Surefire Maximus, Minimus AA, Minimus Tactical and Minimus Vision!

[pjandyho]

pjandyho, it’s hard for me to tell that there’s a metal ring in there, but I can see everything inside of the ring without too much trouble. I can see a rectangular heat spreader under the square die, two gold wires attached to the die, two other wires attached to the heat spreader, and silver/gray stuff surrounding the die that forms a circle that’s split into two unequally sized parts by a line that follows one of the long edges of the heat spreader.

Paul

Now that you mentioned, I think you may be right. I am trying very hard to look through the fresnel optic at the LED and it has a square shape quite similar to any from Cree. Anyone who has owned a light with an SSC emitter would know that they don't look the same. I also seem to notice a slight hint of a metallic ring circling the LED die which is quite similar to the ones found on an XR-E.

I remember someone mentioned that a representative from SF told him in the SHOT Show that it is a high CRI emitter. I don't remember Cree ever making any high CRI XR-E. Could that guy have misinterpreted the message? Maybe the SF rep said something like "we are using a warm tint LED which gives a higher CRI" and not "we are using a high CRI emitter"?

[Owen]

Shine it on a wall. The projected image of the die is clearly that of a XR-E.
Cree's datasheet shows no "high CRI" version, but that the warm whites are 80 CRI. Maybe it's one of those, or a 3700K neutral(?).
Can't say that it matters to me, since the light seems to work the same as it did yesterday...

[pjandyho]

Shine it on a wall. The projected image of the die is clearly that of a XR-E.
Cree's datasheet shows no "high CRI" version, but that the warm whites are 80 CRI. Maybe it's one of those, or a 3700K neutral(?).
Can't say that it matters to me, since the light seems to work the same as it did yesterday...

Agree with you Owen.

Andy

[ProofTech]

I just returned from a two-night camping trip along the Middle Fork of the Boise River. I used my Minimus Vision headlamp around the camp at night and it was absolutely awesome to use. Its simple and infinitely adjustable user interface, warm tint, ability to go well below one lumen, and floody (but not too floody, which would waste lumens) beam make it the best headlamp on the market for camping in my opinion. The fact that it’s made by Surefire also gives me some piece of mind. And despite its max output being rated at only 75 lumens, I never felt myself wishing it was brighter.

I only have two very minor gripes with the Minimus Vision. It’s a bit heavy for its size, but it’s still very comfortable to wear. And there’s no way to lock-out the switch to prevent it from turning on while transporting it, so removing the battery is the only way to lock-it-out. But these two issues really don’t bother me much. I’m very happy with the Minimus Vision, and would not want to trade it for any other headlamp.

Paul

[Benchiew]

Fully agree with you. I prefer the vision over the stock minimus.
I had a bit of problem with the dial getting stuck. Sent it to Surefire and they sent me a new one.
I am sticking with Surefire for sure.
Great peace of mind buying into Surefire.

[skyfire]

i just received my vision yesterday right before leaving my house to help a friend move some furniture to his cabin.

so i handed him my H501w, and i tried out the vision. after about 20 minutes, i started to feel its weight, its not heavy, but heavier than i would like for a headlamp.
it is pretty comfortable to wear on the head though. it being lighter would make it more so though.

the beam is very acceptable. on a white wall i notice its imperfections, but during use the beam works very well. it a flood beam with a little intensity.
tint is just a tad warmer than my h501w. more of a rosy hue when compared.

the control ring on mine is a bit stiff. when turning it while wearing the headlamp, i had to use both hands. 1 hand to turn, and the other to hold down the battery compartment. i am able to just use 1 hand to operate, but it requires me to push the headlamp against my head to help hold it down, but its somewhat of a clumsy way of doing it.
will the control ring get easier to turn with more use?

EDIT: my vision started to make squeaky noises, i used a tiny drop of hoppe's lubricating oil in the control ring, and it fixed everything. the control ring now turns much easier and smoother, and no more squeaks.

i used the vision on max output for at least 20 minutes. it felt just a tiny bit warm. i would feel very comfortable using it on max until the battery drained.

build construction is solid. quality plastic, and precisely made. definitely gives me peace of mind. enough to even order it from a certain auction site because our cpf dealers dont have it in stock. surefires warranty and backing also gave me the courage to order from a seller thats unknown to me.

like Prooftech said, the LED looks very much like a XR-E.
just some of my first impressions and observations.

[cland72]

My minimus vision didn't have enough friction to keep the unit from turning when turning the light off or on. I called surefire and the two adjustment Allen screws behind the velcro pad are 0.035 inch in case anyone needs to adjust tension.

Posted using Tapatalk on my HTC Evo

[skyfire]

My minimus vision didn't have enough friction to keep the unit from turning when turning the light off or on. I called surefire and the two adjustment Allen screws behind the velcro pad are 0.035 inch in case anyone needs to adjust tension.

Posted using Tapatalk on my HTC Evo

that might help me adjust the brightness w/o it rotating the angle of the light. thanks.
my allen wrench set doesnt even go that small LoL. going to have to check he toolbag in my trunk for it. if not, ill just take the headlamp to home depot or something and adjust it there

i spent about 5 minutes turning it off and on last night to try and loosen up the control ring, and my thumbs are feeling it today.
the control ring isnt so stiff it doesnt turn, but its just stiffer than i would like.

does anybody else vision feel that way? this is the only minimus ive tried, im wondering if its normal, or is mine abnormal?

[Raptor Factor]

Is it disheartening to anyone that the new Surefire Maximus boast a "Tough, lightweight magnesium body with durable black finish"? is this as durable as the mil spec type III hard anodized aerospace aluminum normally seen in surefires?

[cland72]

Is it disheartening to anyone that the new Surefire Maximus boast a "Tough, lightweight magnesium body with durable black finish"? is this as durable as the mil spec type III hard anodized aerospace aluminum normally seen in surefires?

That is interesting... The Minimus does mention "High-strength aerospace aluminum body, Mil-Spec hard-anodized for extreme durability", but the Maximus does not. I would call Surefire for clarification, as I would expect the more expensive headlamp should be HA as well.

[Owen]

I had to google, because I couldn't remember the differences, and when I did semi-remember them, they weren't in relation to use as a flashlight body('course the quotes aren't, either...).

Magnesium alloys increasingly replace aluminum, zinc, and other materials in structural automotive parts because they are much lighter. Magnesium's low density significantly reduces weight by volume compared to aluminum and zinc. Magnesium is 33% lighter than aluminum and just about a quarter the weight of zinc. Yet magnesium has the highest strength-to-weight ratio of all structural metals, except for titanium.

Its density is only slightly above that of plastic, but its high (72 W/m-K) thermal conductivity lets it dissipate heat more effectively. This makes magnesium a better candidate for parts that see elevated temperatures where creep is a concern. Additionally, magnesium damps out vibration and noise, resists impacts and dents, and is fully recyclable.

Magnesium, when compared to aluminum, is softer and more expensive, and has the tendency to bend easily.

Magnesium also requires a protective coating to save it from corrosion. Magnesium used for lightweight component applications largely depends upon casting technology, for magnesium is less costly and has low environmental hazards. Magnesium has potential benefits for the environment and better design options when compared to aluminum, since it is lighter in weight and can be substituted for aluminum transmission case applications

[Solscud007]

I had put two 14500 in my Saint and it screwed something up. Now it isnt as bright. So I sent my Saint back and they replaced it with the newer saint. It has knurling on the knobs and the Minimus adapter is now just a tailcap and the battery tube is built into the light.

They forgot to include the clips for the top headstrap and is sending me a new one.

Is the new battery pack, from the saint, compatible with the other minimus lights?

[Raptor Factor]

OK thanks Owen, so magnesium is a good material for a lightweight light such as a head lamp I guess. Still aluminum is tried and true...

[skyfire]

did a runtime test on max with my vision, using a fresh rayovac primary.

got 2 hours and 28 minutes without any significant drop in output.
at the 2 hours 28 minute mark it flashed twice. and about every minute after that it flashed 2 or 3 times again.
at the 2 hours 34 minute mark it went into a constant slow flashing.

so i dialed down the output, and it still works on the lower outputs, with about 50% brightness still.

after letting the cell cool off for about 10-15 minutes, it measured at 2.52 volts.
put it back into the light, cranked it to max, and a few seconds later it flashed 2 times again.
i turned down the brightness just a little and after about 1 minute it shut off.
so next i turned the dial about 50% of its travel.... im thinking it can go on pretty long like this... but ill be back to report.

edit: it lasted through the night, but when i woke up in the morning it was dead...
so 2 hours and 28 minutes on max... i would say this headlamp is an over-achiever

another note: for the 2.5 hours of max brightness the headlamp only got warm while sitting on the desk.

[Policecar]

OK thanks Owen, so magnesium is a good material for a lightweight light such as a head lamp I guess. Still aluminum is tried and true...

No, magnesium is a poor choice. Magnesium when compared to aluminum is weaker, more prone to corrosion, less thermally conductive, and can not be hard anodized. Anodizing converts the surface of aluminum to aluminum oxide, which is very hard and wear resistant. Magnesium does not perform this trick nearly as well so the process is not as common with magnesium. The Maximus is probably just painted.

[Policecar]

I haven't seen much mention of the Maximus' integral rechargeable battery. I don't see the logic with this design. When the battery dies you need to replace your headlamp with a fresh one instead of a fresh battery. That's a deal breaker for me. That and the no so great 1m waterproof rating.

[cland72]

I haven't seen much mention of the Maximus' integral rechargeable battery. I don't see the logic with this design. When the battery dies you need to replace your headlamp with a fresh one instead of a fresh battery. That's a deal breaker for me. That and the no so great 1m waterproof rating.

Agreed. In my opinion all rechargeable lighting solutions (and communication devices) should come with an option to run on primaries. Not sure why Surefire thought the Maximus was a good idea.

[RobertM]

I have an original Saint Minimus (no knurling on the dials) and have a few questions for owners of the Saint Minimus Vision:

1. Is the Vision's minimum output lower than the minimum output of an original Minimus?
2. How about maximum output? I see that it's rated at 75 vs the original Mimimus' 100 lumens, but many here are saying that it seems way underrated. Is it's max output similar to an original Minimus or better?
3. How is the Vision's low mode compared to a SF T1A Titan or an HDS EDC's 0.07 low mode?

Thanks,
Robert

[skyfire]

completed a runtime test on the vision's lowest output using a fresh rayovac primary.
sometime in between 103 hours and 111 hours the headlamp went out.
depleted cell measured at 2.26 volts.

[tygger]

Been using my new Minimus Vision (on AW LiPO's) for a few days. Like others said, its a bit heavy. The adjustable brightness is fantastic and the tint is surprisingly nice. Up till now I've only been using my Zebralight H501w. As a pair, these headlamps really complement eachother. I agree there should be a lockout feature. BTW, I purchased a micro hex wrench set on Amazon for 6 bucks.

[Sean]

I have an original Saint Minimus (no knurling on the dials) and have a few questions for owners of the Saint Minimus Vision:

2. How about maximum output? I see that it's rated at 75 vs the original Mimimus' 100 lumens, but many here are saying that it seems way underrated. Is it's max output similar to an original Minimus or better?

Thanks,
Robert

I just got my Minimus Vision and according to my measurements it's right at 75 lumens. My original Titan T1A measures about 81 lumens (it's rated at 70). I was hoping for more, but obviously there is a reason it was rated at 75 lumens.

[RobertM]

I just got my Minimus Vision and according to my measurements it's right at 75 lumens. My original Titan T1A measures about 81 lumens (it's rated at 70). I was hoping for more, but obviously there is a reason it was rated at 75 lumens.

Thanks for the info regarding the Vision's maximum output. How does its lowest output compare to the Titan's lowest setting?

Thanks,
Robert

[Sean]

Thanks for the info regarding the Vision's maximum output. How does its lowest output compare to the Titan's lowest setting?

Thanks,
Robert

They seem to be very close. I would say that the Minimus is slightly brighter on it's lowest setting.

[RobertM]

They seem to be very close. I would say that the Minimus is slightly brighter on it's lowest setting.

That's awesome! I have an original Minimus and it's lowest setting is considerable brighter than my T1A on its lowest. It sounds like SF has been able to get the Saints to go lower now.

[RobertM]

Does anyone have any outdoor beamshots of the Minimus Vision? Or even better, any outdoor beamshots of the Vision compared to the original Minimus?

[pulstar]

+1, i'm really interested how it differs from original Minimus

[Quiksilver]

I received a replacement Surefire Saint. Have had a couple of long duration nighttime SAR's and it worked fine. Last Saturday I had another all nighter, quite a bit of it in water in a deep canyon. It was never submersed due to PFD, though very likely splashed a few times. Towards morning it powered itself off occasionally - a bit disconcerting in a deep, dark canyon. Possibly due to low battery, though my previous light simply went dim when battery went low. Played with it a bit before putting in new batteries. If I turned it on fairly low, it would stay on for a while, then randomly cycle off, but if I turned it up all the way it would flash 3 times, then remain on at high setting instead of going dim. I have done some searching to see if this is expected behavior, but haven't found anything yet. Found some references to if it gets hot it may power itself off, though it did not feel hot, and it was a cool night in the low 40's. I had run it on its highest setting all night due to a tricky water rescue.

Does anyone know what the behavior of a Surefire Saint should be? Either overheating or maybe when the battery gets low? I think I would much prefer the light simply go dim rather than power off.

If it's on High for awhile and it is not hot, then that indicates a problem with heat-sinking, temperature management.

It means theres an air/insulator pocket around the diode, which is heating up and not dissipating heat outward to the rest of the light.

If that is true, then your light could definitely be overheating and you would never feel it.

If that is the case, its a serious design flaw.

[RNDDUDE]

Maximus details: housing is metal injection molded (not machined), then first coated with tagnite (a corrosion inhibitor) followed by an e-coat. Battery is an internal, not user-replaceable 18650. Unit accepts an optional over-top-of head strap ala Saint for additional security (I recommend it). Additional runtime can be gained by connecting an external battery pack (not SF available) to the unit via the charging port.

Many posters seem to be confusing the MAXIMUS with the SAINT. The Saint can be run with either AA or 123's, but not the Maximus, which is rechargeable only.

[ProofTech]

Last night I did a runtime test on my Minimus Vision headlamp with a brand new Energizer battery that was made in 2010.

It ran at maximum output for 1 hour and 58 minutes before flashing 2 or 3 times quickly. The output did not appear to drop at all before this first flash. After that, it started to get dimmer and dimmer very slowly and every minute or so, it would turn off and then back on. The first off period lasted for probably 2 seconds, but each subsequent off period would last a little longer than the one before it.

For reference:
My headlamp: 1h 58m until first flash
Skyfire’s headlamp: 2h 28m until first flash
Surefire’s specification: 1h 30m until output drops to 50 lumens

[cland72]

Last night I did a runtime test on my Minimus Vision headlamp with a brand new Energizer battery that was made in 2010.

It ran at maximum output for 1 hour and 58 minutes before flashing 2 or 3 times quickly. The output did not appear to drop at all before this first flash. After that, it started to get dimmer and dimmer very slowly and every minute or so, it would turn off and then back on. The first off period lasted for probably 2 seconds, but each subsequent off period would last a little longer than the one before it.

For reference:
My headlamp: 1h 58m until first flash
Skyfire’s headlamp: 2h 28m until first flash
Surefire’s specification: 1h 30m until output drops to 50 lumens

Did you turn the knob down from maximum, and did that prevent the light from shutting off?