best budget headlamp?

[Zatoichi]

I think the white 5mm LED would be okay for saving batteries in an emergency. The tint is very off-putting but I also felt that way about the E01 when I first tried it. I hardly even notice the tint now that I've stopped playing with it and admiring it, and just actually use it.

At the end of the day it's yucky purple, but it enables you to see in the dark which is the main thing.

I'm glad you're pleased with it otherwise. I'm very impressed with the build quality for the money, I won't be worried about this one falling apart (like other similar priced headlamps I've tried have), and it's packed with features, even forgetting the 'white' 5mm. :thumbsup:

I don't know the actual reason these type of LED's nearly always seem to have horrible blue/purple tints, but yes it's normal.

 

[Trancersteve]

It is strange how the purple tint is visible only in the very centre of the beam, would like to know what causing it. But yes you are very true it is packed with features and I can't hold the purple 5mm LED (:laughing:) erm.. I mean white 5mm LED against it. :D

If I want to be evil shall I give it one last little dig? :shrug:.. I can see visible signs of PWM on the main 1W LED in low mode, a slight strobe effect is visible with movement.

My only real main gripe though is the 1W LED it is too spotty for my liking, there is zero spill from the lens and it probably why I am slightly annoyed about the white 5mm LED not producing perfect white, as for flood purposes it would of done the job well. If I start to use it properly I am sure you will be correct and i'll forget about the tint sooner or later!

For £12.50 delivered with batteries might as well ignore all the above I have written. As you say Zatoichi it is far better than anything else out there for just over a tenner. It is comfortable has many features and looks like it could withstand some knocks without falling apart.

 

[Zatoichi]

I haven't noticed the flickering, but I've only tried it out in the bedroom so far, and I had to take it off because my girlfriend was looking at me like a dog who'd been shown a card trick. :huh:

 

[Trancersteve]

:laughing: Same with my girlfriend she thinks I am nuts. She tells me "we are only going camping for a few days and you're bringing enough lights to light the whole forest up!"

Now the sun is setting will check out the Gamma in the garden.

 

[Trancersteve]

Taking it out for the first time tonight in the garden and I think I have been harsh on it.

The 5mm white LED does a decent job of flooding the close range area with light, and I hardly noticed the purple tint. Especially with the greens of grass and foliage.

The main beam has some throw to it hard to judge exactly how far but I'd say about 20 metres of useful light.

Nice :)

 

[Zatoichi]

Taking it out for the first time tonight in the garden and I think I have been harsh on it.

The 5mm white LED does a decent job of flooding the close range area with light, and I hardly noticed the purple tint.

Excellent news! :thumbsup: This is just what I found with my E01. Shining it on the bedroom wall revealed a horrid purple splodge surrounded by a 'urine yellow' corona.... yet in use it simply does the job.

 

[Trancersteve]

I don't believe this. :crazy:

The day before going camping and after buying a second Gamma headlamp I have just inserted a set of brand new AAA Uniross Hybrio LSD NiMh batteries (bought especially for these headlamps!) to find that both Gamma headlamps do not work with them!

I have just read a customer review on the Gamma site which was posted a month ago stating that he believes the Gamma has a problem with rechargeable due to the flat negative base which isn't raised like alkaline batteries are.

If I had a couple of small magnets I may be able to temporary fix the problem, but I don't.

Extremely annoyed I am.. what kind of headlamp does not work with rechargeables!?

I will be sending these back shortly for a refund. :(