WadeF
Flashlight Enthusiast
Today I stopped by the post office to inquire if they had a package for me. The postman checked around and didn't see anything, so I left. I was in my car when he ran out with a package, he found it!
Inside the shipping box I found a familiar Dereelight black box, which has a neat flip top lid that magnets shut. Inside the DBS, an optional OP reflector, and spare parts (o-rings, tail-stand rubber tail cap, and even a spare switch). I also had received a spare 3-stage module for my CL1H.
Here is the box:
Here is a picture of everything but the spare module:
Ther first thing I did was pop in a fully charge AW protected 18650 and fire it up. Nice tight and very bright hot spot! I grabbed my Sekonic 408 meter and took an EV reading at 1 meter, at ISO 100, 13.4! I was hoping for an EV over 13, as Sekonic's chart shows 13 as being 20,480 LUX! 13.5 EV would be 28,900 LUX, so the DBS was in the 27,000 neighborhood, just as Dereelight claimed! I will do further readings when I receive a LUX meter from DX, hope it's fairly accurate.
Here's Sekonic's chart for reference: http://www.sekonic.com/support/support_2.asp
Now I was anxious for night fall so I could try this outside! I drove out to the state park, to the big lake, where it's about as dark as I can find around my area. I haven't been able to verify the distance too well since Google Earth doesn't have a very clear shot of the lake. However, I think I found where I was and the distance is around 600 feet. I took an exposure at ISO 100, daylight white balance, 10 seconds, and f2.8. The beam and spot are a bit brighter than they were to the eye. Unfortunately I don't have another thrower, like an MRV, Tiablo, etc, to compare, but I did compare to my Dereelight CL1H.
DBS 3-stage Q4 on MAX, click any of the photos for a high res version:
Dereelight CL1H v2.0 same 3-stage Q4 module on MAX:
I plan on trying to get more real world beam shots later. Now, some white wall beam shots for the white wall hunters. All shots at 1 meter, ISO 100, 1/20th, f2.8, daylight WB, unless specified otherwise.
DBS 3-Stage SMO MAX:
DBS 3-Stage SMO MEDIUM:
DBS 3-Stage SMO LOW:
Smooth reflector has plenty of rings, but a killer hot spot that really throws! Next I put in the orange peel reflector, and I was impressed!
DBS 3-Stage OP MAX:
DBS 3-Stage OP MEDIUM:
DBS 3-Stage OP LOW:
Okay, now for some pictures of the light itself, individual parts, etc!
The DBS:
DBS compared to CL1H v2.0:
OP installed:
Here is the DBS dissasembled. Notice how there are double o-ring seals one each connecting part. The o-rings are more substantial than those found on the CL1H v2.0, but I hear the CL1H v3.0 will have more substantial o-rings as well. There is a single o-ring where the reflector meets the front glass lens.
Close up of bezel with reflector and module installed. All 3 pieces come apart:
Other half of the head that the reflector drops into and the bezel screws onto:
Inside of bezel, a single o-ring is between the glass and the front lip of the bezel. The o-ring is a bit smaller than the recessed area it should lay in and I had some problems when it came out when I was changing reflectors. I found a trick though, just lay it in the best you can, put the glass over it carefully, then screw the reflector in until there is slight pressure from the glass pressing against the o-ring. You then run a finger nail, or whatever, around and push the o-ring into the recess, increasing pressure on the glass by screwing the reflector in more if needed, and it quickly falls into place and you can proceed to tighten down the reflector to press the glass firmly against the o-ring. It's a nice thick piece of glass, I need to try to get a better shot of just the glass lens sometime, the shots I took were blurry and I didn't notice at the time I was taking them:
Side view of bezel:
Why not, blurry shot of the glass, you can kinda get the idea:
The battery tube / body tube, notice double o-rings on each end, nice thick threads:
Inside of tailcap, haven't cleaned anything yet:
Rear view of tailcap showing GITD tail switch cover. There is also a lower profile black tail switch cover that will allow the DBS to tail stand:
Side view of tailcap:
Spare parts, o-rings, low profile tail switch cover, and spare tail switch:
Here is a close up shot, a bit over exposed, of the 3-Stage Q4 module:
The 3-stage module offers HIGH, MEDIUM, and LOW. It was designed to offer very flat regulation. Unlike other lights I have, this module goes in order HIGH, MEDIUM, LOW, HIGH, MEDIUM, LOW, etc. Rather than LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH. The DBS, like the CL1H, has a forward clicky, so you can have momentary on, or fully press to lock on. To select modes you push forward and release in under 1 second and when you get the mode you want you either hold for 1 second, or lock it on. The module will remember the last mode you used and return to it when you turn the flashlight back on. I like this set up, and it's nice having a true forward clicky switch, like a Maglite.
Here is a rear view of the module:
The great thing about the DBS, and the CL1H, is these modules are interchangable. Dereelight offers a 2-stage Q2, a 5-stage Q2, and the new 3-stage Q4 modules. If using a 2-stage HIGH/LOW module in the DBS it works just like the CL1H by twisting the body and head to switch from LOW to HIGH. So if you want a tactical style set up you can lock the light on HIGH and use the forward clicky to signal since it acts like a momentary on if you don't press all the way and lock it on with a click. The 5-stage Q2 has LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH, STROBE, and SOS.
The 3-stage offers the most output with the Q4.
Here is a shot of the OP and SMO reflectors:
Shot of the SMO reflector:
Shot of the OP reflector:
DBS with SMO installed:
My overall impression of the light so far is excellent. Like I said I wish I had a Tiablo A9S Q5 WC to compare it too, but it sounds like from the LUX readings it should out throw the Tiablo! Dereelight has another great light for anyone who wants more throw.
For ordering information you can check out http://www.dereelight.com
Or their topic on CPF Marketplace:
http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=169676
There is a run time graph of the 3-stage module there.
Alan from Dereelight is great to deal with and I have ordered directly from him twice now. I believe Lighthound.com also carries Dereelight products if you are looking for a US based dealer.
I can't wait to use this light more out doors. It's a BLAST. I'm also impressed at the size since it isn't a whole lot larger than the CL1H. Easy to carry in larger pocket, and I even just put it in my left front jeans pocket with easy. I can feel it in there, but it isn't bad. It also comes with a lanyard.
If anyone has any questions or wants me to provide more details about whatever, just let me know. Hope everyone enjoyed the pictures, I'm going to go pass out now.
Inside the shipping box I found a familiar Dereelight black box, which has a neat flip top lid that magnets shut. Inside the DBS, an optional OP reflector, and spare parts (o-rings, tail-stand rubber tail cap, and even a spare switch). I also had received a spare 3-stage module for my CL1H.
Here is the box:
Here is a picture of everything but the spare module:
Ther first thing I did was pop in a fully charge AW protected 18650 and fire it up. Nice tight and very bright hot spot! I grabbed my Sekonic 408 meter and took an EV reading at 1 meter, at ISO 100, 13.4! I was hoping for an EV over 13, as Sekonic's chart shows 13 as being 20,480 LUX! 13.5 EV would be 28,900 LUX, so the DBS was in the 27,000 neighborhood, just as Dereelight claimed! I will do further readings when I receive a LUX meter from DX, hope it's fairly accurate.
Here's Sekonic's chart for reference: http://www.sekonic.com/support/support_2.asp
Now I was anxious for night fall so I could try this outside! I drove out to the state park, to the big lake, where it's about as dark as I can find around my area. I haven't been able to verify the distance too well since Google Earth doesn't have a very clear shot of the lake. However, I think I found where I was and the distance is around 600 feet. I took an exposure at ISO 100, daylight white balance, 10 seconds, and f2.8. The beam and spot are a bit brighter than they were to the eye. Unfortunately I don't have another thrower, like an MRV, Tiablo, etc, to compare, but I did compare to my Dereelight CL1H.
DBS 3-stage Q4 on MAX, click any of the photos for a high res version:
Dereelight CL1H v2.0 same 3-stage Q4 module on MAX:
I plan on trying to get more real world beam shots later. Now, some white wall beam shots for the white wall hunters.
All shots at 1 meter, ISO 100, 1/20th, f2.8, daylight WB, unless specified otherwise.DBS 3-Stage SMO MAX:
DBS 3-Stage SMO MEDIUM:
DBS 3-Stage SMO LOW:
Smooth reflector has plenty of rings, but a killer hot spot that really throws! Next I put in the orange peel reflector, and I was impressed!
DBS 3-Stage OP MAX:
DBS 3-Stage OP MEDIUM:
DBS 3-Stage OP LOW:
Okay, now for some pictures of the light itself, individual parts, etc!
The DBS:
DBS compared to CL1H v2.0:
OP installed:
Here is the DBS dissasembled. Notice how there are double o-ring seals one each connecting part. The o-rings are more substantial than those found on the CL1H v2.0, but I hear the CL1H v3.0 will have more substantial o-rings as well. There is a single o-ring where the reflector meets the front glass lens.
Close up of bezel with reflector and module installed. All 3 pieces come apart:
Other half of the head that the reflector drops into and the bezel screws onto:
Inside of bezel, a single o-ring is between the glass and the front lip of the bezel. The o-ring is a bit smaller than the recessed area it should lay in and I had some problems when it came out when I was changing reflectors. I found a trick though, just lay it in the best you can, put the glass over it carefully, then screw the reflector in until there is slight pressure from the glass pressing against the o-ring. You then run a finger nail, or whatever, around and push the o-ring into the recess, increasing pressure on the glass by screwing the reflector in more if needed, and it quickly falls into place and you can proceed to tighten down the reflector to press the glass firmly against the o-ring. It's a nice thick piece of glass, I need to try to get a better shot of just the glass lens sometime, the shots I took were blurry and I didn't notice at the time I was taking them:
Side view of bezel:
Why not, blurry shot of the glass, you can kinda get the idea:
The battery tube / body tube, notice double o-rings on each end, nice thick threads:
Inside of tailcap, haven't cleaned anything yet:
Rear view of tailcap showing GITD tail switch cover. There is also a lower profile black tail switch cover that will allow the DBS to tail stand:
Side view of tailcap:
Spare parts, o-rings, low profile tail switch cover, and spare tail switch:
Here is a close up shot, a bit over exposed, of the 3-Stage Q4 module:
The 3-stage module offers HIGH, MEDIUM, and LOW. It was designed to offer very flat regulation. Unlike other lights I have, this module goes in order HIGH, MEDIUM, LOW, HIGH, MEDIUM, LOW, etc. Rather than LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH. The DBS, like the CL1H, has a forward clicky, so you can have momentary on, or fully press to lock on. To select modes you push forward and release in under 1 second and when you get the mode you want you either hold for 1 second, or lock it on. The module will remember the last mode you used and return to it when you turn the flashlight back on. I like this set up, and it's nice having a true forward clicky switch, like a Maglite.
Here is a rear view of the module:
The great thing about the DBS, and the CL1H, is these modules are interchangable. Dereelight offers a 2-stage Q2, a 5-stage Q2, and the new 3-stage Q4 modules. If using a 2-stage HIGH/LOW module in the DBS it works just like the CL1H by twisting the body and head to switch from LOW to HIGH. So if you want a tactical style set up you can lock the light on HIGH and use the forward clicky to signal since it acts like a momentary on if you don't press all the way and lock it on with a click. The 5-stage Q2 has LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH, STROBE, and SOS.
The 3-stage offers the most output with the Q4.
Here is a shot of the OP and SMO reflectors:
Shot of the SMO reflector:
Shot of the OP reflector:
DBS with SMO installed:
My overall impression of the light so far is excellent. Like I said I wish I had a Tiablo A9S Q5 WC to compare it too, but it sounds like from the LUX readings it should out throw the Tiablo! Dereelight has another great light for anyone who wants more throw.
For ordering information you can check out http://www.dereelight.com
Or their topic on CPF Marketplace:
http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=169676
There is a run time graph of the 3-stage module there.
Alan from Dereelight is great to deal with and I have ordered directly from him twice now. I believe Lighthound.com also carries Dereelight products if you are looking for a US based dealer.
I can't wait to use this light more out doors. It's a BLAST.
I'm also impressed at the size since it isn't a whole lot larger than the CL1H. Easy to carry in larger pocket, and I even just put it in my left front jeans pocket with easy. I can feel it in there, but it isn't bad. It also comes with a lanyard. If anyone has any questions or wants me to provide more details about whatever, just let me know. Hope everyone enjoyed the pictures, I'm going to go pass out now.
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Ok, I'll hop on a plane Wade. Damn, I forgot, we'll have to wait for my smooth reflector to arrive though. The DBS looks awesome!
