Feedback on 8AX

[Lonewolf]

Just wondering what you guys think of this light. Beam output and quality?

 

[geepondy]

Typical Surefire beam and build quality. Beam is quite wide, perfect for household use that you want more light then LEDs provide. Run time typical Surefire as well, meaning less then one hour per battery. My only wish is that you could leave it in a charger when not in use so you would know battery is always charged. Instead, you have to remove the battery to charge it. Battery gives very little indication before empty. Will go from near full brightness to dead in just a minute or so. This can be good or bad, depending on your viewpoint. I like it as I know getting max lightout thru batterylife cycle but wish there was some sort of indicator to let you know when battery is low. Well I guess that's two wishes, then.

All and all my most used light although I find I now can use the Arc LS for certain applications that I used the 8AX before.

 

[recercare]

Now this is weird! According to Brock's webpage the 8X's beam is very narrow compared to other Surefires....??

 

[geepondy]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by recercare:
Now this is weird! According to Brock's webpage the 8X's beam is very narrow compared to other Surefires....??

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

This is a direct quote from Brock's 8NX review which has the same lamp assembly as the 8AX. "I really like the spot of light this light makes, at 20 feet it has a 1 foot really bright center spot, then a 7 foot bright ring, then a wider dimmer area of light. This makes it great for lighting up things at a distance and yet lights up things near them also." Hope you don't mind me copying your quote Brock. I agree with his view completely. I don't own a lot of Surefire's but it's beam is nearly twice as wide as an E2.

 

[kb0rrg]

It's too bad that the charger can't charge the battery OR the flashlight.

 

[txwest]

I have a 8NX & concur with Brock's observation. That's exactly how I would describe the output. TX

 

[Lonewolf]

Thanks I alreadt bought one but I just can't wait to get it. UPS says I won't have it until MON.

But it seems like a good general purpose light.

 

[recercare]

That's good to hear! I looked at Brock's spesification table which read 1.5 Feet which is more narrow than the M6's 4 feet. However..this data probably describes the center spot, and not the wider and dimmer areas of light. So when taking the entire beam in consideration the 8NX is probably more wide then.

 

[Size15's]

The X80 has a very bright intense centre to the beam - this is a tight beam, but between it and what I consider to be the surround beam, there is a large area of bright light.
So, I consider the 8NX a tool for closer range, more universal illumination(compared to a tight specific beam). Typically for internal work or as a light you'd use to illumninate something you're working on, rather then perhaps just looking at...

Check out www.pk-engineering.com for beam shots.

Al

 

[geepondy]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by 5BY5:

But it seems like a good general purpose light.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Believe me for around the house and even outdoors in non LEO apps that you don't need to throw a hundred yards, the 8AX, NX will more then be satisfactory. I'm positive you'll be pleased. Just keep in mind that the batteries will have real crappy run times for the first few charges.

 

[Lonewolf]

geepondy yeah I read that somewhere about the batteries it might have been the SFBB thanks for the input. I bought a beamshaper with the light just in case now it looks like I won't need it but I guess I can use it as a protective cover.

 

[txwest]

Originally posted by 5BY5:
I bought a beamshaper with the light just in case now it looks like I won't need it but I guess I can use it as a protective cover.
*****************
I think you'll still like the beamshaper. I don't have one for the 8NX yet, but do for my Scorpion & E2. I got the one on the Scorpion for my D2, but got the shock absorbing bezel, & it won't fit. Let me know what you think. It really smooths out the light. TX

 

[Lonewolf]

Yeah I can't wait for this light to arrive. I wasn't sure if the beamshaper would make the beam to diffuse from the way the beam is already being described.

I also ordered a E1 HA today and the beamshaper fot that as well. I think the beamshaper is needed more for the E1 because Brock's site says it has a 1 foot beam at 7 meters that is a tight beam.

 

[txwest]

Brock's right. My E2 with the E1 bulb is a very tight spot. You would think useing the same reflector, it would be the same as the E2, but it isn't. I've used my 8NX while holding the 6V to the lens. Makes a lot of difference. Makes the whole light area the same brightness. It's deffinately a + as a utility light. Wish I had one for my Surge. TX

 

[Lonewolf]

I thought about using an E2e when they come out. The E2e with the E1 bulb but I figured I would just get the smaller light.