Lumapower M3-Transformer XR-E - Mini Review - Update: Lux measurements

[whc]

Just got my Lumapower M3-Transformer today, awsome little EDC flashlight.

Nice HAIII finish, no flaws. 2 tailcaps is included, one tacitcal and another 2-stage reverse clicky, nice I think.

As the name says, this little flashlight can "transform", meaning that it can use diffrent batteries with the included batteri tubes (1xCR123A, 1xAA, 2xAA) + it can use a tactically switch or reverse clicky.

A punch is included, that can not only hold the flashlight, but also a battery (2xCR123A, or 1xAA).

The beam of the M3 is very smooth of a XR-E based flashlight, it has an OP-Reflector, that really almost iliminates the dark ring issue (not total though).

Now to the pictures ...

From left: M1, LP-Mini, M3, L1D-CE, T5

And now to some beamshots, all flashlights is running on Li-Ion 1x3.7v battery, the beamshots is about 1m from the wall, all on high.

Left: Fenix L1D-CE, Right: Lumapower M3

Left: Fenix L1D-CE, Right: Lumapower M3, 2-Stops underexposed

Left: Lumapower LP-Mini, Right: Lumapower M3

Left: Lumapower LP-Mini, Right: Lumapower M3, 2-Stops underexposed

Left: Lumapower M1, Right: Lumapower M3

Left: Lumapower M1, Right: Lumapower M3, 2-Stops underexposed

Left: Amilite T5, Right: Lumapower M3

Left: Amilite T5, Right: Lumapower M3, 2-Stops underexposed

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Update: Beam shots with various batteries and in flood mode
Update: More beam shots on distance of 12-14m vs various flashlights

.---

Update: Here is the size of the M3 in numbers, and compared to other in its class:

Lumapower M3:
Length: CR123A body: 9.7cm, 1xAA body: 11.2cm, 2xAA body: 16.1cm
Diameter: Head: 2.2cm, Body: 2.2cm, Tailcap: 2.2cm

Fenix L1D-C:
Length: 9.6cm
Diameter: Head: 2.1cm, Body: 1.8-2.0cm, Tailcap: 2.0cm

Amilite T5:
Length: 9.2cm
Diameter: Head: 2.4cm, Body: 2.0cm, Tailcap: 2.0cm

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Update: Some runtime tests.

Runtime on High with AW's protected 3.7v high current 750mah RCR123A cell: 1hour 9min 56sec
Runtime on High with AW's protected 3.7v 750mah 14500 cell: 1hour 28min 59sec
Runtime on High with 1xAA Ni-Mh 2600mah cell:
2hour 25min 22sec to dead
After about 1hour 30min the flashlight dimmed to half brightness
From 1hour 3min to 2hours and more the flashlight was even more dim, but with useful light
After 2hours the flashlight quickly went dead and was very dim
Runtime on High with 2xAA Ni-Mh 2600mah cells:
3hour 22min 37sec to dead
After about 2hours the brightness dimmed to half
From 2hours to 3hours the flashlight was even more dim, but with useful light
Over 3hours the flashlight still produced some light, but quickly went dead

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Update: Some more beam shots comparing the M3 to L1D-CE on Ni-Mh

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Update: Here is some results of Overall Output in Lux:

Lumapower M3:
1xAA on high: 3640 Lux
2xAA on high: 4300 Lux
1x14500 on high: 5880 Lux
1xRCR123A on high: 4390 Lux

Now just to compare:

Amilite T5:
1xRCR123A 3.0v on high: 8340 Lux
1xRCR123A 3.7v on high: 10910 Lux
Lumapower M1:
1x18650 XR-E OP: 8140 Lux
2xRCR123A 3.7v XR-E OP: 8950 Lux
1x18650 SSC P4 OP: 5540 Lux
2xRCR123A 3.7v SSC P4 OP: 8230 Lux
Lumapower LP-Mini:
1xRCR123A 3.7v OP: 7810 Lux
Fenix L1D-CE:
1xAA on high: 3990 Lux
1x14500 on high: 8240 Lux
Led-Lenser Hokus Fokus:
3xAAA Ni-Mh: 4850 Lux
Ultrafire WF-500L:
2x18650 3.7v: 4660 Lux
Nuwai X-3:
2xAA Ni-Mh: 3020 Lux

 

[AFAustin]

Re: Lumapower M3-Transformer XR-E - Mini Review (with pictures and beamshots)

whc,

Very nice report and great photos. Thank you.

What are your impressions of the focusing feature?

Also, how do you like the UI---I believe it's Low/Med. or Low/High?

 

[whc]

Re: Lumapower M3-Transformer XR-E - Mini Review (with pictures and beamshots)

whc,

Very nice report and great photos. Thank you.

What are your impressions of the focusing feature?

Also, how do you like the UI---I believe it's Low/Med. or Low/High?

The focusing feature works great, nice flood, though I thing Lumapower have used a to small o-ring, the top part of the head "rattles" if flashlight is shaken in the flood mode.

The UI is perfect, like the Fenix L1T, loosen the head to get to low/medium mode, and tighten for high. It actually works with 3.7v Li-Ion battery . Personally I will use the tactically switch, don't really care for the 2-stage clicky, but when used it will go like this:

off->low->high/medium(if head is lossend)->off

The low will only work if the head is tightened, if loosened the flashlight goes off, so it is "only" a 3 mode UI. Only if you like very low is the 2-stage usable.

Will post some beam shots to see difference between high/medium/low, spot/flood and with various batteries later, my digicam's battery is in the charger right now .

 

[selfbuilt]

Re: Lumapower M3-Transformer XR-E - Mini Review (with pictures and beamshots)

Thanks for the review whc ... quick question, what batteries exactly are you running for the comparison shots? For the L1DCE vs M3, are they both on 14500 Li-ions? And I presume you are using the AW RCR shown for both the D-mini and T5 comparisons?

Thanks!

 

[luchs]

Re: Lumapower M3-Transformer XR-E - Mini Review (with pictures and beamshots)

hi whc,
what do you think about the colour of the led?
comparing it with the fenix (which is often a bit greenish).
do you think the L1D ce is brighter?? ( normaly only 3,OV??)

i'm very interested in the focus feature, perhaps you can take a photo showing the floody beam.

thanks a lot.

 

[Lobo]

Re: Lumapower M3-Transformer XR-E - Mini Review (with pictures and beamshots)

Very nice review, again. Thanks!
I like the fact that it looks quite thicker and a bit taller than then L1D, it must fit and feel excellent in your hands.
Just a couple of questions.

1. There are 2 pics of the M3 standing next to the L1D, and in one of them, the M3 is significantly taller? How come?

2. Could you post some comparative beamshots with the M3 on 1AA and 2AAs against the L1D?

 

[whc]

Re: Lumapower M3-Transformer XR-E - Mini Review (with pictures and beamshots)

Thanks for the review whc ... quick question, what batteries exactly are you running for the comparison shots? For the L1DCE vs M3, are they both on 14500 Li-ions? And I presume you are using the AW RCR shown for both the D-mini and T5 comparisons?

Thanks!

The both are running on 14500 in beams hots comparison (M3 vs. L1D-CE), else it is running on RCR123A.

LP-Mini uses AW's high current protected R123A, the T5 is running on Uniross protected lithium.

 

[whc]

Re: Lumapower M3-Transformer XR-E - Mini Review (with pictures and beamshots)

hi whc,
what do you think about the colour of the led?
comparing it with the fenix (which is often a bit greenish).
do you think the L1D ce is brighter?? ( normaly only 3,OV??)

i'm very interested in the focus feature, perhaps you can take a photo showing the floody beam.

thanks a lot.

The tint is very white on M3, I think maybe I have bean lucky with my L1D-CE, it is the whites of all my XR-E's

The L1D-CE is brighter, and has got a more "focus" hot spot due to the smooth reflector. The M3 will possibly have longer runtime, will make some runtime tests later.

Floody beam is coming up, my digicam's battery is in the charger at this moment.

 

[whc]

Re: Lumapower M3-Transformer XR-E - Mini Review (with pictures and beamshots)

Very nice review, again. Thanks!
I like the fact that it looks quite bigger and a bit taller than then L1D, it must fit and feel excellent in your hands.
Just a couple of questions.

1. There are 2 pics of the M3 standing next to the L1D, and in one of them, the M3 is significantly taller? How come?

2. Could you post some comparative beamshots with the M3 on 1AA and 2AAs against the L1D?

The M3 is good to hold in hand, though to big with the 2xAA battery tube I think.

The bigger M3 in the photos next to the L1D-CE is with the 1xAA battery tube, the smaller is with the CR123A battery tube.

More beam shots is coming ...

 

[Lobo]

Re: Lumapower M3-Transformer XR-E - Mini Review (with pictures and beamshots)

More beam shots is coming

...

Great!

 

[T4R06]

Re: Lumapower M3-Transformer XR-E - Mini Review (with pictures and beamshots)

whc,

hows the clicky? i hope its not hard to press like M1.
can you compare M3 to MKIIX running 14500

Thanks

 

[whc]

Re: Lumapower M3-Transformer XR-E - Mini Review (with pictures and beamshots)

The clicky is fine, not hard to press at all. Don't have the "MKIIX", sorry...

 

[whc]

Re: Lumapower M3-Transformer XR-E - Mini Review (with pictures and beamshots)

Some more beamshots, enjoy ...

Lumapower M3, 1xAA 1.2v Ni-Mh 2600mah, on Low

Lumapower M3, 1xAA 1.2v Ni-Mh 2600mah, on Low, 2-Stops Underexposed

Lumapower M3, 1xAA 1.2v Ni-Mh 2600mah, on Medium

Lumapower M3, 1xAA 1.2v Ni-Mh 2600mah, on Medium, 2-Stops Underexposed

Lumapower M3, 1xAA 1.2v Ni-Mh 2600mah, on High

Lumapower M3, 1xAA 1.2v Ni-Mh 2600mah, on High, 2-Stops Underexposed

Lumapower M3, 2xAA 1.2v Ni-Mh 2600mah, on Low

Lumapower M3, 2xAA 1.2v Ni-Mh 2600mah, on Low, 2-Stops Underexposed

Lumapower M3, 2xAA 1.2v Ni-Mh 2600mah, on Medium

Lumapower M3, 2xAA 1.2v Ni-Mh 2600mah, on Medium, 2-Stops Underexposed

Lumapower M3, 2xAA 1.2v Ni-Mh 2600mah, on High

Lumapower M3, 2xAA 1.2v Ni-Mh 2600mah, on High, 2-Stops Underexposed

Lumapower M3, 1xRCR123A 3.7v Protected Li-ion 750mah, on Low

Lumapower M3, 1xRCR123A 3.7v Protected Li-ion 750mah, on Low, 2-Stops Underexposed

Lumapower M3, 1xRCR123A 3.7v Protected Li-ion 750mah, on Medium

Lumapower M3, 1xRCR123A 3.7v Protected Li-ion 750mah, on Medium, 2-Stops Underexposed

Lumapower M3, 1xRCR123A 3.7v Protected Li-ion 750mah, on High

Lumapower M3, 1xRCR123A 3.7v Protected Li-ion 750mah, on High, 2-Stops Underexposed

Lumapower M3 in Flood Mode, 1xRCR123A 3.7v Protected Li-ion 750mah, on High

Lumapower M3 in Flood Mode, 1xRCR123A 3.7v Protected Li-ion 750mah, on High, 2-Stops Underexposed

 

[luchs]

Re: Lumapower M3-Transformer XR-E - Mini Review (with pictures and beamshots)

wow, i like that flood mode. very usefull!!!
great pictures, thank you!!!


a newbie-question: what does 2-stops underexposed mean???

did you get it from ricky directly?

 

[whc]

Re: Lumapower M3-Transformer XR-E - Mini Review (with pictures and beamshots)

wow, i like that flood mode. very usefull!!!
great pictures, thank you!!!


a newbie-question: what does 2-stops underexposed mean???

did you get it from ricky directly?

2-Stop underexposed, means that the picture is underexposed by two stops .

Yes got it directly from Ricky, paid extra for speed post, was shipped on Saturday, and got it today on Monday, now that is fast ...

 

[luchs]

Re: Lumapower M3-Transformer XR-E - Mini Review (with pictures and beamshots)

  2-Stop underexposed, means that the picture is underexposed by two stops :D.

:thinking: AAAHHAA!! :thinking:





:duck:

 

[lumapower]

Re: Lumapower M3-Transformer XR-E - Mini Review (with pictures and beamshots)

Hi whc,

Great photos and comparision.
Very good job.

Thanks.

Ricky - Lumapower Team

 

[BMRSEB]

Re: Lumapower M3-Transformer XR-E - Mini Review (with pictures and beamshots)

Great pics whc!! Looks like I seriously need to look at this light.. Although, it seems ALL LumaPower lights need looking at.. Poor wallet!

The RCR123 on high seems to be the brightest of all the battery options? And as was said before, very nice flood..

WHC, could you post some outside pics, in other words, non-whitewall shots? Curious to see throw and flood real world shots..

 

[lightbug]

Re: Lumapower M3-Transformer XR-E - Mini Review (with pictures and beamshots)

Wonderful looking shots, thank you very much.

 

[Perfectionist]

Re: Lumapower M3-Transformer XR-E - Mini Review (with pictures and beamshots)

The M3 with AA body looks GIGANTIC compared to the L1 !! Dang it !!

I know it must feel better in the hand and be more sturdy ..... but for EDC it has to be small !!:touche:

It'e even bigger than an L1 with the CR123 body !! WTF !!