Huntlight FT01 XR-E Cree Smooth & Textured Reflector Beamshots

[TJZ]

PLEASE READ THIS FIRST!

The new batch of the Huntlight Cree Lights ARE FINE
and so are the older batch lights with the smooth reflectors.
There are no gap problems or O-ring not covered problems
with the new batch lights or the older batch lights with
with the smooth reflectors.

The new batch lights are good and BOTH reflectors WORK FINE!
I have tested the new light well.

It is ONLY the textured reflectors for the OLDER model lights
that have the gap problems.

I have both the older and newer batch light.




Older model light with smooth reflector (Black HA2).



Newer model light with textured reflector (Natural HA3)



Newer model light with smooth reflector (Natural HA3)




Review and Beamshots:

I just got the Huntlight textured reflector today.
I thought I would put up some beamshots with the
stock smooth reflector and the new textured reflector.
I have a Cyberber-shot U 2.0 Mega Pixel Camera so
these are not the best quality pictures.
Also this is my first review.

I really like how the new textured reflector smoothed out the beam!

The first two indoor beamshots were taken at approximately
1 meter (39.37 inches) on the highest output setting, level 5.

Note that with the textured reflector there is a gap between the
pill and the reflector. The flashlight still goes together fine.
Also the O-ring Seal will not be completely covered.
I have two driver circuits/LED and two textured reflectors
[font=&quot]and they both have this gap with or without the O-ring in it.
[/font][font=&quot][font=&quot]
[/font][/font]
JonSidneyB (Jon) posted a thread on this first.
I was not sure if I could just add my post to his post
so I started this one.

Here is his post.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=152933&page=1


F[font=&quot][font=&quot]eel free to add your beamshots to my post![/font][/font]

[font=&quot][/font]
[font=&quot]- Tom

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Stock Smooth Reflector




New Textured Reflector



Stock Smooth Reflector



New Textured Reflector



Gap View #1



Gap View #2



O-Ring Seal Problem




Textured Reflector View #1




Textured Reflector View #2




Here is a picture of both reflector units.
You can see the depth of the LED difference between the two.
The Textured Reflector LED is lower, The Smooth Reflector is higher.







Thread Problem:
The Textured Reflector threads are not deep enough
compared to the Smooth Reflector.
I highlighted the threads with a black magic marker so
they could be seen.




UPDATE: 2-24-07

Chevrofreak found this.
Making the threads deeper will not solve the probelm as
thought in the picture above.

I really don't think it is actually the threads causing this. I used my dremel and completely removed the threads from the inside of one of the reflectors, and the unthreaded material below them. The reflector doesn't sit any lower on the module with all of that machined out of there than it does with just the tape removed.

Chevrofreak, Once you said you dremeled off the threads and the reflector
doesn't sit any lower on the module, I took some measurements with my caliper.
There is a difference between the top to the bottom lenght of the two
reflectors in the threading area (Red arrows). I overlooked this.
Threading deeper will not fix the problem.

Good job trouble shooting, removing material, and trying it out, thanks! :thumbsup:

 

[Kabible]

Re: Huntlight FT01 XR-E Cree Reflectors, Stock & Textured

Hey thanks TJZ! I'm waiting for my OP reflector. Now I know what I can expect. Really helpful pictures.

 

[EngrPaul]

Re: Huntlight FT01 XR-E Cree Reflectors, Stock & Textured

Aw shucks, I was hoping to post it first

Thanks!

 

[JonSidneyB]

Re: Huntlight FT01 XR-E Cree Reflectors, Stock & Textured

Thanks for posting the beam shots.

 

[greenLED]

Re: Huntlight FT01 XR-E Cree Reflectors, Stock & Textured

Note that with the Textured Reflector there is a gap between the Pill and the Reflector. The flashlight still goes together fine. Also the O-ring Seal will not be completely recessed.

The modder in me has to ask - why not sand off 1mm or so off the "business end" of the reflector to make the bezel ring sit all the way in place?

I've done that with McR18 reflectors, and the results are good. If anything, the beam is slightly more floodier, but only if you take off too much material.

 

[Chao]

Re: Huntlight FT01 XR-E Cree Reflectors, Stock & Textured

Thanks Tom!

 

[TJZ]

Re: Huntlight FT01 XR-E Cree Reflectors, Stock & Textured

The modder in me has to ask - why not sand off 1mm or so off the "business end" of the reflector to make the bezel ring sit all the way in place?

I've done that with McR18 reflectors, and the results are good. If anything, the beam is slightly more floodier, but only if you take off too much material.

Hi greenLED, Good idea.
I was thinking to sand down the reflector also about 1mm.
It looks just a hair under 1mm with my ruler.
This should make a perfect fit.
I have two of these reflectors so I can experiment on one.
The thread length is different between the textured and smooth
reflectors.
I will see if my camera can handle some pictures of them.
I am also taking some outdoor pictures with both reflectors
and if they come out OK, I'll post them tonight.

BTW, How would you suggest I take down 1mm on the reflector?
I would guess to sand it on a level surface with sandpaper.
What grain do you recommend?


Tom

 

[JonSidneyB]

Re: Huntlight FT01 XR-E Cree Reflectors, Stock & Textured

Thats strange. I just got a couple of the new lights out and with the textured reflector the oring is completely covered.

I wonder if they made a change in the light to accomodate this.

I wish I had one of the older XR-E Huntlights to compare. I am looking at the smooth and textured reflectors from a brand the new batch and they look identical except for the textureing.

I am going to go check another one.

 

[JonSidneyB]

Re: Huntlight FT01 XR-E Cree Reflectors, Stock & Textured

I have checked 3 new ones now and in each case the oring is covered with the textured one in place. I will check each light before I ship them out the make sure that the oring is covered by both the smooth and textured reflector.

They must have made a change in the head is the only think I can think of.

I am anxious to see what others find. I wonder if they have redesigned the head more than a couple of times. If they have I am not aware of it.

I hope someone that has and older and new light can chime in.

 

[TJZ]

Re: Huntlight FT01 XR-E Cree Reflectors, Stock & Textured

Thats strange. I just got a couple of the new lights out the the textured reflector the oring is completely covered.

I wonder if they made a change in the light to accomodate this.

I wish I had one of the older XR-E Huntlights to compare. The I am looking at the smooth are textured reflectors from a brand new one and they look identical except for the textureing.

I am going to go check another one.

Hi Jon,
If you look at the smooth and textured reflector side by side
without the O-rings in them do you see a thread distance
difference between the two like I do between them?
The smooth reflector has much more threads.


Tom

 

[chevrofreak]

Re: Huntlight FT01 XR-E Cree Reflectors, Stock & Textured

The new reflectors don't have the threads cut as far as the old one, which will keep it from screwing as far down. The new reflectors don't need the O-ring under them to keep you from overtightening them.

If you want to make the bezel screw on further, screw out the ring that holds the glass window in.

 

[JonSidneyB]

Re: Huntlight FT01 XR-E Cree Reflectors, Stock & Textured

Tom

I am going to send out a new light for you to examine.

Maybe you can compare with an older one for changes. The lights that I have here are covering the o-ring.

Maybe you can list the difference. I don't have any old ones to compare.

 

[chevrofreak]

Re: Huntlight FT01 XR-E Cree Reflectors, Stock & Textured

Jon, do the new lights still have that aluminum ring holding the glass in?

 

[TJZ]

Re: Huntlight FT01 XR-E Cree Reflectors, Stock & Textured

Tom

I am going to send out a new light for you to examine.

Maybe you can compare with an older one for changes. The lights that I have here are covering the o-ring.

Maybe you can list the difference. I don't have any old ones to compare.

Jon,

Sounds good!
I would be glad to compare them for you!
I'll add it to my post with pictures.

Thanks

 

[TJZ]

Re: Huntlight FT01 XR-E Cree Reflectors, Stock & Textured

The new reflectors don't have the threads cut as far as the old one, which will keep it from screwing as far down. The new reflectors don't need the O-ring under them to keep you from overtightening them.

If you want to make the bezel screw on further, screw out the ring that holds the glass window in.

Edited, misunderstood at first, but got it now!

 

[JonSidneyB]

Re: Huntlight FT01 XR-E Cree Reflectors, Stock & Textured

Just checked.

The ring is still there.

 

[JonSidneyB]

Re: Huntlight FT01 XR-E Cree Reflectors, Stock & Textured

I suspect that they made a change in both the smooth are textured reflectors and a change in the light as well.

 

[EngrPaul]

Re: Huntlight FT01 XR-E Cree Reflectors, Stock & Textured

Smooth

Smooth Underexposed

Textured

Textured Underexposed

Thanks Jon! Much better!

But the Seoul is still the smoothest

FT-01PJ with Seoul vs. the stock Cree

 

[chevrofreak]

Re: Huntlight FT01 XR-E Cree Reflectors, Stock & Textured

TJZ said it was cool if I post my beamshots here too, so I'll copy what I said in JSB's thread.

Jon, they arrived today and I tried some beamshots. I think yours turned out pretty well because they look very similar to mine.

These were taken at about 1 meter

this one is with the exposure set to -2.0

This was my ceiling at about the same distance but with the camera a bit closer.

It still has a decent amount of throw, but the high amount of flood makes it seem like less throw than it really is. The darker ring seems to be pretty much completely gone. I do think the ring that shows up in the beamshots is a bit exagerated though as I don't see it quite that much with my eyes.

 

[TJZ]

Re: Huntlight FT01 XR-E Cree Reflectors, Stock & Textured

EngrPaul, thanks for adding more pictures.
You can do more with your camera like Underexpose.

Did you do the Seoul Mod?
Looks real good.
I would be interested in one.


Tom