Inova X-5 Reviews?

[Alphawolf]

Does anyone know if and where the X-5 has been reviewed? A few were talking a couple of posts ago about the case construction materials and the LED color preferences, but didn't mention the lights performance. Any owners wnat to comment?

 

[The_LED_Museum]

I'll be starting mine very shortly, as soon as a certain test flashlight dies in the jig (so far, it's run almost 5 straight days) and frees up the instruments & computer it's using.

I've already taken beam pictures comparing it to my prototype Arc-LS.

 

[Quickbeam]

I have a review on my site. Click on the graphic below. Go to "Reviews" on the left nav bar.

On the left nav bar on the reviews page you'll find it listed. Near the bottom of the left nav bar is a link to beam comparison pictures as well. (and Lux comparison graphs)

Although my reviews are not as detailed as Telephony's, it should help. Be sure to check his once it's up.

 

[brightnorm]

Alphawolf,

Here are my four brief reviews of the Inova X5 and three other lights

In order of perceived brightness:
1) Inova X5
2) Nightbuster Ledda
3) Princeton Tec Attitude
4) LightWave 2000

*INOVA X5
SIZE: 4 5/8" x ¾",
WEIGHT: 3oz (with batteries)
LED'S: 5 (white)
POWER: 2 x 123
CONSTRUCTION: aluminum
WATERPROOF? - YES
COLOR: Black or "aluminum"
PRO: Very bright and small
CON: Less peripheral beam spread than some other lights
COMMENTS: Easily pocketable, waterproof, sleek and very sturdily built with a futuristic appearance. Available in black or "aluminum" color. Aside from the ARC LS, the INOVA is the brightest LED light for its size currently available. Gets very warm to the touch, but maintains excellent brightness for 4-5 hours. After 4 hours of steady burning it was still as bright as the Attitude or the LW 2000 with fresh batteries. It can easily be operated with one hand, and is the light I always carry on my belt, in preference to all otherLED's (until the LS comes out). (Note that the beam pattern has somewhat less peripheral spread than some other lights)

NIGHTBUSTER LEDDA
SIZE: 7 5/8" x 11/16 (barrel), 1" (bezel)WEIGHT: 4.9oz (with batteries)
LEDS: 4 (white)
POWER: 3 x AA
CONSTRUCTION: Metal
WATERPROOF? – "WATER RESISTANT"
COLOR: Black
PRO: Very bright
CON: Awkward size/shape
COMMENTSrobably the brightest and physically the longest 3AA light. Finely and apparently strongly built (though mine had an intermittent on/off problem that I partly solved by crimping and raising the positive terminal of the battery in contact with the LED board). The LEDs appear to be permanently attached to the head. This light is just about as bright as the Inova 5X at first, but becomes dimmer within approximately ½ hr. At the end of 4 hours it is still noticeably dimmer than the Inova. The light is impressive, but I have found it unwieldly for everyday carry, and I much prefer the Inova.

*PRINCETON TEC ATTITUDE
SIZE: 4 ¾" x 1" (Bezel and body width) x ½" (Body "thickness"
WEIGHT: 2.5oz (with batteries)LEDS: 3 (white)POWER: 4 x AAA
CONSTRUCTION: Plastic
WATERPROOF? - YES
COLOR: Translucent black, etc.
PRO: Bright and small
CON: Light spill-back through translucent head
COMMENTS:The attitude is probably the best and brightest small all round everyday carry alkaline-driven light. I would be wearing it on my belt right now if there were no Inova 5X. It's at least as bright as the LW 2000 (though it won't burn bright as long) and it is very light. There is one design flaw: The translucent body permits annoying light spill-back where the body flares to meet the bezel. This can be cured by wrapping it with black plastic tape. Princeton Tec really needs to attend to this issue. Despite this, the attitude is an excellent light.

LIGHTWAVE 2000:
SIZE: 7 1/4" x 1 1/4" (Head) x 7/8" (barrel)WEIGHT: 4.5 oz. (With Batteries)
LEDS: 4 (white)
POWER: 3 x AA
CONSTRUCTION: Plastic
WATERPROOF? - YES
COLOR: Black
PRO: Quite bright, acceptable body size/shape
CON: Not an everyday carry light.
COMMENTS:A decent, reasonably priced basic light, with brightness approximately equal to the Attitude, though the LW2000 is considerably larger and heavier. Some folks turn up their noses at this light for its non-exotic build and its heavy and sometimes misleading promotion to the general public. In fact this is a good light, and brighter than much of its competition, including the Eternalights.

These five, brief subjective revues are not intended to be definitive, but rather are my own impressions of lights that I own. For more detailed revues please turn to Telephony, Brock and others who have firmly established and earned their credentials.

* signifies a "favorite" light

Best regards,
Brightnorm









All times are Pacific Time

 

[Alphawolf]

Thanks everyone! This light has a certain "sex-appeal" to me. But then, that is what this "addiction' is all about, huh? I dropped about $40 on a scorpion, so this isn't that bad. I wonder where a good online source of cheap 123 batteies would be. Anyone know?

 

[txwest]

http://www.zreiss.com/batteries/ is the cheapest I've found.
TX

 

[Empath]

Brightnorm,
You didn't include the Eternalight in your review, although you did reference it as a light with less brightness than any of those reviewed. I find this puzzling. I've only had my Eternalight Xray a couple of days, but I place it's brightness just a little dimmer than the X-5, and considerably brighter than the attitude. Is there a big difference between recent production and older productions?