Led Lenser H7

[Izual73]

I have for some time been looking for a good headlamp and a few days ago I pulled the trigger and ordered Led Lenser H7. (58€) It is sold many places here in Finland, but for some reason it is quite rare in other countries. I couldn`t even find this model from Led Lensers own website.
I will be using it for night orienteering in coming fall, couple months from now. (The new Petzl Ultra and Silva headlamps are way more expensive than I`m willing to spend for a headlamp)
I received it just today, and here comes some photos and my first impressions.

Advertised specs:

* Prism reflector system
* High intensity 1.25 watt LED
* Revolutionary spot to flood focusing system
* Integrated dimmer switch – Hi-Low beam facility
* Lamp head can be swivelled within an angle of 90 degrees
* Fully adjustable straps
* Lumens: 140
* Beam visible up to 2000 metres
* Burn Time Up to 50 hours
* Weight 119gms
* Power Supply 3 x AAA alkaline batteries included

Here`s the box

It came with a neoprene holster that can be attached to a belt or serve as a good protection when It`s in backpack etc.

...and here`s the headlamp

Focusing lever can be seen under the head. It is a bit stiff to use, but works well, and after a short use feels very useful.

On the back of the head is battery pack with dimmer. The dimmer works as it should, it`s very easy to adjust brightness from zero to max.

The angle of the head can be adjusted from 0 to 90 degrees in three steps. (from straight ahead to straight down)

I also took some beams shot to get the idea of the brightness, which was quite impressive. (bathroom was the darkest place I could find. It never gets really dark outside when it`s middle of the summer in Finland 🙂 )

H7 Wide angle:

H7 Focused spot:
(It seems like there is no spill due to short shutter time of the camera, but in the real wold it puts out enough spill to for example walking on a trail when focused)

And for the comparison, Nitecore Extreme max with RCR (200 lumens advertised):

As you can see the H7 competes very well with Nitecore. The focused spot is very intense. I must say I was quite surprised how bright it actually is. It seems very likely that it actually puts out the advertised 140 lumens. ( I would have guessed it puts out more 🙂 )

Beam quality is not the best. Focused spot is not round on white wall, and on wide angle the center of the spot is a bit dimmer. But this does not decrease it`s real world usefulness at all!

I must say I`m very impressed by this headlamp. Insanely bright with a dimmer, focusable beam and adjustable angle, I think this thing is very hard to beat. (at this price range at least)
Time will tell, when I get to use this more, if this really is as great headlamp as it seems to be.

 

[Szemhazai]

140 lumens ? - It's possible - it looks like there is Cree XR-E inside...

 

[Stromberg]

Nice found! I haven't seen that model anywhere. Where did you ordered and in what stores have you seen that on sale(in Finland)?

Have you already checked it's heatsinking? I have focusable Led Lenser David 19 with 14500 cell and althought it should be something like 1.25W, it's in fact driven closer to 3W..

That just might be my next headlamp since "Retki/RiverRock/etc. K2" was such a disappointment.

 

[Izual73]

I ordered it from http://www.varuste.net/tuotetiedot2.asp?_prodid=18179&_omin1=0&_omin2=0&_omin3=0
couple other Finnish sites:
http://www.reittipiste.fi/product_info.php?products_id=1021
http://www.progear.net/kauppa/product_details.php?p=627
It`s also available in Australia:
http://www.ledtorches.com.au/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=88
And in UK:
http://www.glowgadgets.co.uk/led-le...-focus-led-head-lamp-7497.ir?cName=led-lenser

It has a metal heat sink behind the emitter, but I haven`t opened it, if that`s what you mean?

 

[Yucca Patrol]

very impressive. I am going to have to wait for Fenix and Surefire to release their lamps before I decide on my next cutting edge headlamp.

But the future certainly looks bright for headlamps

 

[Szemhazai]

Maybe it looks bright... But on 3xAAA not too long :shrug: Fully regulated 3xAAA lamp @700mA will work only for 1h 20m / 1h 30 :thinking:

 

[Jagge]

Not bad. 140 lumen isn't quite enough for orienteering, but it is really difficult to find a commercial headlamp at range about 2-3 times Led Lencer's price, weight and power.

 

[Izual73]

Not bad. 140 lumen isn't quite enough for orienteering, but it is really difficult to find a commercial headlamp at range about 2-3 times Led Lencer's price, weight and power.

Yes, serious orienteers do have more powerful headlamps in competitions. I`m not that serious though, I only go to "training events".
I will most likely bring a backup light with me though, probably a P7-based, to make sure I can find the control points. 🙂

In a few weeks the nights should start getting a little darker, so I can really test it in the forest...

 

[half-watt]

main "crab" i have with this headlamp after checking out the links provided is that Lenser seems to be "hooked" badly on a substandard power source for their obviously, non-ultralight headlamps.

it's clear that their headlamps (i own a Revolution which is a predecessor and similar in several respects to this apparently, IMO, very nice H7) are still lightweight, but for that power output 3xAAA is *NOT* gonna' cut it, in my book at least (YMMV).

instead 4xAA would be the way to go for a decent hi-powered headlamp that would provide all night burn-time on a MEDium-ish (60-90 lumen maybe???) on a single set of 4xAA alk, NiMH, or Li AA primaries. if 4xAA is deemed to heavy for a powerful lightweight headlamp (we want a 6.0-6.5 oz headlamp here and it might be given the weight of 4xAA cells, IMO), then 3xAA would be the next choice in power source.

alkaline AA's are most commonly available in "trail towns". no one likes to pack too many cells to power their lights if they are out long enough to stop in a town an purchase some or hava a friend or family member, at the proper time, mail them to a stop along a Thru-Hike.

i will definitely purchase the H7 when i find it available on the WWW in the good ole USofA. in fact, i'll probably purchase two of them and leave one "stock", so to speak, and modify the other with a trivial/simple mod (using phono or 1/8" [3.5mm] phone plugs and jacks) for a purchased or homemade remote battery pack (switching in and out 4xAA or 4xC, 4xD or 2x2xCR123A batt-paks, all being ~6V power sources) as i've done with other HL's (e.g. PT Apex). the flexibility to pre-select, b/f a trek, the battery pack to meet my expected pack weight and burn-time requirements and anticipated availability of cells during resupply is a nice feature.

 

[generic808]

I have the older 1065 Revolution 42 lumen headlamp from LED Lenser which looks exactly the same, and I love it. It's very floody and gives off just enough light for me to use it 3-4 times a week on my night runs.

I'm wondering how much it will cost when it gets to the states? I'd like to pick one up because they are very durable, reliable, and definitely at least water/sweat resistant.

 

[Jagge]

I will most likely bring a backup light with me though, probably a P7-based, to make sure I can find the control points. 🙂.

I guess you mean Led Lenser model P7 flashlight, not a SSC P7 flashlight?!!

 

[Izual73]

I guess you mean Led Lenser model P7 flashlight, not a SSC P7 flashlight?!!

Actually I do mean SSC P7 flashlight. 🙂 That should provide enough light. I just need figure out a convenient way to carry it with me while running, on a belt or something. I would take it in hand only if unsure of my location or having difficulty finding a control point.

 

[cat]

i'll probably purchase two of them and leave one "stock", so to speak, and modify the other with a trivial/simple mod (using phono or 1/8" [3.5mm] phone plugs and jacks) for a purchased or homemade remote battery pack (switching in and out 4xAA or 4xC, 4xD or 2x2xCR123A batt-paks, all being ~6V power sources) as i've done with other HL's (e.g. PT Apex). the flexibility to pre-select, b/f a trek, the battery pack to meet my expected pack weight and burn-time requirements and anticipated availability of cells during resupply is a nice feature.

Good idea / useful information. I suppose you would try to mount the jack in the battery container.....but...if it's a pack C or D batteries, that would surely be on your belt, not your head, so you would need an extension lead.
What about the 6V...into something like this that uses 3 x 1.2V AAA, is that ok?

Izual73, thank you for the review, good photos. I like the neoprene holster.

The new Petzl Ultra and Silva headlamps are way more expensive than I`m willing to spend for a headlamp

Somebody posted about a recent orientering competition in Finland and mentioned some headlamps (I forget the name, I think they are Finland) so I went to the website to see them, and they were $$$, some $1000 !

 

[dlk.com]

I'm wondering how much it will cost when it gets to the states? I'd like to pick one up because they are very durable, reliable, and definitely at least water/sweat resistant.

MSRP will likely be around $60-$70

 

[ifor powell]

What about the 6V...into something like this that uses 3 x 1.2V AAA, is that ok?!

I am doubtfull about the 6v input as well. I have not seen anything to make me think that this light is not just direct drive. The dimming lever just sounds like its a pot and then 3 * AA is a good choice.

Still the variable focus makes it an interesting light. I would realy like to see one in the flesh but I don't think It's worth the cash to buy one just to have a look.

Somebody posted about a recent orientering competition in Finland and mentioned some headlamps (I forget the name, I think they are Finland) so I went to the website to see them, and they were $$$, some $1000 !

Yes the high end headlamp light prices are just stupid, it's what makes the DIY option so atractive for me especialy as new multi-die leds are going to to mean that you can shrinck the size down even more geven some suitable optics.

Ifor

 

[half-watt]

a thousand apologies for being totally unclear on several points.

1) i meant that Lenser should have designed this HL for a 6v supply instead of 4.5v, or at the very least 3xAA instead of 3xAAA.

2) the 4x paks are for my PT Apex. i have some 3x paks for Myo3&5/MyoXP. i use them on others also.

3) i'll use 3xAA or 3xC on this Lenser HL when i am finally able to purchase in the good ole USofA.


i hope this clears up all the confusion i caused. again, a thousand apologies.

sincerely,
pj aka half-watt

 

[santza]

(The new Petzl Ultra and Silva headlamps are way more expensive than I`m willing to spend for a headlamp)

The new petzl myoXP 2008 is available in Finland, Ive seen it 59,95€. That is a very nice 3xAA light with spot beam and integrated beam diffuser.

Two models let you choose the way you want to carry it. The other has a battery pack behind your head and the other has a wired battery pack you can fit in your pocket or belt. This works very well in cold situations and takes lots weight off on your head.

cpf thread:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=188409

EDIT: this was the thread i meant, ignore the above

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=188749

 

[daimleramg]

I wanna see a beamshot comparison with the H30 from Zebralight

 

[Izual73]

I wanna see a beamshot comparison with the H30 from Zebralight

Unfortunately I don`t have H30. I think they are totally different lights though. H30 is ultralight and all flood without any reflector or focusing system, suitable for close up work.
H7 on the other hand is higher power and focused, it has an outstanding throw for a headlamp.

My guess is, that H30 would be something like my third beam shot (Nitecore Exteme) but without the hotspot.

 

[Jagge]

Actually I do mean SSC P7 flashlight. 🙂 That should provide enough light. I just need figure out a convenient way to carry it with me while running, on a belt or something. I would take it in hand only if unsure of my location or having difficulty finding a control point.

Might work better the other way round, head mount your P7 flashlight and use your Led Lenser as a backup light. I have used DX P7 flashlight as a head lamp, it works pretty well - link.