Newbie to the light world needing a flashlight

[ar6423]

So... I'm reading and reading and reading... and I'm kind of shocked as to how much there is to take in. I'm still a little iffy on the pros/cons of LED/HID etc. I'm in need of a bright and rugged light. I'm a canine handler and I'm often exposed to rough terrain/conditions. I will utilize my flashlight to accompany me while tracking people. In doing this, I often have to flag down our aviation unit with my flashlight, which seems to take a little bit of time with my stream light. I want something bright, but I need to have an option to dim it. A strobe feature is awesome for encountering people I need to confuse or deter from trying something. I figured I'd go ahead and post this and get some input from the experts.

I have just recently bought a preon2 after reading information about it here. Now I need something to use for my "bread and butter" work. Obviously with my job, it has to be pretty adaptable because no two situations are the same. Sometimes I'm trying to look several hundered yards away, sometimes I'm encountering someone 15-20 yards away. I would like a way I can easily recharge the batteries in my patrol car for convenience.

I've actually looked at the Fenix TK70... and honestly probably would have bought that had I not been able to consult the masses here on CPF Thanks in advance for your input! Yeah... showing it off to other handlers would be pretty fun too. We always have a "look how bright this light is" meeting at each of our training days.


1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?

____I would like to purchase the light from a brick and mortar store. I am located in __Lakeland,Fl______.
__X__I will be mail-ordering or buying online, so this doesn't matter.


2) Budget: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest! :-)

____Less than $25.
____Less than $50.
____Less than $100.
____Less than $150.
____Less than $300.
_X _I have no limit.
____I’m flexible, tell me what you gotJ.
_x_Other, please specify _I'd Like to keep it close to under $300, but I'm not against spending more for an incredible light.____


3) Format:

_X__I want a flashlight.


4) Flashlight-specific format/size:

____Keychain size.
____Every day carry small (2-4 inches).
____Every day carry medium (4-7 inches).
____Holster carry.
____Big enough to need its own travel caseJ.
__X_I don’t care.
____I don’t know.
____N/A


5) Emitter/Light source:

__X LED (known for efficiency, longevity, and compactness)
____Incandescent (known for superior color rendition)
___X_HID (known for max output, but often at the expense of size)
____I don't know.


6) Manufacturer:

__X__I want to buy a light from a traditional mass producing manufacturer that is ready to go out of the box.
__X__I would consider getting a light that is pieced together (for example a “host” or flashlight body from one manufacturer, and a “drop-in” emitter from another source). Under the right circumstances, this path can provide more options to the consumer to meet specific needs, and can often be easily upgradeable as technology improves.


7) What battery type do you want to use?

____I intend to use alkaline batteries (AAA, AA, C, D) (disclaimer, while it does not preclude all choices, these are not recommended for many of today’s most powerful lights)
___X_I intend to use rechargeable nickel chemistry (NiCad, NiMH, NiZn)
___X_I intend to use lithium primary batteries (CR123, CR2, Energizer Advanced/Ultimate Lithium AA/AAA)
___X_I intend to use rechargeable lithium (li-ion) chemistry. Feel free to specify a size if you know which size you want (14500, RCR123/16340, 17500, 17670, 18650, etc.)
___X_I want a light with an integrated rechargeable battery. (Note: these choices may be very limited unless you are looking at spotlights)


8) How much genuine out the front (OTF) light do you want/need? Sometimes you can have too much light (trying to read up close up with a 100 lumen light is impossible).

____I want to navigate a dark room or read a map (0-10 lumens).
____I want to walk around an unlit rural area (50-150 lumens).
____I want to illuminate my entire backyard or a campsite (150-300 lumens).
____I want to illuminate an entire field, the neighbor's front yard several houses down, impress my friends and neighbors, etc. (300-700 lumens).
___X_I want ridiculous amounts of lumens (800+ lumens).


9) Throw vs. Flood: At what distance will you be most likely to use this light? Select all that apply.

____Less than 1 yard/meter (reading, other close work)
____Less than 5 yards/meters (looking for something inside a dark shed/garage/basement)
___X_5-20 yards/meters (check out a noise in the backyard)
__X__30-50 yards/meters (I have a big backyard)
__X__50-150 yards/meters (I live in a very rural area/farm with wide open spaces)
___X_150+ yards (I want maximum throw possible)


10) Runtime: Not over-inflated manufacturer runtime claims, but usable brightness measured from first activation to 50% with new batteries (Measured on maximum output).

____Up to 30 minutes (I want the brightest [and potentially smallest] light for brief periods)
____30-60 minutes (I have plenty of batteries just ready to be changed)
____90-120 minutes (Runtime is moderately important, but still not critical)
____3 hours + (I critically need this light to run on max for extended periods in between battery changes/charges).


11) Durability/Usage: Generally the old phrase “you get what you pay for” is very accurate for flashlights.

____Not Important (A “night-stand” light).
____Slightly Important (Walks around the neighborhood).
____Very Important (Camping, Backpacking, Car Glove-box).
___X_Critical (Police, Fire, Search & Rescue, Caving, Survival).
____I don't care.
____I don’t know.


12) Switch Type and location (choose all that apply):

___XI want a forward clicky (Helpful for momentary activation and signaling).
____XI want a reverse clicky (For use with multi-mode/level lights).
____I want a momentary switch (Predominantly for use with signaling and short bursts of momentary light only).
____I want a twisty switch (Tighten the head/tailcap to activate, and the light will stay on until the head/tailcap is loosened).
___X_I want a body mounted switch (near the head, like on a Maglite).
___X_I want a tail mounted switch (found on the majority of today’s high end lights).
____I don't care.
____I don’t know.
____Other, please specify____________________.


13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection. Select all that apply.

____A simple on-off with only one output level is fine for me.
____I want 2 light levels. (Brighter/short runtime and Dimmer/long runtime.)
___X I want multiple light levels. (Some lights have 5-16 light levels.)
____I want a programmable light.
____I want a selector ring.
___X_I want a strobe mode. (Blinks to show location.)
____I want SOS mode.
____I want a beacon mode.
____I don’t care.
____I don’t know.


14)Material/Finish/Coating

____Plastic/composite body (this may limit your choices significantly).
____Anodized Aluminum – either type II or III (Hard Anodized) (Aluminum, specifically HA, is the most common material/finish for today’s flashlights).
____Stainless steel (durable, but much heavier than aluminum)
____Titanium (durable and nearly as lightweight as aluminum, but can be moderately to significantly more expensive).
___x_I don’t care.
___x_I don’t know.
____Other, please specify____________.


15) Special Needs/extras: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Select any below.

____Red filter (for preserving night vision).
____Other filter colors (Amber, Green, Blue, _________).
____Dedicated R/G/B secondary LEDs.
____“Hybrid” light (bright incandescent combined with long running LEDs)
____Pocket/belt clip
____Holster
____Wrist/Neck Lanyard
____Crenulated bezel
____Non-sparking Intrinsically Safe (IS) for use in explosive environments

[Kevinkw1]

I'm thinking something like the olight SR (search and rescue) series would suit you! These are expensive, but are considered some of the best handheld throwers. Massive output from 900 to 2000 lumens, 3 power levels plus strobe ofc. New model sr 95 is expected in June and you can preorder it. These bad boys can throw 700 or 800+ meters! You will be able to flag a helicopter no problem!

[AnAppleSnail]

You'll love this: buy two.

Car cradle charging is rare. You can get all kinds of battery chargers to take 12v, but mag and streamlight are the main cradle charge mfg.

Get a monster thrower and a $50-$100 general use light. That will serve you best if you can stand two lights. It avoids diffusers and dodgy flood-to-throw lens systems.

Olight SR90 and a battery-compatible crowd favorite...

Get "neutral-white" or "high-cri" (preferably both) LED in the platforms you pick. It helps with color rendition and therefore identification. I am loving a high-cri neutral white nichia I got lately. 1100 lumens of noonday sunlight in a can!

[ar6423]

You'll love this: buy two.

Car cradle charging is rare. You can get all kinds of battery chargers to take 12v, but mag and streamlight are the main cradle charge mfg.

Get a monster thrower and a $50-$100 general use light. That will serve you best if you can stand two lights. It avoids diffusers and dodgy flood-to-throw lens systems.

Olight SR90 and a battery-compatible crowd favorite...

Get "neutral-white" or "high-cri" (preferably both) LED in the platforms you pick. It helps with color rendition and therefore identification. I am loving a high-cri neutral white nichia I got lately. 1100 lumens of noonday sunlight in a can!

I'm not completely set on cradle charging. I've read there are other methods of charging. If something needs to have the batteries removed to be charged, I'm not against that as long as I can get the charger for the car and it is not too cumbersome

what is "high-cri"?

[Kevinkw1]

High cri relates to the tint of light which has a higher colour rendition index, which means that colours are more vibrant. It usually has a slightly yellowish tint. The highest power lights produce a cool whitish blue tint that washes out colour. High cri lights produce less lumens, but better colour.

Whilst high cri produces a beautiful tint, Not sure you would need a high cri light as your primary work light. High cri lights would be good for like paramedics who need colour recognition for blood etc.,

Charging - most normal chargers have a lighter attachment so you definitely not confined to cradle charging.

[ar6423]

Thanks for the input... my next question is.. where are the best places to buy the lights? I saw an ad for an sr90 that had an extra battery. Can the extra battery be charged away from the rest of the light? It wouldn't let me ask in the thread because it claimed my passworld and member id wasn't good for some reason......

[Silent_Thunder]

Try to look for the Olight SR at post edited. See banner at top of page.

[TEEJ]

Yes, the SR series battery/handles can be charged off the light too (On or off the light), and, can be charged from a wall outlet, or your cig lighter receptacle in your rig, etc.

The SR90, SR95 and SR95UT are all awesome search lights. The TK70 is also awesome, but more limited in range, as its beam is a lot wider/floodier.

I do disaster response, and generally, the TK70 works better if the range of what I'm looking for is under ~ 400 yards, but the SR90 works better over that...as its better reach comes into play, and I can see things beyond the TK70's reach.


If using the light to SEARCH, you can't use the published specs for ANSI Throw ranges.


When looking at a light's specs, the specs use a limit of 0.25 lux to delineate the furthest distance the beam lights up. ).25 lux is about the same as what you see at night with a ~ 1/2 moon or so...too dim to REALLY find someone laying in grass, etc, that far away (GREAT if right in front of you - but, NOT 600 yards away...that's hard enough in DAYLIGHT)



IE: If 0.25 lux was enough to see with at that range, and it was not cloudy, you would not even need a flashlight.



In real life, if you figure the USEFUL range will be maybe 1/2 - 2/3 or so of the published ranges, you'll be ballpark for most lights.

[ar6423]

kinda sounds like I could probably use a more "floodier" light than a "thrower" as I'm often in areas of heaving brush and its rare that someone is in the wide open area that I'm searching for more than 400 yards out. I also don't think a beam that is so focused on throw will be a good thing if I'm randomly searching for someone. The beam being so small could allow me to miss someone that is just outside of the beam. At least this is what I'm thinking now....

The biggest reason I'd need throw is to gain the attention of aircraft. I just read somewhere on here that the spotlight on my car is about 800 lumens and I don't think it's beam is as throwy as I've seen in pictures of any of the lights we've mentioned in this thread.

Wow... there is soo much to know that I never thought about before. Thanks again for helping to teach me the right way to make this decision.

[JudasD]

I really like the Fenix TK70. Good mix of throw and flood. As long as the physical size of the light is fine to you then this light should have heavy consideration. It can be had for about $170 if you shop around. It uses NiMH batteries (which to many is a safer battery) rather than li-ion.

JD

[Aaron1100us]

Fenix TK 45. 760 lumens with lots of flood yet good throw. Uses 8 rechargeable AA batteries. Low,med,high,turbo,strobe. Lasts two hours on turbo. Very rugged. Used mine every day for the past year and a half. Never a problem. Amazing light.

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