I Need A Light!

[a4d]

Hey guys i'm new on this fourm was suggested to come over here by someone on another forum. Anyway I was wondering i want a good flashlight, rather small but no keychain size. Pocketable or a tad bigger. i'm willing to spend up to $70 on my first real light. I have a 10,000,000 CP light in my truck but thats overkill to carry around the streets.:naughty: WATERPROOF IS A MUST. sorry for the caps but it's gotta be waterproof, when i'm home and not in college i'm always in the woods usually near water, and sometimes i get caugt in the rain. Thanks..

 

[effulgentOne]

I would look into Fenix. Their current offerings are pretty confusing because they each come in a bunch on LED versions, but they're all pretty good (so I've heard, and I own a few), and all are in the price and size range you're asking about.

They're advertised as waterproof, but I wouldn't trust them under more than a couple feet of water (aka not dive rated, but fine for splashes and occasional dunks and drops). Virtually every light around $70 will be fine in rain.

Just my two cents.

 

[Marduke]

Let me introduce you to http://www.fenix-store.com/


:welcome:

 

[a4d]

Ya i was looking at the Fenix lights earlier. So I guess that they are a Good light. I was looking at the Fenix T-1 Is it worth he money or look at one of there lights.

 

[Gunner12]

Depends on what you want.

I would suggest the L2D-CE Q5 or the P2D-CE Q5 power pack because:
AA batteries
1AA(L1D), 2AA(L2D) and, 1 CR123(P2D) bodies
Water proof
multimode and easy to use
Fenix Store has great customer service
8% off coupon at Fenix Store for CPFers, "CPF8"
Should be pretty tough, look at this thread

What to you need the light for?

:welcome:

 

[Lightguy27]

Hey guys i'm new on this fourm was suggested to come over here by someone on another forum. Anyway I was wondering i want a good flashlight, rather small but no keychain size. Pocketable or a tad bigger. i'm willing to spend up to $70 on my first real light. I have a 10,000,000 CP light in my truck but thats overkill to carry around the streets.WATERPROOF IS A MUST. sorry for the caps but it's gotta be waterproof, when i'm home and not in college i'm always in the woods usually near water, and sometimes i get caugt in the rain. Thanks..

Well :welcome:, and as an avid outdoor's man my self, I think that this is the perfect light for you
http://www.surefire.com/maxexp/main/co_disp/displ/carfnbr/0/prrfnbr/24460/G2supandreg-sup-LED

And to prove it's tough
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=176054

Oh, I know that water got into the case, but unless you do all the dragging and throwing and droping he did before that which caused the lens retainer ring to break, this light is rated by Surefire to be waterproof up to 33ft. And even if the light is subjected to all of that, and you take it for a swim, Surefire's got you back. Trust me their Customer Service is top notch :thumbsup:. And the metal version which is this http://www.surefire.com/maxexp/main/co_disp/displ/prrfnbr/24459/sesent/00 is only 15 bucks out of your price range so it's a possibilty. Good luck!!

-Evan

 

[a4d]

Depends on what you want.

I would suggest the L2D-CE Q5 or the P2D-CE Q5 power pack because:
AA batteries
1AA(L1D), 2AA(L2D) and, 1 CR123(P2D) bodies
Water proof
multimode and easy to use
Fenix Store has great customer service
8% off coupon at Fenix Store for CPFers, "CPF8"
Should be pretty tough, look at this thread

What to you need the light for?

:welcome:

I'd mainly be using the light for beign in the Woods, For working on trucks, and some other random stuff. As for the G2 I don't know to much about Lumens, so how bright is 80 Lumens compared to the Fenix T-1. I'm only asking about the T-1 because i really like the design and it seems to be pretty mean.

 

[cfromc]

It depends on what you really want in a light. I use a G2 with an LED drop-in to work on cars and for some general use. If I drop it on concrete or in the water I know it will still work later and the Nitrolon finish usually doesn't even get marked up or scratched. A G2 will run about $25 used or $30 +/- new. The G2L is about double that but has higher output and a lot longer run-time. Figure about 3 hours at full output and another 5+ hours at declining output. If you are going to be using the light for several hours a week, I would suggest an LED just for the run-time benefit. I have several lights and I actually use my "used" batteries in my G2 because the LED will run for hours on batteries that will no longer power an incandescent bulb.

If you want different levels of light then a Surefire is going to be expensive (U2 is >$200). Perhaps a Fenix or even a Novatac 85. I just saw 4 Novatacs go on ebay for $69 shipped. They were 85s and the seller gave a choice of 2 different models. I would personally prefer a Nova or a Surefire because their customer service is excellent, although I haven't had any experience with Fenix so they may also have good service.

Another option, which is rather inexpensive is a minimag with a TLE-5EX drop-in. The whole set-up will run about $30 and is about as simple as can be since the minimag is a "twisty" light. It will offer some protection from the weather and about 50 "real" lumens. The run-time should be about 4-6 hours and it can run on 2 AAs, Alky or Lithium.

 

[Lighthouse one]

You might also consider the olight.
http://www.batteryjunction.com/olight-t20.html
Several versions available. Single 123 or 2 123 (rechargeable batt also).
Lots of good reviews...Small and very powerful.

 

[a4d]

i've had a few maglites and would rather try something new. At first i was skeptical about the G2 because it looked a little plain i know never judge a book by it's cover it seems to be a good light from what i've heard. Whats the difference between L.E.D. and Incandesent. I know led is a ight emitting diode and harder to break, but is there a difference in brightness, battery life,and any other things you can think of. Basically what are the pros and cons between the two. What does everyone think of the Gearlite Cree XR-01. On high output it's 130 lumens, and on low it's 75 lumens. It states it's water resistant, seems good to me. http://www.batteryjunction.com/gearlite.html

 

[Gunner12]

The newer LED can run longer at the same output as the incans. Well, with a good NiMh battery and the right driver(Around 800 mA), you should be able to get 120+ lumens out the front for 40 minutes in a single AA battery. Same output as the P61 but twice the runtime on one battery. For smaller lights, LEDs pretty much have incans beat except in the color rendering. But they might be able to make up for that with sheer output.

I'm not sure about the Gearlite but I heard it was pretty good.

My suggestion for the L2D-CE Q5 still stands. Much easier to find batteries and 150 something lumen out the front while still having a good low(10 something lumens). Some have said it was slippery, but a few O=rings, shrink tubing or bicycle inner tube could fix that. Remember, buy a light for it's uses and not for looks. It would be better for the long term.

The Gearlite might throw further though.

In the end it's still your decision.

You could also get a cheap Cree/Seoul/Rebel light, like this one or this one(Look for ones getting good reviews), and see how you like them(After they arrive in a month, shipping from HK is a bit slow unless you use EMS, which costs money)

 

[a4d]

I was on that site before someone on another forum suggested the P2D. Whats the main differenece between them, if any. Is there any other site where the lights and batteries don't come from Hong Kong so i don't have to wait so long.

 

[Marduke]

I was on that site before someone on another forum suggested the P2D. Whats the main differenece between them, if any. Is there any other site where the lights and batteries don't come from Hong Kong so i don't have to wait so long.

www.fenix-store.com ships from Atlanta, GA, free worldwide.

Your light depends a lot on your choice of battery

 

[Gunner12]

Fenix Lights:

CE means Cree XR-E LED P4 unless specified. Go for the CE(Especially the Q5 versions, about 30% brighter then the P4 versions), Rebel 100(Better color rendering) or V2.0 models. They ave a more efficient and brighter LED. Twice or more output then the non CE, V2.0 versions.

The L0P, L0D, L0D-CE all use the AAA battery.
The Civictor, L1, L1P, L1T, L1S, L1T V2.0, L1D-CE all use a AA battery
The L2P, L2T, L2S, L2T V2.0, L2D-CE all use 2 AA batteries
The P1, P1-CE, P1D, P1D-CE, P2D-CE all use a CR123 battery
The P3D-CE and T1 all use 2 CR123 batteries.

The L0Xes, Civictor, and P1xes are all twistie lights(Twist for on and off).

The LxT, LxS, and T1 have a twist(loosen) for low system.

The LxDs and P2D and P3D have a loosen for general mode(Low-Medium-High-SOS) and tighten for Turbo(Turbo-Strobe).

A full click or loosen(Form twisties) is always off.

The Digital series:

A tap when on or a quick On-Off-On cycle(Off has to be less then 2 seconds) will change modes.

Leave it off for more then two seconds and the light will reset to the first mode in the string.

Pretty simple in practice.

The P2D, L1D, and L2D(Doesn't matter if it is CE, CE Q2, CE Q5, Rebel 80, Rebel 100) all have the same electronics. Their bodies are compatible and with the same head, you get 1AA , 2AA and CR123 compatability(The P2D's tailcap is a bit large for the AA bodies and the AA tailcaps won't fit the P2D's body, but the bezels have the same threading).

The P3D and T1 are the only ones that can take 3.7v Li-ion batteries safely and not lose lower modes.

I think that's the whole Fenix line.

Fenix Store is in Atlanta Gerogia, has shipping included, and a 8% off coupon for CPFers, "CPF8".

 

[Marduke]

Fenix Lights:

CE means Cree XR-E LED P4 unless specified. Go for the CE(Especially the Q5 versions, about 30% brighter then the P4 versions), Rebel 100(Better color rendering) or V2.0 models. They ave a more efficient and brighter LED. Twice or more output then the non CE, V2.0 versions.

The L0P, L0D, L0D-CE all use the AAA battery.
The L1, L1P, L1T, L1S, L1T V2.0, L1D-CE all use a AA battery
The L2P, L2T, L2S, L2T V2.0, L2D-CE all use 2 AA batteries
The P1, P1-CE, P1D, P1D-CE, P2D-CE all use a CR123 battery
The P3D-CE and T1 all use 2 CR123 batteries.

The L0Xes and P1xes are all twistie lights(Twist for on and off).

The LxT, LxS, and T1 have a twist(loosen) for low system.

The LxDs and P2D and P3D have a loosen for general mode(Low-Medium-High-SOS) and tighten for Turbo(Turbo-Strobe).

A full click or loosen(Form twisties) is always off.

The Digital series:

A tap when on or a quick On-Off-On cycle(Off has to be less then 2 seconds) will change modes.

Leave it off for more then two seconds and the light will reset to the first mode in the string.

Pretty simple in practice.

The P2D, L1D, and L2D(Doesn't matter if it is CE, CE Q2, CE Q5, Rebel 80, Rebel 100) all have the same electronics. Their bodies are compatible and with the same head, you get 1AA , 2AA and CR123 compatability(The P2D's tailcap is a bit large for the AA bodies and the AA tailcaps won't fit the P2D's body, but the bezels have the same threading).

The P3D and T1 are the only ones that can take 3.7v Li-ion batteries safely and not lose lower modes.

I think that's the whole Fenix line.

Fenix Store is in Atlanta Gerogia, has shipping included, and a 8% off coupon for CPFers, "CPF8".

That single post should be stickied, and mandatory readings prior to first post.

 

[wishywashy7]

That single post should be stickied, and mandatory readings prior to first post.

+1 good work Gunner12!:thumbsup:

 

[jumpstat]

Liteflux is also a good light. There is a CPF member Ledcool who is a dealer for these lights. They come in various sizes. AAA, AA, CR123. They are also programmable, strobe etc comes with it....check it out at the Marketplace.

 

[Gunner12]

There was also a special version of a few Fenix light that I didn't add, the ones I remember are the Stainless Steel L1+ and the Stainless Steel Civictor.

Lite Fluxes are also good lights form what I've heard.

I'm too lazy to type up the Liteflux line, so the site is here and has most of the inf you'll need.

 

[a4d]

Alright I've finally decided wich light i'm going to get. Thanks to all and thanks gunner for that list that helped me with the decision. I'm going to get the Fenix Digital P3D Olive Premium Q5. It'll probably still be a little while untill i order it but at least i know wich one i'm going to get. One quick question about batteries. Can i buy rechargeable batteries for this light? If so where can i get them with a charger? Thanks again everyone for the help.

 

[Gunner12]

You can use rechargeable batteries(The light can handle at least 12v).

They are also available at Fenix Store.

IIRC, the AW's RCR123s work in the P3D. Charger.