+1 Another vote for the L0D :twothumbs
I own about 2 dozen high quality lights, but the L0D is one of my abslolute favorites. It's a nice simple, practical, light that has a great combination of raw performance and features without becoming overly complicated like some of the LF series lights.
The L0D is like that reliable car you take for nice drives in the country, and which always get's you there. Some of the other options mentioned, are more like one of those twitchy sportscars that you spend 3 hours working on for every hour you spend driving it. In the first case, you don't think much about the car, you just enjoy the scenery. In the second case you really gain an appreciation for all the mechanical details while you spend hours tinkering. The L0D works so well, it just seems to disapear most of the time, and all you notice is that you are NOT haveing problems seeing whatever it is you are looking at. Some folks want that fancy light they can tinker with. Me - I just want one that works so well I don't even notice that it's there.
Recently, I needed a work light to do some involved rewireing work in a dark attic space, and after considering several other lights in my collection, the light I chose was the L0D.
This little featherweight light weighs almost nothing, and throws a nice bright even floody beam that is perfectly suited to filling the full area of interest for close up work. Even on a single standard NiMH rechargable battery, there is plenty of light for close up work, even in the default MEDIUM power mode, and in this mode the little L0D will provide bright perfectly regulated light FOR HOURS AND HOURS.
I attached the little L0D to one side of the eyeglass frame of my work glasses with a rubberband. You can also use the supplied pocket clip 'wrong-way-round' (at the head of the light), to clip the L0D to the brim of a baseball cap. I loosened the grip of my pocket clip a little by spreading it a little, then wrapped it with a layer of super tough kapton tape so it can be quickly put on and off the L0D without scratching. Either the baseball cap or eyeglass frame trick works incredibly well as a quick dirty headlamp replacement (in fact, works BETTER than most purpose-built headlamps).
After working in the attic for a couple hours, I came back down and was walking around for about 15 minutes before a friend pointed out that I had not turned off my light. I had gotten so used to that clean white circle of light that followed whatever I was looking at, that I didn't even notice it.
It was only after my friend mentioned it, that I turned off the L0D, and paused to consider that, in a pitch black attic, I had had so little trouble seeing anything that I needed to look at, that I had completely forgotten that I was even useing a light at all.
That's what I meant when I said that the L0D does it's job so well that it just seems to disapear. If you want to tinker, and appreciate the latest technology, there's no doubt that the LF series lights are really cool gizmos. On the other hand, if you want something that just works so well that you don't have to even think about it at all, then go with the L0D.
I also agree with those who have stated that the L0D-Q4 is more than bright enough with standard NiMH cells or L92 lithium cells, so there is really no reason to risk messing around with 10440's.
In fact, for the first time in recent memory, I have noticed that the majority of users posting in this L0D thread are NOT on the 10440 bandwagon.
I think the reason for this is two fold; first the recent crop of L0D's using Rebel and Q4's, tend to have lower Vf emitters which can have more problems with 10440's; and second; the Q4 version L0D is one hell of a bright little light even with a standard NiMH cell. For a little extra brightness (and an unbelivably lightweight package) you can also try the L92 lithiums from energizer.
The L92 lithium cells are legal in the L0D because they use a Lithium/Iron Disulfide (Li/FeS2) chemistry that keeps the voltage within the specified range for the L0D.
10440's are indeed very bright, but in EVERY OTHER WAY, they are a NIGHTMARE in the L0D (flaky operation, shorter run times, high heat, danger of destroying the light, etc.) If you want more performance, the L92 cells are a real dream in almost every respect (ultra light weight, highest legal output, and the longest runtimes possible in the L0D). The only downside to L92 is the cost of a couple bucks per cell.
Here is a quick summary of the battery options for the L0D -
10440 -
Flaming bright output (sometimes litterally). **** poor on maximum runtimes compared to NiMH, but great for short blasts to impress your Geek friends (if you don't mind the minor issue that there is a small chance you could destroy the light in the process). 10440 batteries are rechargable, but require a special charger, and the L0D doesn't have a low voltage cutout to protect these cells (because it's NOT supposed to be used with them) so if you forget and let the battery run down too far it will be destroyed (which will pretty much cancel out the advantages of having a rechargable cell). If you are looking for the best overall option, you problably will want to consider something else.
Energizer L92 AAA lithium -
A bit pricy, and not rechargable, but otherwise the PERFECT power source for the L0D. Half the weight of NiMH cells, with the highest output possible short of the non-approved 10440 option. L92 cells also have best-in-class runtimes that blow away every other type of battery by a substantial margin. If you absolutly need cutting edge runtimes (or low temprature performance for outdoor use), or if you will use the light infrequenly (shelf life for L92 cells is more than 15 YEARS), then L92 lithium cells are your best bet.
Low self discharge NiMH (Sanyo Eneloop, Rayovac Hybrid, etc.) -
These cells offer 15 to 20 percent lower ultimate capacity than high capacity NiMH cells, but will hold their charge better, so if you don't use the light for a month or more between charge cycles, then they will actually give better overall performance. Many consider them the best compromise between shelf life and performance, but that will depend on how you use your L0D.
Standard high capacity NiMH (Duracell 1000mAh etc.) -
Great performance, with runtimes better than anything else except L92 lithium. With all the buzz about Eneloops's, many folks forget that these batteries are your best bet if you use your L0D every single day and will recharge them within a few weeks. 1000mAh cells start out with more usable capacity, and maintain thier advantage for a few weeks. Of course, after that, without recharging, they will have less capacity than the equivelent AAA Low Self Discharge NiMH cell, so if you don't use your L0D very often, you will want to think about another option.
Plain Alkaline AAA -
For occasional intermittent use, Alkalines are probably fine, but if you use the L0D frequently, you will probably want to limit the use of Alkaline batteries to when another better option is not available. When useing Alkaline batteries in HIGH and MEDIUM modes, you will see somewhat poorer output regulation, and much shorter runtimes, compared to NiMH or L92 cells. Alkaline cells do have fairly high ultimate capacity, but don't like high loads, so they will give the best bang for the buck in the L0D when used in LOW mode. In LOW mode, Alkalines work almost as well as NiMH cells, delivering many hours of well regulated light (Remember even in LOW mode, the L0D will still outperform most of the ARC and Fenix E0 class lights). Even with their lackluster performance, Alkalines will work better in the L0D than almost any other high power LED light, and MUCH better than ANY incandescent light. Even if you routinely select another battery option, it's really nice to have a light that can use good old Alkalines (or even carbon-zinc) batteries as an alternative in an emergency (as opposed to CR123 lights).
