Old Farmer
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Sep 26, 2007
- Messages
- 51
I really like the L1 Cree, and the L2. I just sold a A2, and was thinking about trying a L4. What do you all think?
Anyone Like The Surefire L4?
- Thread starter Old Farmer
- Start date
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MikeLip
Flashlight Enthusiast
I had an L4, sold it and just bought another. Yeah, I like them (and I appear to be on a Surefire spree - U2, A2, L1 and L4). They may be ye olde Luxeon(e) lights, but that doesn't mean they're not darn good ones! Tons of light all over the place. Not a great thrower but it sure lights up an area!
light_emitting_dude
Flashlight Enthusiast
I have had one for about a year now and its my favorite LED light. It has a nice smooth floddy beam that lights up a room. I am currently running my on a 17670 3.7 V battery! If you like the L1, you will love the L4!
My L4 is great. I use a pila 168s in it for guilt free lumens, and I won't be selling or trading mine...
shadowbuds
Newly Enlightened
It was my first "real" flashlight. I carried it for over a year and lost it. Now I have a L1 Cree, almost as good but not quite. I miss it.
I hate to be a party pooper, but I think the L4 is outdated now. They get very hot and runtime is low. You can't use 2xRCR123. Tints vary a lot and doughnut beams abound. The Lux 5 has a relatively short lifetime and is expensive to replace.
That said, my TW4 version sits on a desk and gets used occasionally, and has great flood, but I think Crees and Seouls have the edge now.
That said, my TW4 version sits on a desk and gets used occasionally, and has great flood, but I think Crees and Seouls have the edge now.
Illum
Flashaholic
try 17670s
relatively short is 500 hours to 70% output, not 500 hours until death
and I would very much like to know if anyone here has actually put 500 hours through their L4:nana:
old farmer - The L4 is simply an amazing tool.
louie - Outdated...please!
500 hours out of my L4's and I'll be happy as they will have served me well.
2 Surefire cells @ $1.75 = $3.50/hour of operation for the L4.
$3.50 x 500 hours of use = $1,750.00.
For God's sake, at that point treat yourself to new L4 and quit worrying about
a short LED life!
louie - Outdated...please!
500 hours out of my L4's and I'll be happy as they will have served me well.
2 Surefire cells @ $1.75 = $3.50/hour of operation for the L4.
$3.50 x 500 hours of use = $1,750.00.
For God's sake, at that point treat yourself to new L4 and quit worrying about
a short LED life!
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mossyoak
Flashlight Enthusiast
i think one would really kick and fill a part of my lighting needs if it had been modded with an X-bin. the only thing i dont care aobut it for is its short runtime.
Illum
Flashaholic
the L4 doesn't have "short" runtime at all on cr123as actually
I use 17670s for guilt free lumens...but it comes with a catch I didn't realize after I invested into it. AW protected 17670s at 1600mah gives about 1 hour of light with less moon beam than with cr123as and for every hour of runtime it takes 6 hours to charge on the DSD, so if you plan on that route, buy 2 and swap em every night
I'm a sensitive guy when it comes to runtime, 1 hour is pushing it really hard, but according to FLR it goes about 1.5 hours, by experience its alot longer than I estimated what 1.5 hour runtime is like
oh and if you leave it on for an hour, don't grab the bezel
Had [second degree] burns on my palm [yes, one tiny little blister] because I didn't let go fast enough
I use 17670s for guilt free lumens...but it comes with a catch I didn't realize after I invested into it. AW protected 17670s at 1600mah gives about 1 hour of light with less moon beam than with cr123as and for every hour of runtime it takes 6 hours to charge on the DSD, so if you plan on that route, buy 2 and swap em every night
I'm a sensitive guy when it comes to runtime, 1 hour is pushing it really hard, but according to FLR it goes about 1.5 hours, by experience its alot longer than I estimated what 1.5 hour runtime is like
oh and if you leave it on for an hour, don't grab the bezel
Had [second degree] burns on my palm [yes, one tiny little blister] because I didn't let go fast enough
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Trashman
Flashlight Enthusiast
Love mine. It's still on my list of lights I'll be keeping forever.
jumpstat
Flashlight Enthusiast
It worth getting. Beautiful wide even beam...excellent for close quarters work. I had one but sold it of for a McGizmo....
KeyGrip
Flashlight Enthusiast
Even though I'm going to replace my L4 with an E2L as my primary EDC, I'm still going to keep it. It's just too good to get rid of.
KevinL
Flashlight Enthusiast
L4 - still superb.
Just because a newer LED exists doesn't mean that an older one automatically becomes obsolete. Every year they release a new car, doesn't mean all of last year's models suddenly become useless....
Still have mine, still EDC mine, yes it gets hot, but it's not a big deal. I run on 17670 rechargeables, so guilt free lumens.
What's the max theoretical output of these Cree things anyway? Stick a Cree in it, drive it as hard as you can, and you'd still only get something like 200 lumens. Derate by 1/3rd and you get 130 lumens. Yes, more than a LuxV, but hardly what you'd call a monumental upgrade. Remember SF's lumens are torch lumens AFTER optical losses..
Just because a newer LED exists doesn't mean that an older one automatically becomes obsolete. Every year they release a new car, doesn't mean all of last year's models suddenly become useless....
Still have mine, still EDC mine, yes it gets hot, but it's not a big deal. I run on 17670 rechargeables, so guilt free lumens.
What's the max theoretical output of these Cree things anyway? Stick a Cree in it, drive it as hard as you can, and you'd still only get something like 200 lumens. Derate by 1/3rd and you get 130 lumens. Yes, more than a LuxV, but hardly what you'd call a monumental upgrade. Remember SF's lumens are torch lumens AFTER optical losses..
I really like mine to! I use it with an E1E body (TW4?) and Aw RCR123 batt.
I have a slight donut hole, but you dont see that outside, some of the cree lights I have are worse with their yellow ring thats very visible inside and outside!
Newer L4s cant take 17670 batts, atleast mine dosent.
I have a slight donut hole, but you dont see that outside, some of the cree lights I have are worse with their yellow ring thats very visible inside and outside!
Newer L4s cant take 17670 batts, atleast mine dosent.
KevinL
Flashlight Enthusiast
Really?!
I'm alarmed.. I'd better hang onto mine. All of my old ones are suddenly becoming collector's editions. I have that 'special' U2 that can take 18650s - newer ones cannot.
Robocop
Mammoth Killer
Sure there are some lights today that put out more light or throw further...whatever.... however very few do it with style such as the tried and true L4. I have said it many times however will say it again some lights will always remain my "go to" lights or classics. The L4 powered from a rechargeable 123 cell mated with the VG1 body is an almost unbeatable package in my opinion. I carry this combo nightly as a small back up and believe me it has been through hell and has had zero failures.
Yes much like cars I very much enjoy todays high powered sleek designs and would drive a New Porshe with a smile however would much rather own an old 60s model bruiser with a pushrod motor anyday. Newer and improved does not always mean better and it applies to lights just as any other item.
The L4 is one of the original powerhouse lights and for many of us here will always remain a classic. Single cell or double 123 cells or even 17670s there are many options to customize the L4 and for sheer output it should handle just about any of your needs....Plus it just looks good with a single cell body and still WOWs me each time I light up a room with it in regulation from a single R123......great light to say the least.
Yes much like cars I very much enjoy todays high powered sleek designs and would drive a New Porshe with a smile however would much rather own an old 60s model bruiser with a pushrod motor anyday. Newer and improved does not always mean better and it applies to lights just as any other item.
The L4 is one of the original powerhouse lights and for many of us here will always remain a classic. Single cell or double 123 cells or even 17670s there are many options to customize the L4 and for sheer output it should handle just about any of your needs....Plus it just looks good with a single cell body and still WOWs me each time I light up a room with it in regulation from a single R123......great light to say the least.
socom1970
Flashlight Enthusiast
I will never give mine up. Many here have said exactly what I was going to say. It has to be used to be appreciated. I loved my L4 from the beginning, and it is still one of my go-to lights, even though I have Cree's, K2's and SSC's. FWIW, I would rather EDC my L4 than any of my Cree's, K2's or SSC's. I love that wall of light with LARGE hotspot. None of my newer LED lights can do that quite like the L4. The Luxeon V LED is not obsolete at all IMHO. Heck, I love my L4 with the Luxeon V so much, I'm buying a U2 to keep it company. Luxeon V LED's are awesome!!! The L4 is definately a keeper.
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Illum
Flashaholic
now thats a hard decision
I think mine might have been bored by the previous user then, how new is a "new L4?"
