Re: Inexpensive little AA light
...They are a good value for the dollar, but I do not understand all the "publicity" they get on the forum...
...I am not trying to turn anybody off from buying one, I am happy with mine, but just be aware they are not as advertised!...[excerpted]
I am not such a "
huge" fan of the Sipik68. In fact, you happen to own more of them than I do. (Unless, of course, I decide later this year to purchase a "quantity" of them for Christmas "stocking-stuffers.") However, I cannot think of a better light currently available at such a low price point. I think that explains all the so-called "publicity" that they get on the forum. This is, after all, the Budget Light section.
Is there is a "better" light out there at a similar price point? If so, I would like to hear more about those, too.
As far as max lumens not being advertised: That has got to be the first thing that anyone interested in low cost lights has got to learn. Perhaps they will learn the "hard way" but hopefully they will learn by "word-of-mouth". (Or, "word-of-forum"
) And, hopefully, before they get too badly burned by the rampant false advertising that is the reality of most "direct from China" lights.
But, that still doesn't mean that the Sipik68 isn't
an excellent value.
Think about it. They are currently priced at around $4 with free shipping! That's pretty amazing. And, unless you get the random "bad-one" they seem to be highly capable of providing years of useful service, even under relatively harsh conditions. (Although, I agree: probably not a good idea to drown one underwater. While reasonably water resistant, they do not appear to be at all waterproof.)
(If you were to get the random "bad-one" most vendors will make a fairly serious effort to provide you with replacement, credit or some other form of compensation. But, even if you do end up losing money, I suggest you simply throw it away, or give it to your grandson as a toy, and buy another one --from a different vendor.)
It might be worth noting here, however, that there do seem to be some "fly-by-night" Chinese vendors who actually seem to specialize in selling true "junk." (By "junk" I mean items literally taken from manufacturers' recycle bins.) Oddly enough, however, such truly unscrupulous vendors rarely sell at the very lowest prices.
Unscrupulous vendors have learned that many people, if not most people, tend to believe that higher prices naturally translate into better quality. Of course, this is often simply not true, but many people are fooled by it all the time. (Usually, all a hgher price means is that when you do get the random "bad-one" you have risked more money than if you had purchased at the lowest possible price. Higher prices do not even necessarily translate into better service from the vendor.)
The other day, I decided I wanted a low cost camera tripod. I knew didn't need a really good one, and did not want to spend that much money, so I kept my expectations moderated. But, I did do a fairly careful search until I found a particular model that appeared likely to satisfy my needs. Interestingly enough, I found that this exact same model was being sold a prices that ranged all the way from nearly $50.00 + Shipping to $9.80 + Free Shipping. (Dozens of different vendors appeared to be selling them in the $20-30.00 range.)
Needless to say, I went for the $9.80 and never looked back. It does everything I wanted it to do. And, I cannot imagine how the other, more expensive ones, could have been in any way "better." After all, they are listed as the exact same item (by model number) and the photographs all depict the exact same tripod. I suspect that they are all literally manufactured in the same factory.
Granted, this tripod is pretty flimsy, but what do you expect for $9.80? ("Real" camera tripods typically cost around a hundred, or even hundreds, of dollars. And, I had already decided that, for my current application, I did not need a sturdier one.)
But, the point that I am trying to make here, is that I am certain that the more expensive ones, of the same model number, would not have been any more sturdy. (I just cannot see how that could be possible based on the design and construction. I am certain they would be the same.) Therefore, if I had spent more money, I would simply have gotten the same flimsy tripod, but would have paid more money for it.
Sorry, I think I have gotten "off-topic." My point is, if you want a Sipik68, buy one and buy it as cheaply as you can. If you don't need, nor want, such a low cost flashlight... then buy something else.
To each their own.
