A LED reason that I won't buy an E2

[Bushman]

A LED reason that I won\'t buy an E2

I have been thinking about getting an E2 but then I go to craigs site and look at the prometric on the lambda illuminator vs E2. Not much difference.
Then I put lithium AA's in the lambda, I bet it is now just as bright and with the higher color temp. Would be percieved as brighter.

Lithium AA's retail are 7.99 for 2 cells
Lithium 123's retail are 10.99 for 2 cells

Runtime is what 75 minutes for the E2
and 2hrs for the lambda

Now I have a photon 2 brightness led mod for the E2 and would give about photon brightness for a forever run time but why?

All things considered, I think i will stick with the illuminator for EDC.

I know it is not hard anodized,etc but it works well for me.

Can anyone give me reason to change my mind?
Does any one have an E2 and Lambda illuminator to compare side by side?
thanks.
P.S. this is not a surefire slam, I really like thier lights, but not for my use.

 

[Darell]

Re: A LED reason that I won\'t buy an E2

I have an LI and an E2 and an E2e. After reading all the reviews, I too thought (and hoped) that there would be very little difference in light output between the LI and the E2. Up close and personal, the LI is all the light you need, and there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of difference in output between it and an E2. But a good naked eye comparison is difficult because of the tint differences and the focus of the beams. Now take the lights outside, and try to light up a dark corner of the yard 40' away. When I used the LI in this manner for the first time I was very impressed with how well it did. Certainly it is my brightest LED light. But I then fired up an E2. Whoa. Big difference. The LI would light it up and let me distinguish shapes, but the E2 chased all the darkness away.

So, the LI is a fantastic light in all ways, but the E2 will trounce it at any sort of distance. I don't think it'll be long before we have some solid-state lighting that'll overtake the E2. At least that's what I keep hoping. I really don't like having to carry "spares" everywhere.

 

[Bushman]

Re: A LED reason that I won\'t buy an E2

thanks darell i knew that you would jump in there and yet again, give me reason to buy,buy,buy! I think that the optimal collimator for the luxeons lies somewhere in the great unknown and is probably a reflectorized/collimator.

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Re: A LED reason that I won\'t buy an E2

Hi guys,

I think I am going to swear off LEDs for a while until one of them gets as bright as a 2x123 SureFire at least (yeah, swear off, right). But actually I am not sure it will take that long. If something like Lambda's Hydra output is squeezed through a reflectorized collimator as Bushman said, I really think SureFire and the others will have to watch out, or climb on board (which I know SureFire is in the stages of doing now).

Don't know where I was going with this, just felt like typing while having my wake-up coffee.

 

[Darkstar]

Re: A LED reason that I won\'t buy an E2

Hi all.This is my first post although I've been enjoying the forum for some time now.
First of all I just received my LI yesterday and it is everything it was claimed to be.Kudos to Lambda.I also ordered on Monday an SFe2e from Texas Tactical http://www1.ecxmall.com/stores/texastacticalsupply/StoreFront.bok They are priced about the same as everyone else but are including a free set of CR123's.Needless to say I am anxiously awaiting my package.I also placed an order for a few items from everybodies favorite place, Botach.Included in this order are 20 CR123's, which are currently $29 less 15% thru Mem Day(?).I just received an email from them regarding a Smith & Wesson Magnum Force Flashlight which on the surface appears to be a very good deal.I am skeptical about the spec's, 80 lumens for 1 hour using 2 CR123's but it still piqued my
interest.Anyone familiar with this torch?

 

[Darell]

Re: A LED reason that I won\'t buy an E2

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by MR Bulk™:
I think I am going to swear off LEDs for a while until one of them gets as bright as a 2x123 SureFire at least<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Ha! Here I keep saying that I'm going to "swear off" incandescents until they're regulated and the bulbs don't break.

There is definitely a case to be made for both types of lights (And obviously I have an investment in both technologies). Until, that is, the LED catches up to the incandescents' output potential. Look how far the LED has come in the last few years as compared the the incandescent industry. Yahoo! IT is sort of like comparing the computer industry to the automotive industry.
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Bushman:
thanks darell i knew that you would jump in there and yet again, give me reason to buy,buy,buy!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>I'm here for *you* Mike!

 

[cave dave]

Re: A LED reason that I won\'t buy an E2

Sorry my E2e trounces my LI. Looks like you'll have to buy that E2 after all. You could also get a brinkmann LX if you want to see what the difference would be.

No knock on the LI though because its just great. 2hrs on < $1 worth of batterys. And almost as much run and light on NiMh. So you can't beat that light per dollar equation.

So here's my set up:
Arc AAA: when I need a little light
Opalec: when I need some more
Lambda Illuminator: when i need a bunch
E2e: When I need a LOT of light.

 

[WarrenI]

Re: A LED reason that I won\'t buy an E2

darell; You make a good point. Your description of the light at the 40' outdoors test is what I have noticed. LEDs are great for close quarter use. In most lighting situations under 5', my ARC-AAA does very well. For under 25', my Inova X-5 works well. For under 40' outdoors, my LightWave 4000 produces. Everything over this and especially outdoor use, IMHO, you need to go with incandescent varieties...

As a case in point, when I got my LW4000, I used this as a primary night hike light. It worked well, but I still could not define anything really clear beyond 75'. Not too good a call if some wild animal was lurking at about 100'. I now have retired the LW4000 as a backup hike light, with my PT Surge as the primary. At least I can see very brightly and clearly to about 200', with fall-off somewhere after 300'...

MR Bulk; I hear you and I too, are hold off on any new LED and LS lights. While some advancements are being made, the end results do not produce a sizable improvement in the reach of the light beam. Just slightly disappointed, but I'll wait to see what happens...

 

[Darell]

Re: A LED reason that I won\'t buy an E2

When I see how far LEDs have come in just a few short years, I'm more excited than ever. If they improve at this rate for another three years, we won't be seeing incandescents much longer...

I still have trouble convincing people that my Arc AAAs are LEDs. Most people consider LEDs as indicator lights still... Look at THIS indicator, buddy!

 

[BuddTX]

Re: A LED reason that I won\'t buy an E2

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by darell:
I have an LI and an E2 and an E2e. After reading all the reviews, I too thought (and hoped) that there would be very little difference in light output between the LI and the E2. Up close and personal, the LI is all the light you need, and there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of difference in output between it and an E2. But a good naked eye comparison is difficult because of the tint differences and the focus of the beams. Now take the lights outside, and try to light up a dark corner of the yard 40' away. When I used the LI in this manner for the first time I was very impressed with how well it did. Certainly it is my brightest LED light. But I then fired up an E2. Whoa. Big difference. The LI would light it up and let me distinguish shapes, but the E2 chased all the darkness away.

So, the LI is a fantastic light in all ways, but the E2 will trounce it at any sort of distance. I don't think it'll be long before we have some solid-state lighting that'll overtake the E2. At least that's what I keep hoping. I really don't like having to carry "spares" everywhere.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

What Darell said goes double for me!

I think that LED lights, even the really bright ones, complement the SureFire's and Surge's and Legend LX's of the world!

When I walk my dog in the dirt roads in back of my house, I have a LED (or two) light either in my hand or mounted to my belt for illumination for 0-50 feet around me, and the Legend LX to piercing 300 feet down the road.

Both are great at what they do!

 

[axolotls]

Re: A LED reason that I won\'t buy an E2

The LED for the E2 was great because after the E2 spits out the lithiums (they still have enough charge to run the LED for a long time). I still have a drawer full of lithiums that would run the LED all night long (and currently have nothing except a camera that I can finish them off with).

 

[Quickbeam]

Re: A LED reason that I won\'t buy an E2

...which is why I can't wait for the Aviator A2 from Surefire - Imagine an Opalec and an E2 in one light...

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by axolotls:
The LED for the E2 was great because after the E2 spits out the lithiums (they still have enough charge to run the LED for a long time). I still have a drawer full of lithiums that would run the LED all night long (and currently have nothing except a camera that I can finish them off with).<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>