kb0rrg
Enlightened
I have been interested in this light for a while. Maybe because it is so similar to mini-mag, but has a tail cap switch, a desirable feature IMO. So I finally bought one ($10).
The light itself looks beautiful. It is more attractive than the mini-mag and has a nice feel to it. But this is where the praise ends.
The light output is disappointing; very yellow, dim and terrible beam quality. I replaced the bulb with a 2AA Nextstar bulb. This improved the color and output, but the beam quality is still very poor. It baffles me why Brinkmann would not put NextStar bulbs in all of their products. Even with the NextStar bulb, the output is a tiny bit less than a mini-mag. (the Legend may have even had new batteries). I don't know why this is, but I suspect that it may be due to reflector design or resistance in the switch. The mini-mag focuses much tighter.
The switch is also a disappointing feature. I love the momentary tailcap switches on my Streamlight Pro-polymers, so I was curious about a clickie. When the cap is pushed there is a very loud and sharp click. The same when turning it off. Give the cap a 1/8th turn and it is locked out. This is all well and good, but after about 100 cycles there were problems. The clickie would sometimes lock when the button was pushed, thus preventing the light from turning one. Eventually it seized up altogether. It was useless. I was preparing to return it when all of a sudden it stated working again. I think all of the verbal threats actually worked. Now it seems to be working as designed. There is no momentary position in the switch. IT is either clicked on or clicked off. I am very interested in the Surefire version of the clickie. I don't like this one.
Currently, the problem is in the contacts of the switch. The light is constantly flickering, and often goes out. About 1 in 10 times it doesn't come on at all.
It doesn't fit in mini-mag holster. At least the Acu-mold one that I have. I was hoping that it would. It is a bit too long and too wide. Mini-mag is a standard when it comes to accessories. It did come with is own holster, but Brinkmann holster has 4" belt loop. This makes loose on my belt…I don't like this. The rubber grip also snags on pocket linings and the holster.
This is probably nit picking, but the threads on the bezel are too fine. To go from wide beam to tight beam requires 1.5 turns. The mini-mag requires only .75 turns. One plus for the Brinkmann is the bezel can be left in any position since the on/off is independent of the bezel position. Whereas the mini-mag must be returned to max flood to be turned off.
FYI: Tail cap is incompatible with a mini-mag.
The Brinkmann does not have a spare bulb, or a place to store one. Another point in the mini-mag's corner.
With the exception of the temporally seizing of the tailcap and the flickering and the occasional loss of light this is not a bad flashlight. But it is defiantly inferior to the mini-mag. I think I will keep it around just because it looks so good.
The light itself looks beautiful. It is more attractive than the mini-mag and has a nice feel to it. But this is where the praise ends.
The light output is disappointing; very yellow, dim and terrible beam quality. I replaced the bulb with a 2AA Nextstar bulb. This improved the color and output, but the beam quality is still very poor. It baffles me why Brinkmann would not put NextStar bulbs in all of their products. Even with the NextStar bulb, the output is a tiny bit less than a mini-mag. (the Legend may have even had new batteries). I don't know why this is, but I suspect that it may be due to reflector design or resistance in the switch. The mini-mag focuses much tighter.
The switch is also a disappointing feature. I love the momentary tailcap switches on my Streamlight Pro-polymers, so I was curious about a clickie. When the cap is pushed there is a very loud and sharp click. The same when turning it off. Give the cap a 1/8th turn and it is locked out. This is all well and good, but after about 100 cycles there were problems. The clickie would sometimes lock when the button was pushed, thus preventing the light from turning one. Eventually it seized up altogether. It was useless. I was preparing to return it when all of a sudden it stated working again. I think all of the verbal threats actually worked. Now it seems to be working as designed. There is no momentary position in the switch. IT is either clicked on or clicked off. I am very interested in the Surefire version of the clickie. I don't like this one.
Currently, the problem is in the contacts of the switch. The light is constantly flickering, and often goes out. About 1 in 10 times it doesn't come on at all.
It doesn't fit in mini-mag holster. At least the Acu-mold one that I have. I was hoping that it would. It is a bit too long and too wide. Mini-mag is a standard when it comes to accessories. It did come with is own holster, but Brinkmann holster has 4" belt loop. This makes loose on my belt…I don't like this. The rubber grip also snags on pocket linings and the holster.
This is probably nit picking, but the threads on the bezel are too fine. To go from wide beam to tight beam requires 1.5 turns. The mini-mag requires only .75 turns. One plus for the Brinkmann is the bezel can be left in any position since the on/off is independent of the bezel position. Whereas the mini-mag must be returned to max flood to be turned off.
FYI: Tail cap is incompatible with a mini-mag.
The Brinkmann does not have a spare bulb, or a place to store one. Another point in the mini-mag's corner.
With the exception of the temporally seizing of the tailcap and the flickering and the occasional loss of light this is not a bad flashlight. But it is defiantly inferior to the mini-mag. I think I will keep it around just because it looks so good.
