CMG Reactor or INOVA X5-T

[V8TOYTRUCK]

I am in the market for a new LED light, and I have settled on two that haven't even been released yet. I want to get the reactor because I want an LS light, and don't want to pay for a ARC LS, and can't get my hands on an Illuminator. I want the Inova because I hear a lot of good things about it on this site, and I like the fact it uses the 123's so I can store it for extended periods. Anyone else considering these two lights?

 

[txwest]

I'll offer the standard CPF's answer....get them both (or is that from the SF board?)

TX

 

[Spork]

I would wait until the reviews are out on them both. the x5 should be fairly similar to the old one. nobody really knows what the reactor will be like yet. it could be a really dim ls flashlight. read the reactor thread for more info.

 

[rlhess]

The Lambda Ill Pill shows some promise of availability it is about $35 and fits in a MiniMag. Lasts two hours on a pair of AAs (cheap to run) nice and bright--almost as bright as an Illuminator (should be the same, mine is probably a bit dimmer 'cause the lens in the old light is scratched/scuffed but perhaps a bit less as it's not as well heat-sinked (sunk?)?

I'm not done testing my Ill Pill from Lambda yet, but so far, I'm quite impressed--and in general I like the smaller size of the MiniMag 2AA to the Brinkmann 2AA of the Illuminator.

Cheers,

Richard

 

[geepondy]

Hi Richard,

I see from your post, you have both the Lambda pill for the minimag and illumator itself. Perhaps this has already been covered but which of the two is brighter? I still hope to get an illuminator because I'm tired of lights without switches like the mini mag.

 

[rlhess]

The Ill Pill and the Illuminator are essentially similar. My initial tests show the Ill Pill a bit dimmer but then I looked at the lens from the old MiniMag. I haven't measured the light output since I replaced the lens, but it's brighter--I used the slightly magnifying lens from the Brinkmann AA that I bought as a spare for the Illuminator.

So...I think either will work. I suspect in long run time, the better heat sinking of the Illuminator may cause it to put out a bit more light.

At one foot, I got 265cd from the Illuminator and 215cd from the pill with the bad lens.

With a new set of batteries, I got about 225cd (+/-15cd) from each of them again using one foot.

At two feet, the Ill Pill had one spot that was reading as high as 67fc (268 cd) while the Illuminator was 56fc (224 cd)

In general, these lights should probably be considered 225cd peak, with 175cd or so as a long-term output. Nice thing is that 5 degrees off axis, they are still in the 75cd area.

The MiniMag with Nexstar lamp is substantially brighter, but not as broad.

My wife wanted to keep the Nexstar, not spend more money on another Ill Pill.

Cheers,

Richard