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Enlightened
I recently purchased a Muyshondt Aeon torch. I thought I'd throw out a few observations and pictures about this lovely little light.
The Aeon is a small flashlight that runs off a single CR2 (lithium) battery. It uses a Cree 'R2 Flux bin' LED. The is the brightest LED Cree offers at a given power level.
Thought I'd compare this light to a couple other single cell lights. In image below, from left to right: Muyshondt Aeon, Muyshondt Ion, L1D (fenix). This is just to get an idea of the relative size of these lights. The Ion is an earlier Muyshondt offering. It's very similar, at least cosmetically, to the Aeon. The Aeon appears to be just a fraction longer. The L1D (far right) runs off a single AA battery
Below is an image of the innards of the Aeon. You can see the Chemkoted aluminum interior. The head of the light has a washer of foam to keep the battery from rattling. When you screw the head down it engages the gold plated spring in the center..
This twisty light has two modes - a 10 lumen low, and a ~100 lumen high. The low mode has close to a 40 hour runtime, and this is regulated so the light does not fade until the very end of the battery life. The high mode is good for at least an hour. It's amazing to see so much light coming out of such a tiny package. It's like having a headlight the size of a lipstick container.
Below is a beamshot of these three lights, for comparisons sake. All on low setting. From left to right, The Fenix L1D (rebel based LED), the Muyshondt Ion, Muyshondt Aeon. Note: the L1D is closest to the window, so it may appear fainter than the Aeon, but both are very similar in brightness - around 10 lumens. The floody ion is < 5 lumens.
As you can see the particular LED in my Aeon has a green/yellow cast. I actually prefer this outdoors, as things don't look as flat as they do under an LED with a blue cast. Probably my only complaint with the Aeon is the beam profile. I'd prefer a flood light, but this is a personal preference. The beam is also a bit 'ringy', especially compared to the fenix. You'll also note the beatiful flood output of the Ion (middle), which smoothly varies from center to periphery.
I tested the battery life on low and found it to be very close to the stated 40 hours. Starting with a fresh Durcall CR2, I ran the light for 6-10 hours a night until it expired. The battery lasted to about 35 hours without fading. After this the output started to flicker, though it made it through 40 hours. Very impressive - normally I only use the low setting. (I got a lot of reading done under this light - managed to finish 'The Rum Diary' and 'White Tiger' before the first battery expired!). I won't be replacing the battery often.
The machining and finish on the light are first rate. The sapphire window glistens when in use. Smooth and tight threading you can feel everytime you activate the light. The brass innards give the light a pleasant weight, especially compared to the older Ion.
The Aeon is a truly pocketable light that doesn't make any compromises. Makes an excellent EDC light.
Some people will balk at the $200.00 price. It's that same argument - why spend $200 for a watch when a $20 Timex will keep time just as well? Lots of reasons actually. You get what you pay for. Almost all LED lights use the same LEDs (as interally many watches use the same movement), but there's so much more to a decent flashlight than just the LED. That's what you're paying for - the first rate machining of the body, the regulator, and all the other little details.
Oh yeah, I like the cardboard case included with the light
The Aeon is a small flashlight that runs off a single CR2 (lithium) battery. It uses a Cree 'R2 Flux bin' LED. The is the brightest LED Cree offers at a given power level.
Thought I'd compare this light to a couple other single cell lights. In image below, from left to right: Muyshondt Aeon, Muyshondt Ion, L1D (fenix). This is just to get an idea of the relative size of these lights. The Ion is an earlier Muyshondt offering. It's very similar, at least cosmetically, to the Aeon. The Aeon appears to be just a fraction longer. The L1D (far right) runs off a single AA battery
Below is an image of the innards of the Aeon. You can see the Chemkoted aluminum interior. The head of the light has a washer of foam to keep the battery from rattling. When you screw the head down it engages the gold plated spring in the center..
This twisty light has two modes - a 10 lumen low, and a ~100 lumen high. The low mode has close to a 40 hour runtime, and this is regulated so the light does not fade until the very end of the battery life. The high mode is good for at least an hour. It's amazing to see so much light coming out of such a tiny package. It's like having a headlight the size of a lipstick container.
Below is a beamshot of these three lights, for comparisons sake. All on low setting. From left to right, The Fenix L1D (rebel based LED), the Muyshondt Ion, Muyshondt Aeon. Note: the L1D is closest to the window, so it may appear fainter than the Aeon, but both are very similar in brightness - around 10 lumens. The floody ion is < 5 lumens.
As you can see the particular LED in my Aeon has a green/yellow cast. I actually prefer this outdoors, as things don't look as flat as they do under an LED with a blue cast. Probably my only complaint with the Aeon is the beam profile. I'd prefer a flood light, but this is a personal preference. The beam is also a bit 'ringy', especially compared to the fenix. You'll also note the beatiful flood output of the Ion (middle), which smoothly varies from center to periphery.
I tested the battery life on low and found it to be very close to the stated 40 hours. Starting with a fresh Durcall CR2, I ran the light for 6-10 hours a night until it expired. The battery lasted to about 35 hours without fading. After this the output started to flicker, though it made it through 40 hours. Very impressive - normally I only use the low setting. (I got a lot of reading done under this light - managed to finish 'The Rum Diary' and 'White Tiger' before the first battery expired!). I won't be replacing the battery often.
The machining and finish on the light are first rate. The sapphire window glistens when in use. Smooth and tight threading you can feel everytime you activate the light. The brass innards give the light a pleasant weight, especially compared to the older Ion.
The Aeon is a truly pocketable light that doesn't make any compromises. Makes an excellent EDC light.
Some people will balk at the $200.00 price. It's that same argument - why spend $200 for a watch when a $20 Timex will keep time just as well? Lots of reasons actually. You get what you pay for. Almost all LED lights use the same LEDs (as interally many watches use the same movement), but there's so much more to a decent flashlight than just the LED. That's what you're paying for - the first rate machining of the body, the regulator, and all the other little details.
Oh yeah, I like the cardboard case included with the light
