clipse
Enlightened
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2003
- Messages
- 428
I am on the never ending search for the perfect "every day carry" flashlight. In that search I've come across an array of flashlights that are almost perfect. Recently I discovered (heard about it three weeks ago and anticipated it like none other) the Amilite Neo T5. It is almost the perfect 'edc' flashlight. Not quite there but close. I'll explain its attributes and its shortcomings (few that they may be)
About a year ago I purchased the Amilite Neo T3. At the time it was the brigtest light for its size that I could find. It it is a very very small light that fits in my pocket perfectly. I'm the kinda guy that goes by the creed that one is none and two is one. So, the T3 served as my backup flashlight for last year. Sometimes it did take a break and let the less bright but longer running Fenix P1 take over but the T3 just has the upmost in quality and functionality. It has always work everytime I turned it on. I love that light.
So a few weeks ago I hear that Amilite is coming out with a new light. This excited me to no end. I could not wait for the release. Usually I wait till a few people buy one a report how they like it. This was different. I had the T3 and love it. So I figured I would go ahead and get the Amilite Neo T5 SSC. (SSC stands for Seoul Semi Conductor which is the manufacturer for the LED) The T5 sports a Seoul SSC p4 emitter which like the new Cree LED's claim double the performance of conventional Luxeon LED's. Besided the upgraded LED, Amilite listened to many people that had the T3 but wanted a clicky tailcap. How cool, a manufacturer that listens to its costumers.
No only did they add the clicky tailcap but they made it a two stage clicky so you get a dimmer brightness with extended runtime if need be. What could be better right? Well thats what I asked myself. I couldn't answer myself either utill I actually go the light to look at for myself. (uh oh, there I go having conversations with myself again)
So, I ordered the T5. It showed up on my doorstep not a week later.
Amilite claims the flashlight is 140 lumens on high and 15 on low. On high the light will last for 1 hour till you get about 1/2 its initial brightness. On low it will last 10 hours. Pretty cool huh? Well, I think the T5 fell short in the brightness catagory but it is still VERY bright. My guess would be that it is somewhere in the 100 lumens area. That is only a guess and based that off of know lumens ratings of other flahslights I have. The switch is a reverse clicky so pushing the switch in part ways won't produce any light. (no momentary on) The switch works like this, from off you click it and you get low, click it again and you get high, click it once more you turn it off and the squence starts over. My biggest gripe is that there is no momentary on. This flashlight would be perfect for me if there was a momentary on that would give me the brightest setting. Thats about the only gripe I've had with this light.
Replacing the battery will be different from most lights and unless you have a Surefire E series flashlight then you will think its wierd. You take the head off and replace the battery through that end. Pretty simple just different.
Initially I thought that Amilite used the same circuitry from the T3 in the T5 but I took reading and the T3 is pulling 1.09 mAh while the T5 is pulling 1.13mAh. I'm not any where near understanding electronics so I'm not sure if the same drive could pull more amps just from a different LED or not.
Thats enough about the light, lets see some pics with beamshots and stuff.
Here is the light.
pretty cute huh?
Here is the Amilite with several other lights just to show you size comparison.
the only physical flaw I could find was this.
Notice the anodizing just under the threads.
The T5 comes apart in the sections(head, body, and tail)
The bezel has an orange peel reflector similar to surefire.
One very cool thing is the copper heat sink. You don't generally see that. (or at least I don't)
And just a close up of the tailcap.
Before we get to the beamshots I thought I would share this. I upgraded some software and found some new features. I got to playing around and thought this turned out kinda neat for an artsy feel.
Ok so now some beamshots. I putting thumbnails on here so just click on the thumbnail if you want a closer view. This is just down my hallway which is about 20-25 feet.
Here is the Amilite Neo T5 on high
The T5 on low.
The rest are for comparison.
Amilite Neo T3
Surefire E1l
Fenix P1
HDS EDC U60 on high (60 lumens)
HDS EDC U60 on factory primary setting (I believe this is 10 lumens)
Fenix L1T on High
Fenix L1T on Low
Maglite 3d LED
Mini MagLite LED (2AA)
Streamlight Scorpion
Streamlight TL-2 LED (second gen)
Thats all for now. If you have any questions just let me know.
clipse
About a year ago I purchased the Amilite Neo T3. At the time it was the brigtest light for its size that I could find. It it is a very very small light that fits in my pocket perfectly. I'm the kinda guy that goes by the creed that one is none and two is one. So, the T3 served as my backup flashlight for last year. Sometimes it did take a break and let the less bright but longer running Fenix P1 take over but the T3 just has the upmost in quality and functionality. It has always work everytime I turned it on. I love that light.
So a few weeks ago I hear that Amilite is coming out with a new light. This excited me to no end. I could not wait for the release. Usually I wait till a few people buy one a report how they like it. This was different. I had the T3 and love it. So I figured I would go ahead and get the Amilite Neo T5 SSC. (SSC stands for Seoul Semi Conductor which is the manufacturer for the LED) The T5 sports a Seoul SSC p4 emitter which like the new Cree LED's claim double the performance of conventional Luxeon LED's. Besided the upgraded LED, Amilite listened to many people that had the T3 but wanted a clicky tailcap. How cool, a manufacturer that listens to its costumers.
No only did they add the clicky tailcap but they made it a two stage clicky so you get a dimmer brightness with extended runtime if need be. What could be better right? Well thats what I asked myself. I couldn't answer myself either utill I actually go the light to look at for myself. (uh oh, there I go having conversations with myself again) So, I ordered the T5. It showed up on my doorstep not a week later.
Amilite claims the flashlight is 140 lumens on high and 15 on low. On high the light will last for 1 hour till you get about 1/2 its initial brightness. On low it will last 10 hours. Pretty cool huh? Well, I think the T5 fell short in the brightness catagory but it is still VERY bright. My guess would be that it is somewhere in the 100 lumens area. That is only a guess and based that off of know lumens ratings of other flahslights I have. The switch is a reverse clicky so pushing the switch in part ways won't produce any light. (no momentary on) The switch works like this, from off you click it and you get low, click it again and you get high, click it once more you turn it off and the squence starts over. My biggest gripe is that there is no momentary on. This flashlight would be perfect for me if there was a momentary on that would give me the brightest setting. Thats about the only gripe I've had with this light.
Replacing the battery will be different from most lights and unless you have a Surefire E series flashlight then you will think its wierd. You take the head off and replace the battery through that end. Pretty simple just different.
Initially I thought that Amilite used the same circuitry from the T3 in the T5 but I took reading and the T3 is pulling 1.09 mAh while the T5 is pulling 1.13mAh. I'm not any where near understanding electronics so I'm not sure if the same drive could pull more amps just from a different LED or not.
Thats enough about the light, lets see some pics with beamshots and stuff.
Here is the light.
pretty cute huh?
Here is the Amilite with several other lights just to show you size comparison.
the only physical flaw I could find was this.
Notice the anodizing just under the threads.
The T5 comes apart in the sections(head, body, and tail)
The bezel has an orange peel reflector similar to surefire.
One very cool thing is the copper heat sink. You don't generally see that. (or at least I don't)
And just a close up of the tailcap.
Before we get to the beamshots I thought I would share this. I upgraded some software and found some new features. I got to playing around and thought this turned out kinda neat for an artsy feel.
Ok so now some beamshots. I putting thumbnails on here so just click on the thumbnail if you want a closer view. This is just down my hallway which is about 20-25 feet.
Here is the Amilite Neo T5 on high
The T5 on low.
The rest are for comparison.
Amilite Neo T3
Surefire E1l
Fenix P1
HDS EDC U60 on high (60 lumens)
HDS EDC U60 on factory primary setting (I believe this is 10 lumens)
Fenix L1T on High
Fenix L1T on Low
Maglite 3d LED
Mini MagLite LED (2AA)
Streamlight Scorpion
Streamlight TL-2 LED (second gen)
Thats all for now. If you have any questions just let me know.
clipse
