horizonseeker wrote PM to me asking if I accepted flashlight review requests -
does the Pope sh1t in the woods?
He intends to sell CityCat LED flashlights in single AA and 18650 on CPFM.
So he very kindly sent me one of each to look at -
the finish is type 2 anodizing - we may be used to HA-3 - but one should bear in mind the pricing and that the now legendary SureFire 6P and 9P were and still are Type 2. 3 different colors will be available red, blue and black - I was very pleasantly surprised by the black of the 18650 version in the attractive blue accenting. Both are reverse clicky switches
Heads -
all the CityCat LEDs are Cree XR-E Q5 - WC bin. The CityCats have GID (glow in dark) O-rings in the front.
One design feature I thought was pretty good instead of three parts one usually sees in clicky lights - these both unscrew near the middle - so are only two parts -
with this design there is very little chance of batteries getting stuck.
Also instead of the usual spring at the negative tail-end - these CityCats have a sprung piston.
the positive terminal on the 18650 version actually looks like solid metal - whereas the AA version has the more regular plated area on a PCB.
They are also supplied with very generous spares -
three different colored (1 GID) spare switch boots, an actual spare clicky switch, two O-rings and a wrist-strap.
These being early samples I did not get any instructions - but these are the simplest UI just Hi>Med>Lo with last level memory (if on for more than about 2secs). My sample of the 18650 actually is Lo>Med>Hi (which I prefer)
Compared to each other -
It's fairly obvious the 18650 version is brighter (no real surprise) - but what is surprising is how well the single AA version performs - as we will see.
CityCat AA -
vs. Fenix L1D-Q5 both on Max and NiMH
the CityCat AA looks brighter
vs. Fenix LD10 both on Max and NiMH
close but I think the CityCat AA still may just have the edge - but both the Fenix have warmer tints and smoother/better beams - the XR-E Q5 still suffer from their notorious dark halo - but Fenix seem to do a good job of minimizing it.
CityCat 18650 -
vs. Fenix PD20 (on single CR123A) both on Max
close but the CityCat may just have it. CityCat's beam betrays the less sophisticated reflector design in revealing the Cree XR-E dark halo more - but it probably doesn't make much difference in real usage - only on white walled comparisons.
vs. Fenix LD10 on Li-Ion 14500 both on max
again close but CityCat may still have it.
vs. Fenix P3D-RB100 Rebel on 2x CR123A both on Max
before the 4Sevens Quarks the Fenix RB100 versions had the best smooth beams and still have some of the best tints I have seen on a "cool white" LED. Again close the CityCat may seem brighter but the Fenix spreads its beam wider.
Overall these CityCats seem to perform well - their beams may be less smooth - but in any real practical use this probably does not mean much - we are lucky to be spoiled by close to perfect beams from the 4Sevens Quark lights - but that shouldn't stop us enjoying other lights too.....
does the Pope sh1t in the woods?
He intends to sell CityCat LED flashlights in single AA and 18650 on CPFM.
So he very kindly sent me one of each to look at -
the finish is type 2 anodizing - we may be used to HA-3 - but one should bear in mind the pricing and that the now legendary SureFire 6P and 9P were and still are Type 2. 3 different colors will be available red, blue and black - I was very pleasantly surprised by the black of the 18650 version in the attractive blue accenting. Both are reverse clicky switches
Heads -
all the CityCat LEDs are Cree XR-E Q5 - WC bin. The CityCats have GID (glow in dark) O-rings in the front.
One design feature I thought was pretty good instead of three parts one usually sees in clicky lights - these both unscrew near the middle - so are only two parts -
with this design there is very little chance of batteries getting stuck.
Also instead of the usual spring at the negative tail-end - these CityCats have a sprung piston.
the positive terminal on the 18650 version actually looks like solid metal - whereas the AA version has the more regular plated area on a PCB.
They are also supplied with very generous spares -
three different colored (1 GID) spare switch boots, an actual spare clicky switch, two O-rings and a wrist-strap.
These being early samples I did not get any instructions - but these are the simplest UI just Hi>Med>Lo with last level memory (if on for more than about 2secs). My sample of the 18650 actually is Lo>Med>Hi (which I prefer)
Compared to each other -
It's fairly obvious the 18650 version is brighter (no real surprise) - but what is surprising is how well the single AA version performs - as we will see.
CityCat AA -
vs. Fenix L1D-Q5 both on Max and NiMH
the CityCat AA looks brighter
vs. Fenix LD10 both on Max and NiMH
close but I think the CityCat AA still may just have the edge - but both the Fenix have warmer tints and smoother/better beams - the XR-E Q5 still suffer from their notorious dark halo - but Fenix seem to do a good job of minimizing it.
CityCat 18650 -
vs. Fenix PD20 (on single CR123A) both on Max
close but the CityCat may just have it. CityCat's beam betrays the less sophisticated reflector design in revealing the Cree XR-E dark halo more - but it probably doesn't make much difference in real usage - only on white walled comparisons.
vs. Fenix LD10 on Li-Ion 14500 both on max
again close but CityCat may still have it.
vs. Fenix P3D-RB100 Rebel on 2x CR123A both on Max
before the 4Sevens Quarks the Fenix RB100 versions had the best smooth beams and still have some of the best tints I have seen on a "cool white" LED. Again close the CityCat may seem brighter but the Fenix spreads its beam wider.
Overall these CityCats seem to perform well - their beams may be less smooth - but in any real practical use this probably does not mean much - we are lucky to be spoiled by close to perfect beams from the 4Sevens Quark lights - but that shouldn't stop us enjoying other lights too.....
