Comparison: Inova X5, Ledda, Attitude & LW 2000

FOUR BRIEF REVIEWS

In order of perceived brightness:
1) Inova X5
2) Nightbuster Ledda
3) Princeton Tec Attitude
4) LightWave 2000

*INOVA X5
SIZE: 4 5/8" x ¾",
WEIGHT: 3oz (with batteries)
LED'S: 5 (white)
POWER: 2 x 123
CONSTRUCTION: metal (aluminum?)
WATERPROOF? - YES
COLOR: Black or "aluminum"
PRO: Very bright and small
CON: Less peripheral beam spread than some other lights

Easily pocketable, waterproof, sleek and very sturdily built with a futuristic appearance. (See Kogatana – 10/19/01) Available in black or "aluminum" color. Definitely The brightest LED light for its size that I've tried. Gets very warm to the touch, but maintains excellent brightness for 4-5 hours. After 4 hours of steady burning it was still as bright as the Attitude or the LW 2000 with fresh batteries. It can easily be operated with one hand, and is the light I always carry on my belt, in preference to all other
LED's (until the LS comes out). (Note that the beam pattern has somewhat less peripheral spread than some other lights)


NIGHTBUSTER LEDDA
SIZE: 7 5/8" x 11/16 (barrel), 1" (bezel)
WEIGHT: 4.9oz (with batteries)
LEDS: 4 (white)
POWER: 3 x AA
CONSTRUCTION: Metal
WATERPROOF? – "WATER RESISTANT"
COLOR: Black
PRO: Very bright
CON: Awkward size/shape

Probably the brightest and physically the longest 3AA light. Finely and apparently strongly built (though mine had an intermittent on/off problem that I partly solved by crimping and raising the positive terminal of the battery in contact with the LED board). The LEDs appear to be permanently attached to the head. This light is just about as bright as the Inova 5X at first, but becomes dimmer within approximately ½ hr. At the end of 4 hours it is still noticeably dimmer than the Inova. The light is impressive, but I have found it unwieldly for everyday carry, and I much prefer the Inova.


*PRINCETON TEC ATTITUDE
SIZE: 4 ¾" x 1" (Bezel and body width) x ½" (Body "thickness"
WEIGHT: 2.5oz (with batteries)
LEDS: 3 (white)
POWER: 4 x AAA
CONSTRUCTION: Plastic
WATERPROOF? - YES
COLOR: Translucent black, etc.
PRO: Bright and small
CON: Light spill-back through translucent head


The attitude is probably the best and brightest small all round everyday carry alkaline-driven light. I would be wearing it on my belt right now if there were no Inova 5X. It's at least as bright as the LW 2000 (though it won't burn bright as long) and it is very light. There is one design flaw: The translucent body permits annoying light spill-back where the body flares to meet the bezel. This can be cured by wrapping it with black plastic tape. Princeton Tec really needs to attend to this issue. Despite this, the attitude is an excellent light.

LIGHTWAVE 2000:
SIZE: 7 1/4" x 1 1/4" (Head) x 7/8" (barrel)
WEIGHT: 4.5 oz. (With Batteries)
LEDS: 4 (white)
POWER: 3 x AA
CONSTRUCTION: Plastic
WATERPROOF? - YES
COLOR: Black
PRO: Quite bright, acceptable body size/shape
CON: Not an everyday carry light.

A decent, reasonably priced basic light, with brightness approximately equal to the Attitude, though the LW2000 is considerably larger and heavier. Some folks turn up their noses at this light for its non-exotic build and its heavy and sometimes misleading promotion to the general public. In fact this is a good light, and brighter than much of its competition, including the Eternalights.

These five, brief subjective revues are not intended to be definitive, but rather are my own impressions of lights that I own. For "real" revues turn to Stingmon, Brock and others who have firmly established
and earned their credentials.

* signifies a "favorite" light

Brightnorm

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by brightnorm:
...Note that the beam pattern has somewhat less peripheral spread than some other lights.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

In terms of product (its output), this is one of the main reasons I aquired it.

Very nice reviews. I'm hoping the Arc LS will blow all of these lights away. I just can't afford (and do other things as well) to buy every single new LED flashlight that comes down the pike. However if not for the impending Arc LS, I might bite and buy the X5. As you say it maintains brightness, I wonder if it has some sort of regulated circuit or it's just a product of the lithiums more linear discharge rate. BTW, I think they could have stuck a sixth LED in the middle of the light.

Thanks Geepondy. I don't want to mislead. I didn't mean to suggest that the Inova maintained its original brightness, just that after several hours it was about as bright as a "fresh" Attitude or LW2000. Originally it was significantly brighter than either one.
In terms of a regulated circuit, I'm really not the one to ask- I have no electrical/electronic training or background. I just appreciate a good light, though I have heard that the normal discharge pattern of Lithium cells tend to resemble a regulated circuit. Kogatana has one of these lights and he's very knowledgeable; perhaps he can answer your question.

Regards, Brightnorm

brightnorm,
Thanks for the compliment. I am much like you about appreciating a good light, but I believe you are the more knowledgeable between us. I am just an old dog trying to learn a few "tricks." I am still trying to understand electrical circuits.

geepondy,
I refer you to one of our resident authorities.

Kogatana,
I may be an even older dog than you, and from reading your many posts I still believe that you know a hell of a lot more than me. However, the gracious thing for me to say is
"thank you".

Regards,
Brightnorm