In one corner, the Dorcy AAA. A staple of CPF and flashaholics for over a year, the Dorcy is usefully bright for a single LED, conveniently sized, all but disappearing in the pocket, has very good runtime on a single AAA and at $6, is cheap but not too cheaply made. Also, it's a mod favorite.
In the other corner, the River Rock 2AAA. New to CPFers and flashaholics, its half watt LED is brighter than a single LED and even throws a bit, is nicely EDC sized small and stylishly slim at 2AAA length, has good runtime and is a very good value at $10. It's a great gift and a nice Mini* replacement.
To handicap this fight, a gambling flashaholic would surely put his/her money on the River Rock to KO the Dorcy. At about twice as bright as the Dorcy, the River Rock is also better looking and better made. But despite the RR winning on points, this ringside flashaholic judge gives this bout to the Dorcy.
Upon investigation, the CPF "committee" would find that the fix was in - that it would take the best of four Dorcys to win the bout against the RR.
Personally, not only did I find my first Dorcy, the last one at Wallys at the time, a gold one, brighter than I expected, I was also surprised as to how effective a well driven LED is with night adjusted eyes. My second Dorcy, in the color that I wanted, silver, is not quite as bright. The third Dorcy, a Red one bought as a gift, that I, of course, had to make sure was in working order....BULLS-EYE!! - both literally and figuratively. The broad bulls-eye pattern of this Dorcy of increasing brightness from its spill to its large spot would be considered stunning even on a hundred dollar flashlight let alone one that costs just $6, and with just enough yellow swirling in the bluish tone of the lone LED to render colors well. The fourth Dorcy, another red one, the one that was given as the gift, is bright but uneven.
Trying to polish out a scratch on the River Rock's lens, I inadvertently added several more "nice" scratches to the lens of the RR that showed up as artifacts in its spill on the White Wall. Since the spot already had artifacts, I added some satin tape to the lens. At the ever so slight, inconsequential loss of overall light, the tape works well to smooth out all imperfections in the quite blue beam of the RR.
Because it's brighter, throws some and is good looking, if one was carry just one flashlight or was steppin' out, stylin', between these two flashlights, the Dorcy AAA and the River Rock, I would suggest the RR. But, hey, we're flashaholics, and we usually carry more than just one flashlight (don't you?). The RR just doesn't have enough lumens to be a primary EDC nor do I think that the RR is right for a backup/secondary EDC. One reviewer had it right when he called the Dorcy AAA a "mouth light". Aided by its rubber boot, my "pick-of-the-litter" Dorcy spends much of its working time in my mouth comfortably between my teeth leaving my two hands free to work. The bulls-eye beam of my Dorcy lights up a large enough area at "arms length" to not give tunnel vision or scorched eyes from too sharp of a spot. Though usable, the longer, heavier RR is not as capable as such. Even when held in the hand, because of its softer, broader spot, the Dorcy is more effective for close work. For longer (distance) work, I'll use my primary EDC du jour, usually something with 25-50 lumens. The River Rock seems to "fall between the cracks".
For flashlights that cost just $6 and $10, the Dorcy AAA and the River Rock 2AAA respectively, these "lightweights" have created A LOT of "buzz". This fight is a close one, flashlight fans. If this bout is too close for you to call, for a total of $16, do the CPF thing to do and BUY BOTH. Heck, at these prices, buy several for yourself and as gifts for the next flashaholics.
73
dim
In the other corner, the River Rock 2AAA. New to CPFers and flashaholics, its half watt LED is brighter than a single LED and even throws a bit, is nicely EDC sized small and stylishly slim at 2AAA length, has good runtime and is a very good value at $10. It's a great gift and a nice Mini* replacement.
To handicap this fight, a gambling flashaholic would surely put his/her money on the River Rock to KO the Dorcy. At about twice as bright as the Dorcy, the River Rock is also better looking and better made. But despite the RR winning on points, this ringside flashaholic judge gives this bout to the Dorcy.
Upon investigation, the CPF "committee" would find that the fix was in - that it would take the best of four Dorcys to win the bout against the RR.
Personally, not only did I find my first Dorcy, the last one at Wallys at the time, a gold one, brighter than I expected, I was also surprised as to how effective a well driven LED is with night adjusted eyes. My second Dorcy, in the color that I wanted, silver, is not quite as bright. The third Dorcy, a Red one bought as a gift, that I, of course, had to make sure was in working order....BULLS-EYE!! - both literally and figuratively. The broad bulls-eye pattern of this Dorcy of increasing brightness from its spill to its large spot would be considered stunning even on a hundred dollar flashlight let alone one that costs just $6, and with just enough yellow swirling in the bluish tone of the lone LED to render colors well. The fourth Dorcy, another red one, the one that was given as the gift, is bright but uneven.
Trying to polish out a scratch on the River Rock's lens, I inadvertently added several more "nice" scratches to the lens of the RR that showed up as artifacts in its spill on the White Wall. Since the spot already had artifacts, I added some satin tape to the lens. At the ever so slight, inconsequential loss of overall light, the tape works well to smooth out all imperfections in the quite blue beam of the RR.
Because it's brighter, throws some and is good looking, if one was carry just one flashlight or was steppin' out, stylin', between these two flashlights, the Dorcy AAA and the River Rock, I would suggest the RR. But, hey, we're flashaholics, and we usually carry more than just one flashlight (don't you?). The RR just doesn't have enough lumens to be a primary EDC nor do I think that the RR is right for a backup/secondary EDC. One reviewer had it right when he called the Dorcy AAA a "mouth light". Aided by its rubber boot, my "pick-of-the-litter" Dorcy spends much of its working time in my mouth comfortably between my teeth leaving my two hands free to work. The bulls-eye beam of my Dorcy lights up a large enough area at "arms length" to not give tunnel vision or scorched eyes from too sharp of a spot. Though usable, the longer, heavier RR is not as capable as such. Even when held in the hand, because of its softer, broader spot, the Dorcy is more effective for close work. For longer (distance) work, I'll use my primary EDC du jour, usually something with 25-50 lumens. The River Rock seems to "fall between the cracks".
For flashlights that cost just $6 and $10, the Dorcy AAA and the River Rock 2AAA respectively, these "lightweights" have created A LOT of "buzz". This fight is a close one, flashlight fans. If this bout is too close for you to call, for a total of $16, do the CPF thing to do and BUY BOTH. Heck, at these prices, buy several for yourself and as gifts for the next flashaholics.
73
dim
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