laser like throw possible aspherical?

[RoBeacon]

I have been looking for something with massive throw around $400 or less. Considered SR95 i'm looking for that kind of performance throw wise. I'd be fine with simple mods that don't require any metal work. Drop ins and lens swaps are welcome. 1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?

____I would like to purchase the light from a brick and mortar store. I am located in ______________.
__x__I will be mail-ordering or buying online, so this doesn't matter.


2) Budget: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest! :-)

____Less than $25.
____Less than $50.
____Less than $100.
____Less than $150.
____Less than $300.
____I have no limit.
____I’m flexible, tell me what you gotJ.
____Other, please specify ____<400____


3) Format:

__x__I want a flashlight.
____I want a headlamp.
____I want a lantern.
____I want a dive light.
____I want a portable spotlight.


4) Flashlight-specific format/size:

____Keychain size.
____Every day carry small (2-4 inches).
__x__Every day carry medium (4-7 inches).
__x__Holster carry.
____Big enough to need its own travel caseJ.
____I don’t care.
____I don’t know.
____N/A


5) Emitter/Light source:

__x__LED (known for efficiency, longevity, and compactness)
__x__Incandescent (known for superior color rendition)
__x__HID (known for max output, but often at the expense of size)
____I don't know.


6) Manufacturer:

__x__I want to buy a light from a traditional mass producing manufacturer that is ready to go out of the box.
__x__I would consider getting a light that is pieced together (for example a “host” or flashlight body from one manufacturer, and a “drop-in” emitter from another source). Under the right circumstances, this path can provide more options to the consumer to meet specific needs, and can often be easily upgradeable as technology improves.


7) What battery type do you want to use?

____I intend to use alkaline batteries (AAA, AA, C, D) (disclaimer, while it does not preclude all choices, these are not recommended for many of today’s most powerful lights)
____I intend to use rechargeable nickel chemistry (NiCad, NiMH, NiZn)
____I intend to use lithium primary batteries (CR123, CR2, Energizer Advanced/Ultimate Lithium AA/AAA)
__x__I intend to use rechargeable lithium (li-ion) chemistry. Feel free to specify a size if you know which size you want (14500, RCR123/16340, 17500, 17670, 18650, etc.)
____I want a light with an integrated rechargeable battery. (Note: these choices may be very limited unless you are looking at spotlights)


8) How much genuine out the front (OTF) light do you want/need? Sometimes you can have too much light (trying to read up close up with a 100 lumen light is impossible).

____I want to navigate a dark room or read a map (0-10 lumens).
____I want to walk around an unlit rural area (50-150 lumens).
____I want to illuminate my entire backyard or a campsite (150-300 lumens).
__x__I want to illuminate an entire field, the neighbor's front yard several houses down, impress my friends and neighbors, etc. (300-700 lumens).
__x__I want ridiculous amounts of lumens (800+ lumens).


9) Throw vs. Flood: At what distance will you be most likely to use this light? Select all that apply.

____Less than 1 yard/meter (reading, other close work)
____Less than 5 yards/meters (looking for something inside a dark shed/garage/basement)
____5-20 yards/meters (check out a noise in the backyard)
____30-50 yards/meters (I have a big backyard)
____50-150 yards/meters (I live in a very rural area/farm with wide open spaces)
__xxxxx__150+ yards (I want maximum throw possible)


10) Runtime: Not over-inflated manufacturer runtime claims, but usable brightness measured from first activation to 50% with new batteries (Measured on maximum output).

__x__Up to 30 minutes (I want the brightest [and potentially smallest] light for brief periods)
_x___30-60 minutes (I have plenty of batteries just ready to be changed)
____90-120 minutes (Runtime is moderately important, but still not critical)
____3 hours + (I critically need this light to run on max for extended periods in between battery changes/charges).


11) Durability/Usage: Generally the old phrase “you get what you pay for” is very accurate for flashlights.

____Not Important (A “night-stand” light).
____Slightly Important (Walks around the neighborhood).
____Very Important (Camping, Backpacking, Car Glove-box).
____Critical (Police, Fire, Search & Rescue, Caving, Survival).
__x__I don't care.
____I don’t know.


12) Switch Type and location (choose all that apply):

____I want a forward clicky (Helpful for momentary activation and signaling).
____I want a reverse clicky (For use with multi-mode/level lights).
____I want a momentary switch (Predominantly for use with signaling and short bursts of momentary light only).
____I want a twisty switch (Tighten the head/tailcap to activate, and the light will stay on until the head/tailcap is loosened).
____I want a body mounted switch (near the head, like on a Maglite).
____I want a tail mounted switch (found on the majority of today’s high end lights).
__x__I don't care.
____I don’t know.
____Other, please specify____________________.


13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection. Select all that apply.

____A simple on-off with only one output level is fine for me.
____I want 2 light levels. (Brighter/short runtime and Dimmer/long runtime.)
____I want multiple light levels. (Some lights have 5-16 light levels.)
____I want a programmable light.
____I want a selector ring.
____I want a strobe mode. (Blinks to show location.)
____I want SOS mode.
____I want a beacon mode.
_x___I don’t care.
____I don’t know.


14)Material/Finish/Coating

____Plastic/composite body (this may limit your choices significantly).
__x__Anodized Aluminum – either type II or III (Hard Anodized) (Aluminum, specifically HA, is the most common material/finish for today’s flashlights).
____Stainless steel (durable, but much heavier than aluminum)
____Titanium (durable and nearly as lightweight as aluminum, but can be moderately to significantly more expensive).
____I don’t care.
____I don’t know.
____Other, please specify____________.


15) Special Needs/extras: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Select any below.

____Red filter (for preserving night vision).
____Other filter colors (Amber, Green, Blue, _________).
____Dedicated R/G/B secondary LEDs.
____“Hybrid” light (bright incandescent combined with long running LEDs)
____Pocket/belt clip
____Holster
____Wrist/Neck Lanyard
____Crenulated bezel
____Non-sparking Intrinsically Safe (IS) for use in explosive environments

 

[Vortus]

One of the OSTS modified lights.

 

[bedazzLED]

In your requirements you selected you want to light up the entire field. This is more the job of a floody light, not a laser like light. I'd do +1 on the OSTS lights. The Nightmaster still has a lot of spill for my liking but it can certainly throw 300+ meters. I prefer the SmallSun light which has a little less throw, but it is almost all throw and no spill when completely focused.

Yes I have both, and I prefer the OSTS SmallSun due to it's lack of spill, although you can zoom out and have all flood if you want.

 

[RoBeacon]

Whoops no spill necessary I just want gobs of throw

 

[RoBeacon]

I've looked there before and heavily considered one. I haven't been following the light world as closely as usual so I wanted to make sure there wasn't some obvious product I'm missing.

 

[archimedes]

FireFoxes FF3 or FF4 ... HID - :twothumbs

 

[lintonindy]

While I am a huge advocate for OSTS, I have to suggest a light modified by Vinh on here for the ultimate aspheric thrower under 400 dollars. Actually less than 200 for what I got from him.

At 100 a OSTS small sun is great. 100k+

At 100-120 after shipping a K40 with the XM-L2 is a great reflectored light. 120k

At 100-150 a stock TN31 with the XM-L2 emitter is a nice non aspheric thrower. 140k

At 150-200 a OSTS Night Master is a nice custom aspheric. 180k+

A Dereelight X searcher directly from Dereelight sent to him with one of his custom pills installed IS the most throw you can achieve for under 200. 180-400k (depending on which pill you choose)

At 200-250 also not aspheric, a modified TN31 or K40 from Vinh. 300k+

At 300, not an aspheric but still a killer thrower is a OSTS TN31mb. 350-450k

At less than 400 member MashM (I think) was making a "Black Bullet" at 550-700k. He no longer is making these but contact him about his new "Black Bullet X" at over a million lux

And last but not least is the DEFT-X at 900k+ but only one out of spec light has yet to be delivered.

 

[archimedes]

FireFoxes FF3 or FF4 ... HID - :twothumbs

A recent post in the HID subforum measured the FF4 (@60W) with 428k lux.

 

[papershredder]

OSTS stands for one stop throw shop, for your googling ease.

 

[langham]

These are all good suggestions I have the TN-31 heavily modified and it will light up everything. The stock one is not that impressive, either one of these modders from CPF are highly recommended. You may also want to look at the Hobby ending sale going on right now that has MR-Mayhem up for grabs. You will never get the performance of a modified light with one off of the shelf so you should either not ever buy or look at a modded light or never buy/look at a stock light. I have an Ultrafire C8 that will throw further than the stock TN-31 and I am going to make a stronger version when my parts arrive to make it throw at the 250k+ range. You did the right thing to ask before shopping, if it were me and given your specifications I would go with the OSTS nightmaster. Have fun with your decision, if you want I could mod one for you, but I lack all of the test equipment that these other guys have so I will not certify its brightness just know that it will be very bright. I do my mods for the hobby not for money so if you want one just PM me and I will see what I can do for you.

 

[RoBeacon]

Awesome info!!! I currently have a tm11 and a tk35 these are the brightest lights I own I feel like it's time to move into the custom world at the $400 price range custom modded will way out perform anything on the shelf.

 

[RoBeacon]

I want a light that will throw 900 meters or better

 

[lintonindy]

I want a light that will throw 900 meters or better

If you are talking about USEABLE light to 900 meters then good luck! If you are talking about ANSI levels, .25 lumens (moonlight level) out to 900 meters then there are a lot of lights that will work for you.

Here is what I would do if I had 400 dollars burning a hole in my pocket personally:

Get a hold of Vinh just to confirm and buy a Dereelight X searcher directly from them and have it sent to Vinh, Have him put in a single output de-domed pill, utilizing one 18650 battery, (so you don't have to worry about decreasing output using one battery) and set it to maximize throw. This setup has been tested to 380k lux which is nothing to sneeze at at all! (I have this very light and setup and it's pretty spectacular, Thanks Vinh!) Total cost is less than 200 dollars to your door.

Next, have the generous langham build you a reflector based thrower using the K40 with a de-domed XM-L2 or a XP-G2 on copper with beefed up wires, higher amps, polished battery carrier, upgraded switch, and supply it with good high quality batteries. If he isn't doing it for the money and just the hobby then this light should also be under 200 dollars, not including the batteries. I choose the K40 over the TN31 due to a lower host light cost, a little smaller footprint, lighter weight, and the fact that you already had Vinh build you the ultimate aspheric thrower and it might be nice to have a light with a larger hotspot and more spill to it. This should be around 300k lux + if done correctly. (I would have this done if I didn't already own a TN31mb by OSTS. I have owned the K40 stock and it was a very very nice light.)

So for your 400 dollars you can have two totally different bad A throwers, one aspheric and one reflector based, that will shine some light out past 900 meters.

The FF4 will throw as far as either of these with a lot more lumens as well. That setup is only 270 if you're in the states. This is an altogether different light though. It will put out a ton of lumens and not have the smaller hotspot of the two lights mentioned previously. The HID technology requires a little bit of "warm up" time to get to full output, and it is not recommended that you turn the light on and off quickly frequently or you could damage the bulb. This light might not appear to throw as far even though it does, but the amount of light coming out of this thing fools your eyes a little and makes it harder to focus on a smaller area down field. You asked for a pure thrower and that is why this light is not my recomendation for you. (Maybe a third light when you recover financially from the other two though! :eek:)

I have researched this topic a lot because I've wanted a DEFT-X desperately but alas my wallet has won that argument. Good luck and make sure you keep us up to date on what you decide and how you like it when it arrives. Be ready to be amazed at what these lights can do now. I hope I've helped.