Inova X5: Worth $40??

[GuyZero]

I am a amature flashlight enthusiast (with more enthusiasm then $$) and have just recently been turned on to LED flashlights. They seem like ther ultimate up-and-coming light source and I very much want to buy one.

Shopping around a bit I've come across the Inova X5 and have been drooling over it for several days. It seems like it might be the right flashlight for me, but before I throw down $40 on something my wife will roll her eyes at, I would like to get some opinions from anyone that has any experience with it.

I noticed Brock rated it brighter then the Trek 7, which impresses me, but I don't have experience with that light iether.

Can someone give me an idea of what to expect? The last thing I want to happen is to spend $40 and jump into a cave and have my buddies say, "My $3 2D Pink K-Mart flashlight is better then that thing..."

Thanks!

 

[The_LED_Museum]

Here is a review of the Inova 5X. Judge for yourself. Other reviews of this product also exist, so read them all before purchasing if you're still squeamish about it. There are situations I cannot test flashlights in because of the wheelchair (caving, diving, camping) that other reviewers can test in. One good case for reading every review you can get your hands on. I go a bit more into the technical aspects and overall general usability; other reviewers operate under different protocols and can "field test" under a wider range of environments.

 

[Quickbeam]

A great little light. My main page is down due to some phantom "bandwidth consumption" problem with tripod, so I made a little fix...
http://thelightsite_reviews.tripod.com

It will say you got there in error - just use the "reviews" link at the top of the page to see the main reviews page. Look for the Inova x5 review in the list of links.

Hopefully Tripod will stop screwing around and fix the problem - I don't think my page consumed 1 gig of bandwidth between midnight and 6 am.....

 

[GuyZero]

I have read you're review, Craig, and appreciate the detail you go into describing the light, and I also appreciated your Pro's and Con's list, but what I was really hoping for was your (or anybodies) honest opinion. "I like this light and would recomend it because..." or "Although a clever design this light has some major shortcomings..." A first hand opinion is worth a lot to me.

I'm also curious how it compares to standard flashlights. I've heard that LED light provide a more diffused light that is better up close but not as good long distance, but will it seem unimpressive next to a 2AA MiniMag?

 

[Quickbeam]

I like this light because it is really bright for 5 LEDs. It's small, very pocketable, sturdy and well made.

I don't like this light because it uses very expensive batteries and the bezel should be grooved for grip.

A 2-AA mag will shine further, but won't work as well close up. The light from the x5 is more diffused. You can use it for walking around at night, provided you don't shine it too far ahead of you.

How's that?

 

[The_LED_Museum]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Quickbeam:

Hopefully Tripod will stop screwing around and fix the problem - I don't think my page consumed 1 gig of bandwidth between midnight and 6 am.....<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Don't discount the possibility, especially if your site got "slashdotted". Mine went through several terabytes of data on the day I got slashdotted.

 

[Quickbeam]

Craig - Slashdotted? Huh?

I've fixed the problem - split the site into 3 sites - all tripod sites, but reviews and Mods have their own websites that the main pages link to....

 

[Big Tex]

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=8&t=000083

 

[GuyZero]

Thanks for the Link to your review, Quickbeam, and the supplimental reply! Both yours and Craig's reviews were exactly what I was looking for to push me over the edge and buy this thing (unless any of you have a more favored light in mind...)

Thanks a bunch!

 

[The_LED_Museum]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Quickbeam:
Craig - Slashdotted? Help?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

This is the highest honor a "technical" or "nerdy" website can hope to obtain; other than more general internet awards like the Webby. Websites about LEDs and flashlights definitely qualify, as do those about computers and other technology. All it takes is for some yahoo to mention your page on some obscure weblog like memepool.com, and someone else will see that and write an article on slashdot.org that has your link in it, and there goes all your bandwidth whirling down the toilet faster than you can reach for a pack of Duracell Ultras and a plunger.

When I got slashdotted in October of 2000, at one point I was pulling in about 600 visitors every second! That will sap bandwidth faster than a 1 foot hole in an 16" water main. Most sites operated from free & private ISPs crash when they get slashdotted, but usually recover in a day or so.

Another source for bandwith-sucking is ye old boob tube. When a 2-minute story about my site ran on FOX in late 2000, my bandwidth usage shot through the roof for an hour or so and then petered out.

 

[GuyZero]

One more question regarding the X5 - I know it's a little bigger around then the MiniMag and I'm curious to know if it will still work with MiniMag accessories? Specifically, will it fit into the nylon belt pouch for the MiniMag?

Thanks! How cool to find a forum with people so passionate about the same interest as me (even if I'm just a newbie).

 

[GuyZero]

Holy Crap! The ARC LS is new to me - this is the first I've heard of it. Just read some reviews - it sounds AMAZING, but for $106??! Pretty prohibitive.

I can't believe it's using just 1 LED!

 

[txwest]

I too like my X5, but if you think it's going to compare to the brightness of a 2D, I'm afraid you'll be dissapointed. TX

 

[WaltH]

Check those prices...you need the head and one battery pack. Will definately be less than a hundred bucks shipped.

If you can wait for availability I would go for the LS with the 2 AA battery pack. I have all three packs and I use the 2 AA most, then the single 123 (mostly to drain the last bit of juice out of my surefire 123's), and hardly ever plug the single AA pack in cuz I got the AAA LE.

 

[RevJim]

GuyZero,
From the emotion in your posts it sounds like you have it bad. Welcome!

This is only the beginning. Before long your wife will talk about "that bunch of flashlights" which makes it much easier to add to the group.
Sometimes the proper response to "how much did you pay for that?" is "I got a good deal" and leave it at that. It's hard to explain spending $20, $40, $60 ... $80 for a flashlight. Then, of course, there are the "hard core" flashaholics...

 

[Sean]

1st There is no LED flashlight out there (yet) that compares to a decent incandescent. (2 D cell, etc.)

2nd For what you get with the X5 (small, durable & bright) the price is very fair.

3rd White LED's produce a bluish-white beam, so don't be dissapointed if you buy the X5 and your first thought is (it's blue!).

Having said all that I think the X5 is a better light than the AA minimag. the light is much smoother & more uniform. I have pictures on my web site with direct comparsion photos between the X5 and AA minimag. The X5 will fit in the minimag belt pouch but it's a tight fit. I like the X5 a lot beacause it's small/short enought to fit in my back pocket, next to my bi-fold wallet without me even noticing it being there.

Chances are if you don't like the X5's light output you will not like any LED flashlight, because they don't get much brighter, unless you get the ARC LS for $106. Batteries are more expensive than AA's but hey, nothings perfect.

 

[Mr Ted Bear]

Hello Guy Zero,

I am person that attended Shot 2002, which was the first week of February. At the show, the manufacture had a prototype, that had a push button switch on the end(similar to SureFire).... I was told a month.... someone else on this board called Innova, and was told 4 months.

Like others on this board, I own both the Innova5x and the ARC-LS, and like both very much. Yeah, the lithium 123 batteries can be expensive but that goes with the territory. The Innova 5X is supposed to go 20 hours (uses 2 batteries), while the LS goes a good 3 1/2 hours, before going into moon mode.

Another member, #581 wrote an excellent commpoarison of the two; I would highly recommend doing "searches" on this board

 

[brightnorm]

Guy Zero,

I was one of the early users of the Inova X5 and I can tell you that it's one of the best lights of its type currently available.

It is the brightest small LED flashlight on the market with the exception of the ARC LS (which may have a shorter run time; read the reviews).

It is exceptionally tough, well engineered, waterproof and sleekly futuristic in its design. Use Surefire or Duracell Ultra batteries and it will give you 5-6 hours of good brightness. If you find the non-fluted bezel a problem (I don't), a little rough velcro or skateboard tape will fix that and make for easy one-hand operation.

Good luck.

Best regards,
Brightnorm

 

[L.E.D.]

The X5 is very bright but that is because it is pumping the LED's with 50 mA each, and at 5.75 volts! A study showed some percentage, i forgot what percentage but i think 40% or something, well, it showed a percentage of decrease in brightness in 2000 hours for an LED at 50 mA! I guess the x5 would probably never see 2000 hours, but I guess I'm a weirdo who wants my LED to last long, especially if I payed over $35 for it for it!
It's pretty obvious that the LED's won't be putting out NEAR their full brightness after 100,000 hours (over 11 years), and the package says 110,000+ hours (oooo look at the plus!). But I guess it might still light up a teeny amount.

 

[hotfoot]

Hi GuyZero,

NiteIze, who makes accessories for the Maglite, should have something up your alley. A lot of their stuff (like holsters, clips...etc) fit other regular AA sized flashlights, so the X5 shouldn't be a problem. Check them out: http://www.niteize.com

hope this helps!