Why the dislike for LED LENSER?

[moozooh]

Sipik SK68 does that but has basically the same problems as the Lenser. Still considered a better purchase in enthusiast circles, since for 35$ you can get four of them and a pack of spare alkalines.

 

[rambo180]

for 35$ you can get four of them and a pack of spare alkalines

Fair enough. Seems like a darn good buy for $9. Shame I just bought a LENSER.

 

[rambo180]

So I just bought my first LENSER.

P7 for $26. I am very happy with my purchase (82% discount off $RRP).

Pros:
The focus is unbelievable. Minimal lumens lost at maximum throw. VERY good focus system. They have the focus perfected.
Nice simple interface with no strobe.
Runs on alkalines
Good holster

Dislikes:
It will scratch easy and isn't waterproof.
Its a little heavy for only 200 lumens
A few unwanted rings in the beam and at full zoom the hotspot is LED square shaped.
RRP is unbelievably high at $149.95. I wouldn't even pay half that.

For the price ($26) with a quality focus system, I consider this a very good purchase.

 

[Assimilator1]

So if Led lenser aren't considered much good, which makes are?

I see Olite, Jetbeam & Fenix mentioned, any others?

Was considering the Led lenser P5 (105 lumens version), or maybe the Maglite XL200 (anyone know what these are like btw?)

Cheers, a torch newbie

 

[Norm]

So if Led lenser aren't considered much good, which makes are?

I see Olite, Jetbeam & Fenix mentioned, any others?

Was considering the Led lenser P5 (105 lumens version), or maybe the Maglite XL200 (anyone know what these are like btw?)

Cheers, a torch newbie

:welcome:

Your post will take us away from the original topic.

I suggest you post your question in Recommend Me a Light For...


Norm

 

[Assimilator1]

:welcome:

Your post will take us away from the original topic.

I suggest you post your question in Recommend Me a Light For...


Norm

Err, ok will do, but seeing as I was going to buy a Led lenser I think my question was relevant to this thread , & saying 1 make is rubbish & not suggesting an alternative seems like 1/2 an answer .

 

[Norm]

So if Led lenser aren't considered much good, which makes are?

I see Olite, Jetbeam & Fenix mentioned, any others?

Was considering the Led lenser P5 (105 lumens version), or maybe the Maglite XL200 (anyone know what these are like btw?)

Cheers, a torch newbie

Err, ok will do, but seeing as I was going to buy a Led lenser I think my question was relevant to this thread , & saying 1 make is rubbish & not suggesting an alternative seems like 1/2 an answer .

My suggestion was because you mentioned other brands and as I said that would take the thread off topic.

Norm

 

[rambo180]

My suggestion was because you mentioned other brands and as I said that would take the thread off topic.

Norm

Assimilator if you post a thread in the "reccomend me" section, PM me and i'll personally tell you a little about the P5s, XLs, Fenix AAs etc.

About the P5, the first page of this thread will tell you about it - main thing is that it and the Mag have focus. Nothing else does. The P5 isn't waterproof and not as bombproof as other models, but each to thier own. Don't pay retail price. Some of the other brands mentioned do make better quality which I would strongly consider of you don't want the great and exclusive focus feature of LENSERs.

I have the P7 which is the larger version of the P5. Get one from ebay with a holster and its not a bad buy in my opinion, but others say they're overpriced and only mid-quality. We'll talk about the other brands elsewhere.

 

[harro]

I guess if you dont like em, you dont buy em. You pays your money, and makes your choice!? Like anything, they have their place in the big picture.

 

[easilyled]

I guess if you dont like em, you dont buy em. You pays your money, and makes your choice!? Like anything, they have their place in the big picture.

Well, yes of course.

However the purpose of the thread was to determine if the less than stellar perception on CPF of LED LENSER was justified or not.

 

[mikekoz]

All I can comment on is the ones I have purchased. All the LED Lenser/Coast/Eddie Bower lights I have bought have been worth what I paid for them. They are not my favorite brand. I wish they would make more 1AA, 2AA, 2C, 2D cells lights and ditch the battery holders. The most $$$ I have ever paid for one is the Coast HP7, which I mentioned in an earlier post. This light is bright, simple 2 mode interface, focuses unlike ANY light I have owned or read about, has a nice finish, and came with the nicest holster I have ever received with a light. It's weakness is the battery holder and the use of AAA's. The battery holder seems pretty well made, but is still plastic. You break it, you have no more light. AAA's are low capacity cells and are not my first choice for powering a light like this, but I will admit, I do like the size, and making it a 2C light would make it a bit larger. If the runtime (5 hours 45 minutes on high, 10 on low) on this is accurate, that would be another plus. It is rated by FL1 standards, so I may have to give it a hands on test!

 

[xcel730]

I never owned a LED Lenser before, so I really can't comment. I've seen them often enough in my local stores that I always associated them as lower end (my own prejudice).

In terms of focusability, LensLight also uses optics to focus the beam from flood to spot. I wonder if there are any other companies that consider to make something similar. I like the concept of focusing system, but there aren't many out there to choose from.

 

[Fireclaw18]

I never owned a LED Lenser before, so I really can't comment. I've seen them often enough in my local stores that I always associated them as lower end (my own prejudice).

In terms of focusability, LensLight also uses optics to focus the beam from flood to spot. I wonder if there are any other companies that consider to make something similar. I like the concept of focusing system, but there aren't many out there to choose from.

I have a lenslight mini and a LED lenser P5. They definitely aren't the same in mechanism.

Lenslight mini: high-CRI XPG. Lens system appears to be a conventional aspheric lens. No reflector or backplate... the entire star is visible. Half the lumens are lost inside the bezel when the light is cycled to spot mode. Output has no visible rings in any focusing setting. Very large and heavy for what it does... it's as heavy as my SC600 even though the lenslight runs on 1xCR123. Feels durable with heavy thick sidewalls. Does not tailstand, 2 brightness settings, no tailcap lockout. Forward clicky could easily turn on accidentally in pocket. Twist zoom mechanism deposits grease onto the telescoped portion of the light when zoomed to spot mode. This grease is unfortunately right where my hand to tends to land. Wiping it away doesn't help because each time the light is cycled, a fresh layer of grease is deposited.

LED Lenser P5: Cool white Cree emitter (not sure what kind. Maybe an XRE). Unique focusing system consisting of an engineered plastic lens that wraps around the LED. LED is not mounted on a conventional star. Instead the LED sits on a post that protrudes into the pocket in the lens. Total lumen output remains virtually constant regardless of whether the light is cycled in zoom or spot mount. Compared to the lenslight, the LED lenser feels very flimsy and cheaply built. Single mode direct drive with no driver. Not waterproof.

Of the 2, I actually think the Lenser P5 is a better light for what it does. The lenslight is too big and heavy, is not suitable for pocket EDC due to lack of tailcap lockout, has a really awful plastic clip, and makes a mess with its grease deposits whenever the zoom mechanism is cycled.

There are LOTS of inexpensive budget lights with aspheric zoom optics. The most popular of which is probably the Sipik SK68 and related clones. There aren't many high-end brands with zoomable optics: LED lenser, lenslight and Wolf Eyes are the only brands I can think of.

 

[rambo180]

There aren't many high-end brands with zoomable optics: LED lenser, lenslight and Wolf Eyes are the only brands I can think of.

Maglite should be in that list too. Most definatley!

 

[Fireclaw18]

Maglite should be in that list too. Most definatley!

I wouldn't consider maglite "high end" as their lights are quite inexpensive. Also only their incandescent lights have a viable focusing mechanism. Their LED lights use conventional stars and reflectors with a simple flat plastic lens.... nothing that would allow them to cycle between flood and zoom like a real optic.

 

[rambo180]

I wouldn't consider maglite "high end" as their lights are quite inexpensive. Also only their incandescent lights have a viable focusing mechanism. Their LED lights use conventional stars and reflectors with a simple flat plastic lens.... nothing that would allow them to cycle between flood and zoom like a real optic.

So you're saying the focus on LED mags isn't good when compared to traditional incan mags? I did not know that. I've only owned many incan mags.

 

[outdoormanZ]

1: no regulation :duh2:
2: poor quality
3: not water proof
4: and the price is how much???


pfft..!

Also other reasons why not popular in China:
1.advertisement is false,especial the website banner picture.
2.The drive current is not CC,output is not so stable.

 

[Fireclaw18]

So you're saying the focus on LED mags isn't good when compared to traditional incan mags? I did not know that. I've only owned many incan mags.

With an incan mag the light source is the filament of the light bulb. This emits light in every direction from a point source and is on a stalk (the stem of the light bulb) so can sit above a parabolic reflector. The light is focused by moving the reflector up and down which shifts the focal point of the reflector on and off the bulb's filament. Because the light source is raised above the base of the reflector the light can be cycled out of focus while still emitting virtually all of its light into the reflector.

With an LED mag, the light source is a square chip (the LED) that is mounted on a flat aluminum or copper plate (called a "star"). The reflector sits on top of the star. The light is emitted upwards from the square chip. Because the light source is not mounted on a stalk and because the star is blocking the reflector, it is not possible to retract the reflector behind the LED to take the light out of focus. The best an LED Mag can do as far as focus goes is very slightly adjusting the elevation of the reflector to raise it above the LED. This can only be done a tiny amount though because otherwise the LED would fall below the reflector and almost all the light would be lost. Net result is the focus is basically a joke.

Given how light is emitted from LEDs and how LEDs are usually mounted, the most economical way to make a zoomable LED light is vis an aspheric lens (the back of the lens is flat, but the front is curved and has a focal point). The aspheric lens is mounted on a sliding bezel. Extending it puts the lens' focal point on the LED and results in a focused in image of the chip and maximum throw, but a lot of light is absorbed into the side of the bezel and lost. When the bezel is retracted, the image unfocuses into flood mode and less light is lost into the bezel. The closer the lens can retract to the LED the wider the flood mode will be.

 

[SHTorch]

I currently own a V2 Model led lensor as my brightest torch. After reading through this forum I understand the shortcomings of this light and I am currently looking to upgrade to something for everyday carry. That being said I enjoyed reading this forum and learned a lot from it. I had no idea there was a difference in focusing incandescents and LEDs though it really makes sense. My V2 has no focusing capability and it only operates on one "high setting" of 95 lumens. I still like this light as it was a gift from my mom (she knows I love flashlights) and will probably keep it as a backup around the house.

 

[leon2245]

Actually the discussion IS pretty biased.
-When they say that most Led Lensers have have no regulation, they are talking about the OLD models.
-When they say that all the regulated Led Lensers have just high-med-blinky modes similar to the DX cheapies, they are lieing.
-Then they compare the optic material to reflector and lens materials.. like comparing apples to oranges.
-No support for Lithium-ion batteries? That's a lie too. Just choose a Led Lenser model that do support them, if that's what you want.
..and so on and so on.. I don't know why I even bother replying to these anymore..

I just checked on the LED Lenser website for their list of current models. I assumed that all lights...

Hahahaha LED Lenser is number one in Ukraine!