Hi,
Requirement:
1. Run on AA or 14500.
2. Small size.
3. Long run, 60+ min on 14500
4. Aim 30$, however I'm not sure if its reasonable. If non to find i'll raise the bar.
Thanks!
Hi,
my only personal experiences with single AA LED lights so far are with the Zebralight SC52 and the Eagletac D25A (Ti XP-G2 + standard Nichia 219).
Even though the SC52 is not in your price range, I'd still recommend it to anyone looking for a nice single AA:
+ VERY compact, not noticable as an EDC when clipped inside your front pocket
+ When you played with the UI a bit/learned the navigational pathways, it's easy to use and allows for quick, single hand arrival at the desired setting using one hand/button only.
(Button placement is, of course, personal preference, but I like to hold the light "casually" (compared to tactical) so the button is right where it should be.)
+ Is VERY bright on 14500. Used them for at least a year now, runtime is shorter than 2500 NimH naturally, that's why I went for the SC62
(Still keep my SC52 of course)
+ Quick selfcheck of the internal electronics when tightening the tailcap (short flash) to ensure no inside short present (nice to know, I use unprotected IMRs in all my lights
)
+ Quick turn (~5mm) of the tailcap locks out the light physically
+ Very low lumen setting possible (0.01 lumen) which is nice in the middle of the night/when your eyes are most sensitive to darkness.
+ 4 quick clicks = battery capacity check
+ I think the beam characteristics are well balanced, still some spot, still enough spill
+ due to the machined casing from one solid piece of aluminum = robust feel. Also survived all accidental drops yet
~ 1 year warranty
~ not a great performer with alkaline (but which light is, really?)
~ not sure if flat top cells are working (although I read it does, here:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?364150 )
~ if tint/light color is of high importance to you, you might want to lean more towards their neutral white XM-L2 offer (my current XM-L2 CW has the most "greenish" tint of all my lights but, of course, only actually discernible in direct comparison with other lights. If you want most brightness at night: get the CW)
~ configuring the alternative modes, like the 0.01 lumen moonlight, is a bit "hectic"
it needs 6 double clicks to get into the programmable part and continued double clicks change the alternative mode setting. With the different moonlight modes you might only realize "where you are" in the programming maybe after the 10th double click
When the right one is set you just stop clicking, thankfully
You only set those once, usually anway.
- Seems it has NO reverse polarity protection! (never an issue here, I only use button top AAs/14500s)
- Not much chance of fixing stuff, like a broken lens (bezel tightly pressed into the head) or if you have a stuck protected cell inside (no way of getting to the cell from the other side/nothing to "unscrew" except the tailcap. The light is one solid piece of aluminum. I managed to get a cell unstuck but it was a drama
)
- very sharp corners at the clip mount if used without clip (overall the clip is very smooth when joined with the lamp, so, no issue if you leave the clip attached, of course)
- not widely available (but worth it!)
Have to say I was dissapointed with this years D25A lights (mainly less bright than expected (even on 14500s) but most importantly an annoying blueish halo based on suboptimal refraction and their coating, I believe).
But don't get me wrong: still an "ET" fan
TL;DR:
+1 for the SC52
