Gary123
Enlightened
Rex2 v JB MK.IIX v L1D v UFire C3 v Huntlight M3
This posting is primarily a review of a bunch of popular 1 x AA format flashlights, with a few other known lights thrown in. Note about the Rexlight2: the piece tested here is a dark medium grey color, lighter than the JetBeam. If you have the black Rexlight2 and think it is the same or different from the one I describe, please pipe in. I'd like to get some feedback on the black Rexlight. I'd also like to know what other 1 x AA lights you would like reviewed. I have a couple more I could add in here, like the CL-E and an $18 light from DE that is 2 stage but 14500 only, and I have the new Dexlight coming (MK.II knockoff).
Build: Reflectors are OP for the Rex, JetBeam, Huntlight and C3, and smooth for the Fenix. Fit and finish is highest for the Huntlight. The Rex, JetBeam, Fenix and Ultrafire are all comparable. After the Huntlight, the Fenix is the heaviest and largest of the bunch. Weight: Huntlight @ 3.2 oz, Fenix @ 2.5, Ultrafire C3 @ 2.2, Rex @ 2.1, and JetBeam MK.IIX @ 1.9. The JB was clearly the lightest, and also a little smaller than the rest (except the C3 is slightly smaller) and might pass the men's front dress pocket test. By comparison, the M3 (in 1 x AA format) is huge. But it's overbuilt like a tank and fit and finish may be the best of the group. It's also beautiful in the hand with its heftiness and rugged, smooth lines and probably has the longest runtimes. You can also pick your battery configuration for the M3 (1 x AA, 2 x AA, or 1 x 123) but don't run two rechargeable Lithium Ions.
User Interface (UI)
The M3 and L1D are very simple to use. The Rexlight turns on to your last setting. The M3 is click low, click high, click off (with the two stage clickie). Very easy for one hand. The regular tailswitch is momentary and screws down to turn the light on. When on high, the body just below head can be unscrewed ¼ of a turn to reduce output about 50% for medium. This takes two hands. The Rexlight turns on to whatever light level or other mode you last used. Alternatively you can select the start mode by cycling through the modes and turning off just before the target mode, like with a flupic. Next time turned on, the light will turn on to the target mode. The L1D is also very nice. It always turns on in low and you tap the switch to toggle to medium to high to SOS. Very intuitive. Screw the head down for turbo and the light always starts on high, and you toggle between high and strobe. The JetBeam has an unusual UI. In normal mode it always starts at medium, and you tap the switch to togggle to low, high, strobe and intermittent pulsing. This is simple, tho I would prefer to start in low. Turn the light off in low to get to advanced mode which offers 9 output levels and 5 pulsing modes. In advanced mode the light always starts in high (as long as it has been off for at least 2 seconds), which is brighter than normal high. In advanced mode it is very quick to get to the highest and lowest output levels. High, just turn it on. Low, turn the light on followed by two quick taps. It is easy to do this quickly enough to preserve night vision because the quick taps prevent the light from reaching full brightness. Once in low, you gradually increase brightness by toggling the reverse clickie, nine levels of light followed by 4 different pulsing modes, then full high, strobe and back again to low. Very quick to get to full high and low, cumbersome to the get to some of the flashing modes. You exit advanced mode by turning it off from either the low output strobe mode (easy to locate) or the highest level of constant light in the sequence beginning with low (just look for the low output strobe, its much easier). The C3 is a one stage light.
Beam Comments
Beams on the Rexlight2, JetBeamMK.IIX and M3 are very similar. The beams for the $18 UltraFire C3 and the L1D are similar with very noticeable Cree Rings. Tint, the JetBeam is very pure white, Rex is slightly warmer, the C3 is slightly purple and the Fenix a little yellow. One M3 is white as the JetBeam, another M3 is more yellow than the Fenix. Cree rings do not exist on either the JetBeam the Rex and the Huntlight. The L1D and the C3 have conspicuous Cree rings. PWM is very similar between the Rex and JetBeam, not noticeable on either when walking around. On low, the Rex is a little slower pulsed than the JetBeam, but the Jet is also a little dimmer. The others have no PWM: The L1D is electronically dimmed, the M3 uses a resistor in the clickie for low and constant current regulation for medium. Walking, the beams of the RexLight and the M3 were the most pleasant for walking around with. The illumination seems more even, the center spot doesn't jump out at you as much as the others.
Methodology to estimate Lumens
To estimate lumens, I used three known lights as benchmarks that I compared to the test lights at short and long distances, comparing size and brightness of both spot and coronas. Each test light is compared against each benchmark light to estimate lumens, and then I average the results. I also compare the test lights against each other as a final check. The three benchmark lights are the Huntlight FT-01XSE running an AW 18650 that I assume the different output levels in lumens are 130 / 88 / 65 / 40 / 13. A P1D-CE that I assume is 115 lumens on a primary, and a Neo T5 that I assume is 110 lumens on a primary.
Brightness Comparison
Huntlight FTOX (18650)…………..….……..........…….…130 lumens
Fenix P1D-CE…………………………...........…………...…..115
Rex (14500)…..........…………..............................95
JetBeam MK.IIX (14500 Advanced mode)…............90
JetBeam MK.IIX (14500 regular mode)…...........…….85
M3 (14500)……...........……………………..........…….……75
M3 (primary 123)…..……………………...........…….….……65
Rex (alkaline)…………………………….…...........…………...65
JetBeam MK.IIX (alkaline advanced mode)….…….…..65
L1D………………………………………….................…………..60
C3 on alkaline……….………………...........………….………..55
M3 on alkaline…………………….……............…..…………..53
JetBeam MK.IIX (alkaline regular mode)…...….......…50
M3 Lumens estimates (Benchmark: Huntlight FT-01XSE 130 / 88 / 65 / 40 / 13)
Hi... w/ 14500 75 lumens, primary 123 65 lumens alkaline AA
Med w/ 14500 35 lumens, primary 123 30 lumens alkaline AA
Low w/ 14500.. 9 lumens, primary 123. 7 lumens alkaline AA
Brightness testing with alkalines
The Rex was the brightest and threw the furthest on alkalines. If you will use alkalines only, the Rex may be the best choice. The Rex also got a little warm during the test, while the JetBeam, Fenix and C3 did not get warm at all. Lumens on Low, I would estimate the Rex and the JetBeam output about 10 lumens, using the Neo T5 15 lumen low as a benchmark, would guess the L1D to output maybe 7 lumens and the M3 maybe 4. The C3 is single stage.
Brightness testing with 14500's
A huge increase in brightness for the Rex, JetBeam and M3. Although UltraFire advertises that the C3 can run on a 3.6 V rechargeable, I could not get an AW 14500 to fit, even after removing the silver label, so I didn't test the C3 with a Lithium Ion nor did I test the Fenix with a rechargeable. On my 50 yard target, both the Rex and JetBeam were very close in brightness to the P1D-CE. The spot of the P1D-CE was brightest, closely followed by the spot of the Rex which was somewhat closely followed by the spot of the JetBeam (on normal mode). Assessing lumens for the Rex and JetBeam, I know these manufacturers claim 130 or 150 lumens max, but the Rex and JetBeam very clearly were not as bright as any of the benchmark lights. It took about 8 minutes for the P1D-CE to get warm, but the JetBeam and Rex both got hot in a couple minutes, particularly the Rex.
"THROW": How the test was structured.
On this test, a difference of 2 or 3 yards is not much, but a 4 or 5 yard difference is clear. I walked off the distance to various bushes, the nearest being 30 yards and the furthest being 80 yards. The following ratings are for the maximum distance that I could clearly distinguish the details of the bush. If you think something should be double checked, let me know and I'll do so. And obviously, longer throw does not necessarily equate to more lumens
Throw Results (maximum distance to clearly distinguish objects)
75 yards: McLux 27LT –S on 2 x RCR123 and DealExtreme U2 copy w/ 18650 and Stryker VG w/2 primary 123's (stock)
................U2 small spot/large corona, 27LT-S larger spot/smallish corona, Stryker very small corona
55 yards: Huntlight FT-01X w/ 18650 and McLux XR-19-C on AW RCR123
52 yards: McLux XR-19-C on primary and D-Mini w/ primary
50 yards: P1D-CE with primary
47 yards: Rex2 w/ 14500
46 yards: Jet Beam MK.IIX on an AW 14500 (normal hi), 53 (advanced hi),
40 yards: Lumapower M3 w/ 14500
37 yards: Rex2 w/ 1 AA alkaline and JetBeam MK.II (not the X) w/ 2 AA alkalines
35 yards: L1D (alkaline, turbo mode)
33 yards: JetBeam MK.IIX on alkalines (mormal hi) and 35 (advanced hi)
30 yards: JetBeam C-LE and UltraFire C3 (both on alkalines)
20 yards: Lumapower on 1 x AA alkaline
JetBeam MK.II vs JetBeam MK.IIX
A brightness comparison of these two showed they are quite close, but the MK.IIX is clearly a bit brighter. Using my 50 meter target, I had to stand two yards closer with the MK.II to get the same illumination as the MK.IIX at 50 yards. The corona on the MK.IIX is a bit brighter, not a huge difference, but clearly noticeable. Tint: The MK.IIX is a beautiful white; by comparison the MK.II is a bit amber. A walk around my neighborhood and an adjacent forrest showed the MK.II to be a better, IMO, a walking light due to the very smooth and more gradual transition from spot to corona. It produced a more even lighting, and clearly had an amber hue by comparison, but this was not objectionable.
This posting is primarily a review of a bunch of popular 1 x AA format flashlights, with a few other known lights thrown in. Note about the Rexlight2: the piece tested here is a dark medium grey color, lighter than the JetBeam. If you have the black Rexlight2 and think it is the same or different from the one I describe, please pipe in. I'd like to get some feedback on the black Rexlight. I'd also like to know what other 1 x AA lights you would like reviewed. I have a couple more I could add in here, like the CL-E and an $18 light from DE that is 2 stage but 14500 only, and I have the new Dexlight coming (MK.II knockoff).
Build: Reflectors are OP for the Rex, JetBeam, Huntlight and C3, and smooth for the Fenix. Fit and finish is highest for the Huntlight. The Rex, JetBeam, Fenix and Ultrafire are all comparable. After the Huntlight, the Fenix is the heaviest and largest of the bunch. Weight: Huntlight @ 3.2 oz, Fenix @ 2.5, Ultrafire C3 @ 2.2, Rex @ 2.1, and JetBeam MK.IIX @ 1.9. The JB was clearly the lightest, and also a little smaller than the rest (except the C3 is slightly smaller) and might pass the men's front dress pocket test. By comparison, the M3 (in 1 x AA format) is huge. But it's overbuilt like a tank and fit and finish may be the best of the group. It's also beautiful in the hand with its heftiness and rugged, smooth lines and probably has the longest runtimes. You can also pick your battery configuration for the M3 (1 x AA, 2 x AA, or 1 x 123) but don't run two rechargeable Lithium Ions.
User Interface (UI)
The M3 and L1D are very simple to use. The Rexlight turns on to your last setting. The M3 is click low, click high, click off (with the two stage clickie). Very easy for one hand. The regular tailswitch is momentary and screws down to turn the light on. When on high, the body just below head can be unscrewed ¼ of a turn to reduce output about 50% for medium. This takes two hands. The Rexlight turns on to whatever light level or other mode you last used. Alternatively you can select the start mode by cycling through the modes and turning off just before the target mode, like with a flupic. Next time turned on, the light will turn on to the target mode. The L1D is also very nice. It always turns on in low and you tap the switch to toggle to medium to high to SOS. Very intuitive. Screw the head down for turbo and the light always starts on high, and you toggle between high and strobe. The JetBeam has an unusual UI. In normal mode it always starts at medium, and you tap the switch to togggle to low, high, strobe and intermittent pulsing. This is simple, tho I would prefer to start in low. Turn the light off in low to get to advanced mode which offers 9 output levels and 5 pulsing modes. In advanced mode the light always starts in high (as long as it has been off for at least 2 seconds), which is brighter than normal high. In advanced mode it is very quick to get to the highest and lowest output levels. High, just turn it on. Low, turn the light on followed by two quick taps. It is easy to do this quickly enough to preserve night vision because the quick taps prevent the light from reaching full brightness. Once in low, you gradually increase brightness by toggling the reverse clickie, nine levels of light followed by 4 different pulsing modes, then full high, strobe and back again to low. Very quick to get to full high and low, cumbersome to the get to some of the flashing modes. You exit advanced mode by turning it off from either the low output strobe mode (easy to locate) or the highest level of constant light in the sequence beginning with low (just look for the low output strobe, its much easier). The C3 is a one stage light.
Beam Comments
Beams on the Rexlight2, JetBeamMK.IIX and M3 are very similar. The beams for the $18 UltraFire C3 and the L1D are similar with very noticeable Cree Rings. Tint, the JetBeam is very pure white, Rex is slightly warmer, the C3 is slightly purple and the Fenix a little yellow. One M3 is white as the JetBeam, another M3 is more yellow than the Fenix. Cree rings do not exist on either the JetBeam the Rex and the Huntlight. The L1D and the C3 have conspicuous Cree rings. PWM is very similar between the Rex and JetBeam, not noticeable on either when walking around. On low, the Rex is a little slower pulsed than the JetBeam, but the Jet is also a little dimmer. The others have no PWM: The L1D is electronically dimmed, the M3 uses a resistor in the clickie for low and constant current regulation for medium. Walking, the beams of the RexLight and the M3 were the most pleasant for walking around with. The illumination seems more even, the center spot doesn't jump out at you as much as the others.
Methodology to estimate Lumens
To estimate lumens, I used three known lights as benchmarks that I compared to the test lights at short and long distances, comparing size and brightness of both spot and coronas. Each test light is compared against each benchmark light to estimate lumens, and then I average the results. I also compare the test lights against each other as a final check. The three benchmark lights are the Huntlight FT-01XSE running an AW 18650 that I assume the different output levels in lumens are 130 / 88 / 65 / 40 / 13. A P1D-CE that I assume is 115 lumens on a primary, and a Neo T5 that I assume is 110 lumens on a primary.
Brightness Comparison
Huntlight FTOX (18650)…………..….……..........…….…130 lumens
Fenix P1D-CE…………………………...........…………...…..115
Rex (14500)…..........…………..............................95
JetBeam MK.IIX (14500 Advanced mode)…............90
JetBeam MK.IIX (14500 regular mode)…...........…….85
M3 (14500)……...........……………………..........…….……75
M3 (primary 123)…..……………………...........…….….……65
Rex (alkaline)…………………………….…...........…………...65
JetBeam MK.IIX (alkaline advanced mode)….…….…..65
L1D………………………………………….................…………..60
C3 on alkaline……….………………...........………….………..55
M3 on alkaline…………………….……............…..…………..53
JetBeam MK.IIX (alkaline regular mode)…...….......…50
M3 Lumens estimates (Benchmark: Huntlight FT-01XSE 130 / 88 / 65 / 40 / 13)
Hi... w/ 14500 75 lumens, primary 123 65 lumens alkaline AA
Med w/ 14500 35 lumens, primary 123 30 lumens alkaline AA
Low w/ 14500.. 9 lumens, primary 123. 7 lumens alkaline AA
Brightness testing with alkalines
The Rex was the brightest and threw the furthest on alkalines. If you will use alkalines only, the Rex may be the best choice. The Rex also got a little warm during the test, while the JetBeam, Fenix and C3 did not get warm at all. Lumens on Low, I would estimate the Rex and the JetBeam output about 10 lumens, using the Neo T5 15 lumen low as a benchmark, would guess the L1D to output maybe 7 lumens and the M3 maybe 4. The C3 is single stage.
Brightness testing with 14500's
A huge increase in brightness for the Rex, JetBeam and M3. Although UltraFire advertises that the C3 can run on a 3.6 V rechargeable, I could not get an AW 14500 to fit, even after removing the silver label, so I didn't test the C3 with a Lithium Ion nor did I test the Fenix with a rechargeable. On my 50 yard target, both the Rex and JetBeam were very close in brightness to the P1D-CE. The spot of the P1D-CE was brightest, closely followed by the spot of the Rex which was somewhat closely followed by the spot of the JetBeam (on normal mode). Assessing lumens for the Rex and JetBeam, I know these manufacturers claim 130 or 150 lumens max, but the Rex and JetBeam very clearly were not as bright as any of the benchmark lights. It took about 8 minutes for the P1D-CE to get warm, but the JetBeam and Rex both got hot in a couple minutes, particularly the Rex.
"THROW": How the test was structured.
On this test, a difference of 2 or 3 yards is not much, but a 4 or 5 yard difference is clear. I walked off the distance to various bushes, the nearest being 30 yards and the furthest being 80 yards. The following ratings are for the maximum distance that I could clearly distinguish the details of the bush. If you think something should be double checked, let me know and I'll do so. And obviously, longer throw does not necessarily equate to more lumens
Throw Results (maximum distance to clearly distinguish objects)
75 yards: McLux 27LT –S on 2 x RCR123 and DealExtreme U2 copy w/ 18650 and Stryker VG w/2 primary 123's (stock)
................U2 small spot/large corona, 27LT-S larger spot/smallish corona, Stryker very small corona
55 yards: Huntlight FT-01X w/ 18650 and McLux XR-19-C on AW RCR123
52 yards: McLux XR-19-C on primary and D-Mini w/ primary
50 yards: P1D-CE with primary
47 yards: Rex2 w/ 14500
46 yards: Jet Beam MK.IIX on an AW 14500 (normal hi), 53 (advanced hi),
40 yards: Lumapower M3 w/ 14500
37 yards: Rex2 w/ 1 AA alkaline and JetBeam MK.II (not the X) w/ 2 AA alkalines
35 yards: L1D (alkaline, turbo mode)
33 yards: JetBeam MK.IIX on alkalines (mormal hi) and 35 (advanced hi)
30 yards: JetBeam C-LE and UltraFire C3 (both on alkalines)
20 yards: Lumapower on 1 x AA alkaline
JetBeam MK.II vs JetBeam MK.IIX
A brightness comparison of these two showed they are quite close, but the MK.IIX is clearly a bit brighter. Using my 50 meter target, I had to stand two yards closer with the MK.II to get the same illumination as the MK.IIX at 50 yards. The corona on the MK.IIX is a bit brighter, not a huge difference, but clearly noticeable. Tint: The MK.IIX is a beautiful white; by comparison the MK.II is a bit amber. A walk around my neighborhood and an adjacent forrest showed the MK.II to be a better, IMO, a walking light due to the very smooth and more gradual transition from spot to corona. It produced a more even lighting, and clearly had an amber hue by comparison, but this was not objectionable.
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