wualta
Newly Enlightened
Target's had the Lenser series (badged as Eddie Bauer) for awhile now, and there's always been the "toy" LED section of the store with the Neo-Glo keychain lights and the chubby little flashlights with pink ponies on 'em, and the multicolor rave lights for the older kids, but today was different. No Luxeons yet, no breakthroughs, but a mini-explosion of interesting little... things:
Rayovac "Reading Light Solutions", 2-LED/3AAA reading lights-- two styles! First, the Pillow Light:
http://www.rayovac.com/flashlight/reading/reading_pillow.htm
then, the lavalier-style Light Bar:
http://www.rayovac.com/flashlight/reading/reading_lightbar.htm
The photo doesn't properly show that the figure-8 reflector surrounding the LEDs is shiny. The Bar was around $10, the Pillow about $13. That "pillow" light reminds me of the old beanbag-style ashtrays with sand or BBs in the bottom.
Then, the Vector 5-LED (plus 3 red LEDs) flashlight, model VEC114 (sorry, can't find a picture on the web) whose face is strongly reminiscent of the Cateye HL-EL300's:
http://www.cateye.com/products/lights/battery_headlights/HL_EL300.html
In fact, imagine the Cateye mating with a Nuwai FX-880 and you'll have an idea of the squared-off shape of the thing. Runs on 4AA cells. Very bluish light, about the same brightness as the Brinkmann 4-LED/2D but less focused. About $12. Not a bad light, though on close inspection it's clear that each of the 5 lens assemblies, individually fitted to its LED and screwed to the PCB with 2 tiny screwlets, has come from a huge bin where jostling has scored and scoured them badly enough to cause the "less focused" look I mentioned. A little jeweler's rouge (or plastic polish) seems called for. [I did this and it does help-- you can see the LEDs' leads projected on the wall] The red LEDs are in the tail, behind a diffusing panel. They flash, but unbrightly.
What would you do with two little Photon-sized lights with the ability to clip to your eyeglass frame or anything else? Take a look at the Panther Vision AC-10 shown here:
http://www.perfectionoptics.com/prd_anywhereclipon2.html
On sale for about $18. Could be handy.
Of course, Target's always been the place to get a nifty metal-body combo 3mm white LED / red laser for $6. Endless fun watching cats chase the laser, plus a dim but usable LED flashlight. Don't get in the habit of aiming it at your face.
Finally, the Dorcy Trio. Yes, our west Michigan Target has all three of the small Dorcy LED flashlights, the 1AAA, the 1AA and the 2C. They're $8, $10 and something like $28 (!)respectively. I noted that the 1AAA was the old (ribbed) style (see the "Dorcy changed something" thread). Not the best deal, but another source for these interesting, overachieving lights.
Get out there and shop! Make us all proud.
Walt Brand
Rayovac "Reading Light Solutions", 2-LED/3AAA reading lights-- two styles! First, the Pillow Light:
http://www.rayovac.com/flashlight/reading/reading_pillow.htm
then, the lavalier-style Light Bar:
http://www.rayovac.com/flashlight/reading/reading_lightbar.htm
The photo doesn't properly show that the figure-8 reflector surrounding the LEDs is shiny. The Bar was around $10, the Pillow about $13. That "pillow" light reminds me of the old beanbag-style ashtrays with sand or BBs in the bottom.
Then, the Vector 5-LED (plus 3 red LEDs) flashlight, model VEC114 (sorry, can't find a picture on the web) whose face is strongly reminiscent of the Cateye HL-EL300's:
http://www.cateye.com/products/lights/battery_headlights/HL_EL300.html
In fact, imagine the Cateye mating with a Nuwai FX-880 and you'll have an idea of the squared-off shape of the thing. Runs on 4AA cells. Very bluish light, about the same brightness as the Brinkmann 4-LED/2D but less focused. About $12. Not a bad light, though on close inspection it's clear that each of the 5 lens assemblies, individually fitted to its LED and screwed to the PCB with 2 tiny screwlets, has come from a huge bin where jostling has scored and scoured them badly enough to cause the "less focused" look I mentioned. A little jeweler's rouge (or plastic polish) seems called for. [I did this and it does help-- you can see the LEDs' leads projected on the wall] The red LEDs are in the tail, behind a diffusing panel. They flash, but unbrightly.
What would you do with two little Photon-sized lights with the ability to clip to your eyeglass frame or anything else? Take a look at the Panther Vision AC-10 shown here:
http://www.perfectionoptics.com/prd_anywhereclipon2.html
On sale for about $18. Could be handy.
Of course, Target's always been the place to get a nifty metal-body combo 3mm white LED / red laser for $6. Endless fun watching cats chase the laser, plus a dim but usable LED flashlight. Don't get in the habit of aiming it at your face.
Finally, the Dorcy Trio. Yes, our west Michigan Target has all three of the small Dorcy LED flashlights, the 1AAA, the 1AA and the 2C. They're $8, $10 and something like $28 (!)respectively. I noted that the 1AAA was the old (ribbed) style (see the "Dorcy changed something" thread). Not the best deal, but another source for these interesting, overachieving lights.
Get out there and shop! Make us all proud.
Walt Brand
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