KL5 vs KL3

[RAF_Groundcrew]

Hi all,

Does anyone have side by side beamshots of the KL3 and KL5 heads?

I am considering replacing the M2 bezel on one of my C2 lights with either a KL3 or KL5 (big price difference of course). I already have a KL3 on another light, and find it quite bright, despite the quoted 19 lumen rating. If the KL5 is rated at 100 lumens for an hour, is this going to appear to the eye to be brighter than the 120 lumens from the P61 lamp??

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Nigel.

 

[city cop]

I don't have beam shots, but I can tell you the L5 was a much wider usable spill then the L3, and good throw. But dosn't throw quite like the L3. The L5 has a all around good beam, if you can deal with the lil donut in the middle of the beam.

 

[Size15's]

Depending on what you want the light for, if you're leaning towards the KL5 I would urge you to wait a few months for SureFire to release the updated L5. The KL5 is being replaced by a new bezel (currently being known as the KX5) with a Cree XR-E behind a new TIR optic which quite frankly beats the KL5 and P61 in terms of beam (shape and output).

 

[KDOG3]

If you have some soldering skills, you can get a Seoul P4 emitter and put it in the KL3 head. I did that once and was quite impressed. Sold it though. Just remember to get some of those .030" shims from the shoppe to raise the emitter though. Makes a great upgrade for about half the cost total of the KL5.

 

[lightinsky]

Why did Surefire have to change the KL5 reflector Luxeon V to a Tir optic cree xre. I would have rather seen them simply put a cree xre in a reflector design rather than a Tir optic. What are your thoughts ?

 

[Size15's]

Three reasons:

1) TIR optic design has progressed so that the "SureFire" beam can be produced.
2) TIR optics are significantly more efficient at putting light into the useful beam.
3) TIR optics are either smaller in diameter, or shorter (or both) compared to a reflector.

For the first time I consider that the combination of SureFire TIR optics and Cree XR-E LED not only beats the reflector but also beats the incandescents in a whole range of applications.

Al

 

[DaFABRICATA]

Three reasons:

1) TIR optic design has progressed so that the "SureFire" beam can be produced.
2) TIR optics are significantly more efficient at putting light into the useful beam.
3) TIR optics are either smaller in diameter, or shorter (or both) compared to a reflector.

For the first time I consider that the combination of SureFire TIR optics and Cree XR-E LED not only beats the reflector but also beats the incandescents in a whole range of applications.

Al

If this is true, I'm really starting to get excited about the new KX5.
Pleasetell me someone has a few beamshots of the KX5 from SHOT show.
Post 'em if you do....please.

 

[Size15's]

This photo taken by Ricky Wrenn aka Glowbug shows a G2 (P60) and two KX5 proto-types. As does this photo by Lee Hee Sung.
Note that SureFire had not quite decided on the exact focus of the KX5 (which is why the bezels were not sealed at SHOT Show so they could tweek it to find out what people preferred. This form of rough'n'ready adjustment resulted in a shade ring around the central beam from one of the bezel. When screwed down tight it wasn't there).

 

[KDOG3]

Thats a pretty good looking beam. Hmmmm....

 

[mcmc]

Whatever happened to the KX5?

 

[Size15's]

Whatever happened to the KX5?

Shelved shortly after SHOT Show 2007.

I guess one could speculate that SureFire could still need a high output dedicated LED bezel for the standard-body models (M2, C3, M95 etc) even though SureFire are intending to release a high output version of their P60L - the P61L.

One possibility is that a new version of the KX5 spins off from the KL9.

It's all speculation.

Al

 

[loszabo]

Is the KL5A the KX5? I just bought one for my M2...

 

[WDR65]

No, the KL5A is a KL5 head upgraded with a Seoul P4 LED and it is slightly brighter with an increased runtime. The KX5 is still shelved as far as I know.

 

[loszabo]

No, the KL5A is a KL5 head upgraded with a Seoul P4 LED and it is slightly brighter with an increased runtime. The KX5 is still shelved as far as I know.

Thanks, now I understand the "A"... Still looking forward to it, even it's not the KX5! :wave: