Convince me to get an Incan

[boulder]

Hi guys. In the past year I have acquired many great LED flashlights. All kinds for all different applications including EDC. One of my most recent lights is the HDS Clicky High CRI. I love the color rendition but the light is super floody. It is great for close-up and is one of my lights that I carry most often. I'd like something that still has a nice smooth beam but with more throw, for when I am outside.

Getting to my point....I have read that incans are better throwers when it comes to the size of the light vs. the throwing capability. Since I love the warm color and I am always looking to add new lights to my collection, I want YOU guys to convince me that my next one should be an incan. :thumbsup:

I have done some research and found the following lights on my "want" list

Surefire E2E (65 lumens, optional 25 lumen lamp)
Surefire E1E (15 lumens)
Surefire A2 (50 lumens primary, 3 lumen secondary LEDs)

I will most likely be keeping the light stock initially.

One of the above will be making its way into my EDC rotation.
Out of these lights which is your favorite and why? Any advice on getting my feet wet in the world of incans?

Money is not an object in my decision. :naughty:

Any help or input is appreciated! I am looking forward to getting my first incan!

 

[ASheep]

I have an A2, with a Lumens factory lamp and one of koala's onion rings in it. It is my favourite light of those I currently own. Absolutely lovely beam quality, good throw for a light of its size, and the regulated incan beam gives you constant output, no sickly yellow towards the end of the battery life. :thumbsup: I can absolutely recommend it as a first quality incan, it was my first incan and is still my favourite! The secondary LEDs make for a great close-up reading light, if you sand the LEDs, you have a perfect flood for close use.

I've heard great things about the E1e, and its bigger brother the E2e, But I can't comment yet, as I have an E1e on the way, with a Lumens factory lamp. I'll post my impressions when I receive it.

 

[Mikeg23]

I lovey E2e but they are not the best for throw...

 

[M@elstrom]

+1 on either the stock OR modded SF A2 :thumbsup:

 

[jellydonut]

A2. It's quite good stock, but really comes into its own once you add the LF lamp. Onion rings and tailstander extensions are good additions too:twothumbs

LF A2 lamp provides awesome throw for the size and lumen output it actually has.

 

[boulder]

Thanks so far guys.

ASheep, I would like to hear about your E1E when you recieve it!

I am probably going to order something this week. Still not sure which one yet!

 

[RobertM]

So it looks like you are simply wanting a pocketable, incan thrower. I too have an HDS EDC High CRI and love it, but you are definitely correct, a thrower it is not.

I also love my A2 and it is a really great light, but it doesn't throw much better than the HDS EDC High CRI.

I recently did a little test of some of my lights to measure throw. I measured light output at 1 meter using my Canon SD1000 and the CHDK software hack (Google it if you are interested). Here are a few of my results that might interest you (keep in mind that this setup is specifically measuring throw, not total output):

HDS EDC High CRI: 87 cd/m2
SF A2-WH: 91 cd/m2
SF G2 with P60 lamp on 2xCR123: 230 cd/m2
SF E1e with Fivemega holder, Strion lamp, on 1xIMR16240: 306 cd/m2 :twothumbs
SF 6P with LF IMR-9 lamp on 2xIMR16340: 445 cd/m2
SF M6 with MN21 lamp on 6xCR123: 1670 cd/m2 :devil:

The E1e/Strion combo was the biggest surprise to me. It is a really small light, but has pretty respectable throw. Granted, it will only run for 20-30 minutes, but it is worth it.

 

[ASheep]

SF A2-WH: 91 cd/m2
SF E1e with Fivemega holder, Strion lamp, on 1xIMR16240: 306 cd/m2 :twothumbs

Wow that's a seriously big difference... How does the strion lamp compare with the Lumens Factory EO-E1R?
I was very tempted to upgrade my A2 with FM's strion lamp kit, but strion lamps here in Australia cost almost as much as LF lamps!

 

[KiwiMark]

I also love my A2 and it is a really great light, but it doesn't throw much better than the HDS EDC High CRI.

Wow, really? I've taken my A2 camping and have been VERY impressed with how well it throws for its size. It seems to easily match my Olight M20 or Jetbeam Jet-IIIM but with a CRI of 100. I definitely wouldn't call the incan beam floody, not by any stretch of the imagination.