Chris M.
Flashlight Enthusiast
or "To Infinity and Beyond"- your choice of thread title!
Well I got my Infinity lights today much sooner than expected- top marks to Triple Aught Design! I got 2 of the original ones (green and teal) and 2 of the "gen-2" ones (green and white). Yes I did actually manage to get the same colour in original and Gen.2. I thought it would be good to post a comparison of the 2 types for the interest of potential future Infinity owners so here goes....
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Presenting the Infinity Task Lights by CMG Equipment. On the left is the original black painted version, the middle and right are the new generation anodised versions. First observation- the packaging. The original infinity comes in a cardboard box-sleeve-thing whereas the new one comes on a plastic card which in my opinion doesn`t look so good, though others may disagree. The lights themselves are physically the same size, weight and construction, and the back of the little PCBs look the same too. The black anodised versions look very similar to the painted ones but the finish is much tougher and will resist scratches. The new blue one looks really good and has a mettalic look to it- very attractive.
So what do you get then besides the lights?
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Well (depending on where you get them), no batteries with either! You provide your own choice of AA cell unless your store has decided to be nice and provide you one with the light. The orignal version comes with a high visibility green lanyard which has a glow in the dark thread woven into it so you can find it when everything suddenly goes dark. The new version has a slightly longer black lanyard which still has the glow in the dark thread, but it is finished a little better with a plastic "toggle" instead of just a knot. It`s also a little thinner and a bit stretchy too. You also get a black anodised spring-steel clip that is a little tricky to attach, and it feels like you`re scratching that coating off when you clip it on, but don`t worry- you won`t. And once on it stays on and clips firmly to pockets, etc, so you`re not going to lose your light very easilly.
Now, to some, the important bit- are they any brighter? Well not really. OK a bit, but only a teeny bit. This beam photo shows the original on the right and the gen.2 on the left, you can sort of make out the brighter beam of the gen.2. Comparing my 2 green ones the gen.2 seems to be a touch brighter but the beam is a degree or 2 wider as well. Its colour is ever so slightly whiter or less yellow than the original too, but it`s hardly noticeable and doesn`t really show in this picture (you can sort of see it though?)- also remember that often LED colours don`t render properly with CCD cameras. It looks like they are using a slightly better rank LED but the same inverter/stepup circuit. Your AA cell will probably still last the 41 hours that it did in the originals.
So are they better then? I would say yes they are. The extra cost gets you more accessories and a finish that will last as long as the light does, plus the LED colour may be more consistent and even. The new body colours look great too though I havn`t seen the smoke one yet, and also can`t say whether or not the lighter mettalic colours make the "reflector" area more effective or not. If it does then it would be only a few percent brighter because of it I would guess.
I like these lights alot, though they still aren`t Photons. But, if you want a CMG light that is that bright, get their new "04"- very nice light indeed, but that`s another thread.
Well I got my Infinity lights today much sooner than expected- top marks to Triple Aught Design! I got 2 of the original ones (green and teal) and 2 of the "gen-2" ones (green and white). Yes I did actually manage to get the same colour in original and Gen.2. I thought it would be good to post a comparison of the 2 types for the interest of potential future Infinity owners so here goes....
<center>
Presenting the Infinity Task Lights by CMG Equipment. On the left is the original black painted version, the middle and right are the new generation anodised versions. First observation- the packaging. The original infinity comes in a cardboard box-sleeve-thing whereas the new one comes on a plastic card which in my opinion doesn`t look so good, though others may disagree. The lights themselves are physically the same size, weight and construction, and the back of the little PCBs look the same too. The black anodised versions look very similar to the painted ones but the finish is much tougher and will resist scratches. The new blue one looks really good and has a mettalic look to it- very attractive.
So what do you get then besides the lights?
<center>
Well (depending on where you get them), no batteries with either! You provide your own choice of AA cell unless your store has decided to be nice and provide you one with the light. The orignal version comes with a high visibility green lanyard which has a glow in the dark thread woven into it so you can find it when everything suddenly goes dark. The new version has a slightly longer black lanyard which still has the glow in the dark thread, but it is finished a little better with a plastic "toggle" instead of just a knot. It`s also a little thinner and a bit stretchy too. You also get a black anodised spring-steel clip that is a little tricky to attach, and it feels like you`re scratching that coating off when you clip it on, but don`t worry- you won`t. And once on it stays on and clips firmly to pockets, etc, so you`re not going to lose your light very easilly.
So are they better then? I would say yes they are. The extra cost gets you more accessories and a finish that will last as long as the light does, plus the LED colour may be more consistent and even. The new body colours look great too though I havn`t seen the smoke one yet, and also can`t say whether or not the lighter mettalic colours make the "reflector" area more effective or not. If it does then it would be only a few percent brighter because of it I would guess.
I like these lights alot, though they still aren`t Photons. But, if you want a CMG light that is that bright, get their new "04"- very nice light indeed, but that`s another thread.
