tjswarbrick
Enlightened
I think I'm finally ready to take the plunge.
My wife convinced me to go to Maui for vacation this summer. While we're there, I'd really like to pick up some new Hi CRI Titanium goodness from the genius/gentleman/craftsman who is McGizmo.
My only trouble is I don't know which one to choose.
I thought I wanted a Haiku. But now I see, they really aren't any smaller than my HDS Exec Clicky.
Been thinking of a Mule. I love the smooth, even beam and small size, but I don't know if it'll work at an adequate distance to be an only-light.
Remembered the Sundrop. Looks, maybe, perfect - but are they still being made?
So, here's the deal.
My daily EDC is a Para2 with the HDS along with a Lamy Swift.
My dress EDC right now is a Vagnino P-38 EDC with a Ti D25C (neutral XM-L) and a Stainless Jotter.
I have backed Jason's Ti Alpha pen on KS to replace the Jotter. As such, I really want a craftsman-quality, wonderful custom Ti light to complete the set.
I don't know anyone locally, that I'm aware of, that has any for me to compare.
To get an idea of what I'm looking for in a small pocket light:
The HDS is a wonderful device. Even though it's "just" a clicky, the UI is mindblowingly good. But, sometimes it's a little large and heavy. Tint is good, though slightly yellower than I prefer (I really like the 4500k 92CRI Nichia 219, but that's for another thread.) Beam is quite throwy for a little pocket light.
For a $60 production light, I cannot fault the D25C. Size is perfect, UI is great, tint is slightly green for "neutral" but overall very good, and the beam pattern is perfectly floody for EDC, though slightly ringy compared to the best out there.
I also have a PhotonFanatic Groovy. I love it, but don't carry it. Kinda big for what it is; single mode; burns through batteries. The tint is very nicely white, and the beam pattern is what I consider perfect for EDC. Smooth, wide, even with no tint shift or rings. Even though it's so very floody, up close the spot does have pretty high intensity. In use, it is not noticed.
So, what I'd like, is one of Don't lights that's as small as the D25C, with perfect tint and smooth beam pattern. I don't need as much throw as the HDS offers, so my impression is that the Haiku is going overboard for me. I'd love a moonlight mode, but 10 lumens or below "low" will do it for this light. I am aware of the limited total lumen output of Don't Hi CRI lights and it does not scare me. I usually use the HDS in "Low" and if I need more than the 120 lumens it puts out on Hi, I've always got a 2-battery P60 unit nearby.
Questions are: Does a Mule offer enough "throw" to walk the dog and see a bit ahead of me, even with ambient (full moon / street lights) light? Is the SunDrop available? How does it compare? What do you recommend?
Comparison shots, of the lights as well as the beams, of any/all of the 6 mentioned would be most helpful. And I value your opinions. You're welcome to tell me what to get, but I'd much rather hear why you like the one you do, how it compares to the other McGizmo lights as well as the ones I have, and what makes it best for my needs.
I will be running a single CR123 primary, and am set on the Nichia 119 Hi CRI.
As well as a learning experience, I hope this will be fun.
Thank you for the help!
My wife convinced me to go to Maui for vacation this summer. While we're there, I'd really like to pick up some new Hi CRI Titanium goodness from the genius/gentleman/craftsman who is McGizmo.
My only trouble is I don't know which one to choose.
I thought I wanted a Haiku. But now I see, they really aren't any smaller than my HDS Exec Clicky.
Been thinking of a Mule. I love the smooth, even beam and small size, but I don't know if it'll work at an adequate distance to be an only-light.
Remembered the Sundrop. Looks, maybe, perfect - but are they still being made?
So, here's the deal.
My daily EDC is a Para2 with the HDS along with a Lamy Swift.
My dress EDC right now is a Vagnino P-38 EDC with a Ti D25C (neutral XM-L) and a Stainless Jotter.
I have backed Jason's Ti Alpha pen on KS to replace the Jotter. As such, I really want a craftsman-quality, wonderful custom Ti light to complete the set.
I don't know anyone locally, that I'm aware of, that has any for me to compare.
To get an idea of what I'm looking for in a small pocket light:
The HDS is a wonderful device. Even though it's "just" a clicky, the UI is mindblowingly good. But, sometimes it's a little large and heavy. Tint is good, though slightly yellower than I prefer (I really like the 4500k 92CRI Nichia 219, but that's for another thread.) Beam is quite throwy for a little pocket light.
For a $60 production light, I cannot fault the D25C. Size is perfect, UI is great, tint is slightly green for "neutral" but overall very good, and the beam pattern is perfectly floody for EDC, though slightly ringy compared to the best out there.
I also have a PhotonFanatic Groovy. I love it, but don't carry it. Kinda big for what it is; single mode; burns through batteries. The tint is very nicely white, and the beam pattern is what I consider perfect for EDC. Smooth, wide, even with no tint shift or rings. Even though it's so very floody, up close the spot does have pretty high intensity. In use, it is not noticed.
So, what I'd like, is one of Don't lights that's as small as the D25C, with perfect tint and smooth beam pattern. I don't need as much throw as the HDS offers, so my impression is that the Haiku is going overboard for me. I'd love a moonlight mode, but 10 lumens or below "low" will do it for this light. I am aware of the limited total lumen output of Don't Hi CRI lights and it does not scare me. I usually use the HDS in "Low" and if I need more than the 120 lumens it puts out on Hi, I've always got a 2-battery P60 unit nearby.
Questions are: Does a Mule offer enough "throw" to walk the dog and see a bit ahead of me, even with ambient (full moon / street lights) light? Is the SunDrop available? How does it compare? What do you recommend?
Comparison shots, of the lights as well as the beams, of any/all of the 6 mentioned would be most helpful. And I value your opinions. You're welcome to tell me what to get, but I'd much rather hear why you like the one you do, how it compares to the other McGizmo lights as well as the ones I have, and what makes it best for my needs.
I will be running a single CR123 primary, and am set on the Nichia 119 Hi CRI.
As well as a learning experience, I hope this will be fun.
Thank you for the help!