystinger's; a fine beam by any standards. However, the PM6 (Fixed focus lamp module) was much brighter and whiter with an intense central core and somehat irregular corona, less smooth the Strion's beam but substantially more penetrating.
My first thought was that I had an under-par Strion but I had to rule that out since it compared so favorably with the PolyStinger. Perhaps the Strion's reflector couldn't compete with the famous PM6 reflector but when I tried putting the PM6 reflector over the Strion's lamp I couldn't get a proper focus. Finally, using a large mirror at a distance of about 8 feet I exposed the bare bulbs of both lights. They were both very white but the PM6's lamp was distinctly brighter than the Strion's. Did I have an atypically bright PM6? I compared it to two other (focusable) PM6's and they were more similar than different and all three were brighter than the Strion.
I noticed that the Strion's bezel looked very familiar and saw that it and its reflector were virtually identical to the TL-2's, the only difference being a more subtly textured Strion reflector. They are, in fact, interchangeable, and the Strion's beam is very similar to the TL-2's beam though it was brighter than my TL-2 with fresh SF batteries.
Based on these non-instrumented indoor tests the Strion lives up to its billing as a pint-sized Stinger replacement, and that is cause for enthusiasm, especially for LEO's who can now take a few ounces and inches off their duty belts. The Strion proved to be a very adequate if not perfect fit in my several-year-old Surefire nylon 6P holster, and the pinched-off holster bottom did not trigger the counterrotated tailswitch even when firm pressure was applied.
One very nice additional feature of the Strion is its ability to accommodate use of the "syringe" grip, where the light is held between 3rd and 4th fingers and activated by palm pressure. Because the outer tailcap rim functions semi-independantly from the central tail button, activation with any part of the palm is very convenient using mild to moderate pressure. This feature can be deactivated by a slight cc rotation when only central button activation is desired. As a bonus the light will stand on end.
Considering its superior beam, excellent build, ample reported runtime and unusually light weight the Strion appears to be a first-rate instrument and a worthy replacement for the Stinger, though time will tell more about its reliability and resistance to abuse.
However, as demonstrated earlier, for those of us obsessed by "smallest and brightest of the bright" the Strion may not be quite what we were hoping for. Too bad Pilas don't work with a PM6. Pelican, are you listening?
I will do some outdoor tests tomorrow and I look forward to more thorough testing by other colleagues.
Brightnorm
