brightnorm
Flashaholic
- Joined
- Oct 13, 2001
- Messages
- 7,161
"Illegal" real-life test: Lumapower MRV & D-Mini,"Seoul-Mated" HDS 60,"Turbo" P3D-CE
I wanted to compare these lights in a natural setting, far from artificial illumination. Unfortunately (from a Flashaholic's point of view), I live in a big city which runs 24/7, and the only place to do this was in a park at night. It's illegal to be in there after dark and it is potentially dangerous, especially for a lone Flashaholic engaged in thoroughly nerd-like activities.
This is not a formal test, but rather my subjective impressions, performed hastily under conditions where I admit I felt anxious, even fearful for my physical safety. I am not comparing these lights in order to say which is "better". For more information about the "Turbocharged" P3D-CE see here:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=166050
Lumapower MRV on High: This beautifully made relatively small beast may be the ultimate LED thrower at this time. It projected a very bright focused beam FAR into the fairly distant trees. However, the beam was very small, even tiny. Impressive as it was, I didn't see it as a practical light for my personal use. (Please remember that these are personal opinions, not "judgments", and I'm sure that others will find this light perfect for their needs)
Lumapower D-Mini (using PILA 600P in Peu's 18650 tube):
This light threw well into the middle-far distance; its beam had more than enough penetration to be considered a real thrower (perhaps the furthest throwing of any light in its original size class). In addition to being an excellent scouting or spotting light, when held fairly horizontally at waist level it provided enough spread to illuminate a path, though with somewhat of a "light tunnel" effect.
I don't recall if the D-Mini is running at 500Ma or 750, but I wanted it to be just a bit brighter. With Peu's tube providing enough energy for it to lose only 15% of brightness in 3 hours, perhaps it could be pushed a little harder and still maintain a reasonable runtime.
"Turbo-Charged" P3D-CE. If you followed the above link you will have gotten an idea of this little wonder's capabilities. However, it is by far the least practical light in this group because to run it for longer than brief periods would most likely result in a fried LED or an extremely unwelcome "event". In terms of beam shape and spread this light produces as good a "typical" Cree beam as we are commonly see with Fenix and other lights with small diameter bezels. However, it is pumping out so many lumens that it seems like a little searchlight with spread. Simply put, it is to a Cree as a Cree is to a Luxeon.
"SeoulMated" HDS 60 This is one of a pair of HDS 60's that Milkyspit modded for me. It produces a marvelous flood of very bright light, yet is powerful enough to project to the near-middle distance. For sheer walking pleasure and security I have yet to find a better light.
I will rely on suburban and rural Flashaholics to put these lights (excluding the Turbo-P3D) through real comparison tests
Brightnorm
I wanted to compare these lights in a natural setting, far from artificial illumination. Unfortunately (from a Flashaholic's point of view), I live in a big city which runs 24/7, and the only place to do this was in a park at night. It's illegal to be in there after dark and it is potentially dangerous, especially for a lone Flashaholic engaged in thoroughly nerd-like activities.
This is not a formal test, but rather my subjective impressions, performed hastily under conditions where I admit I felt anxious, even fearful for my physical safety. I am not comparing these lights in order to say which is "better". For more information about the "Turbocharged" P3D-CE see here:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=166050
Lumapower MRV on High: This beautifully made relatively small beast may be the ultimate LED thrower at this time. It projected a very bright focused beam FAR into the fairly distant trees. However, the beam was very small, even tiny. Impressive as it was, I didn't see it as a practical light for my personal use. (Please remember that these are personal opinions, not "judgments", and I'm sure that others will find this light perfect for their needs)
Lumapower D-Mini (using PILA 600P in Peu's 18650 tube):
This light threw well into the middle-far distance; its beam had more than enough penetration to be considered a real thrower (perhaps the furthest throwing of any light in its original size class). In addition to being an excellent scouting or spotting light, when held fairly horizontally at waist level it provided enough spread to illuminate a path, though with somewhat of a "light tunnel" effect.
I don't recall if the D-Mini is running at 500Ma or 750, but I wanted it to be just a bit brighter. With Peu's tube providing enough energy for it to lose only 15% of brightness in 3 hours, perhaps it could be pushed a little harder and still maintain a reasonable runtime.
"Turbo-Charged" P3D-CE. If you followed the above link you will have gotten an idea of this little wonder's capabilities. However, it is by far the least practical light in this group because to run it for longer than brief periods would most likely result in a fried LED or an extremely unwelcome "event". In terms of beam shape and spread this light produces as good a "typical" Cree beam as we are commonly see with Fenix and other lights with small diameter bezels. However, it is pumping out so many lumens that it seems like a little searchlight with spread. Simply put, it is to a Cree as a Cree is to a Luxeon.
"SeoulMated" HDS 60 This is one of a pair of HDS 60's that Milkyspit modded for me. It produces a marvelous flood of very bright light, yet is powerful enough to project to the near-middle distance. For sheer walking pleasure and security I have yet to find a better light.
I will rely on suburban and rural Flashaholics to put these lights (excluding the Turbo-P3D) through real comparison tests
Brightnorm
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