Light recommendation

[cratz2]

Hello all. I'm looking for a light... Nothing too fancy... I'm not in law enforcement and I don't need to illuminate objects 300 yards away. Basically something that does a very good job at lighting a room. I have a little Gerber Black Ice keychain light, a CMG Infinity Ultra, Princeton Tec Impact, Twin Task 2L and 3C, Legend LX, Surefire G2 and some others that don't really apply to my question.

Looking over specs on flashlightreviews.com, the Infinity Ultra puts out 25 lux and 282 output units and the Twin Task 2L on the LED setting puts out 66 lux and 680 output units. To my eyes, the Ultra Infinity isn't quite bright enough for what I'm wanting while the TT in LED mode is about right to maybe slightly brighter. I'm definately wanting more of a flood type light than a tight spot, and I'd really like to go for an LED. I'd like for it to be a 1x123 or 1xAA light. Also, I'd like to keep the price under $50... at least under $75. The lights I'm most considering are:

Nuwai Quantum I
Nuwai Quantum III
Inova T1
Peak Kilimanjaro 5 LED
Peak McKinley 7 LED

Or, if going to a 2L light, the Inova XO or T2 would have my attention. I'd rather not go for quite a 3xAA light otherwise the Gerber LX3.0 looks nice.

Really, the Surefire L1 looks about ideal, but it out of my price range.

Are there any other lights that would fit my needs? Any comments on those I'm looking at? And does anyone have a pic of a QI or QIII or a T1 next to an Infinity?

 

[BlindedByTheLite]

if the Twin Task's LED's are possibly slightly brighter, the Nuwai's and especially the Inova will be bigtime overkill.

or maybe i'm misunderstanding and you're looking for something brighter. if that's the case i think the Nuwai Quantum 3 is the best buy for your purposes. the T1 isn't a flood light.

 

[cratz2]

Well, I guess I did leave that kind of open... What I meant was, basically the LED setting on the 2L TT would make me happy if in a significantly smaller package, but I'm a lot more interested in a smaller package than in more light. And I don't need any more throw than the TT has on the LED setting... which isn't very much. That's why I wonder if the Quantum I would be better for me than the Quantum III. But everyone seems more interested in the III.

 

[FNG]

I just got my Inova T2 today and its awesome. The light is the whitest light Ive had (i think even whiter than the Arc LSH-P). Runtime is supposed to be a regulated 5 hours and build quality is excellent.

 

[BlindedByTheLite]

[ QUOTE ]
cratz2 said:
Well, I guess I did leave that kind of open... What I meant was, basically the LED setting on the 2L TT would make me happy if in a significantly smaller package, but I'm a lot more interested in a smaller package than in more light. And I don't need any more throw than the TT has on the LED setting... which isn't very much. That's why I wonder if the Quantum I would be better for me than the Quantum III. But everyone seems more interested in the III.

[/ QUOTE ]
i think the Quantum 3 is more popular based on the 3watts having much better color consistency.
altho that nice bright flood is a beautiful thing too. that might be it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Quickbeam measured the Quantum 1 @ 350 lux @ beam center and 1400 overall, and the Quantum 3 @ 600 lux @ beam center and 1900 overall.

the Q1 also can get closer to 3 hours in semi-regulation compared to the 1-and-a-half of the Q3.

and, considering the TT2L's LED's were measured @ 66 lux @ beam center and 660 overall, i think you'd be better served with the Q1. you'd definitely find the Inova T-series and XO-series lights to be overkill with their spot style beams. same with the Surefire KL1 and Gerber LX3. so if you get the Q1 and decide you want something brighter, you could always move up to the Q3, and you would've only spent $60-$70 overall.

but in case i'm not making any sense @ all, i'm thinking the Q1 would make you happiest. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif altho, if you were thinking about going up to a 2L-sized light, you could look @ the Streamlight Twin Task 3watt Luxeon. it has a low mode measured @ 280 lux @ beam center and 377 overall, and a high mode with 2480 lux @ beam center and 3320 overall. 11 hours runtime on low, 3 hours on high.

Edit:
but i think Peak LED's is still worth taking a look @ too. i'm just a sucker for a luxeon.

 

[SilverFox]

Hello Cratz2,

I think the Peak lights are quite good and worth looking at.

However, you mentioned you wanted a more flood beam than a tight spot. If you look at Doug's (Quickbeam) charts you will see that the McKinley 7 has less overall output, or spill light, than the Kilimanjaro 5.

I have a couple of the Kilmanjaro 5's and am quite pleased with them. The beam is spot like, but more of a loose spot.

If you get a Peak, the Snow LED's are closer to white than the white ones (less blue tint).

Tom

 

[cratz2]

If I were to order a Peak today, it would be a hi power 5 snow LED Kilimanjaro. And that would eventually be followed by a Everest with 7 snow HPs on one end and a single red HP on the other.

Looking over quickbeam's review, I was kind of offput by how much brighter the AA 5 LED was than the 123 7 LED. Both were supposed to be standard power (not high power). I wonder if his experience was a fluke. I also am more interested in the aluminum version, but I wonder if the brass allows for any more throw or overall output, being more reflective.

The Streamlight-sized 2Ls are out or else I'd just carry the 2L Twin Task.

Anyway, thanks for the responses.

 

[HesNot]

I think you've about covered the playing field in that price range - although isn't the Longbow Micra in that ballpark? I've never owned or touched one so I can't speak to build quality, etc...

The Inova X5 isn't much larger than the X1 (although it is 2L based) and is very highly regarded here for the nice flood beam and very long runtimes.

It sounds like you really want a single 123 based light and I think the Nuwai, Inova and Longbows are about it in that price range.

 

[cratz2]

Thanks... I haven't looked into the Micra at all. Will do that in about ten seconds. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/popcorn.gif

 

[Hookd_On_Photons]

Have you considered the Elektrolumens XM-3?

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=ElectroLumens&Number=747146&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=14&fpart=all

http://elektrolumens.com/XM-3/XM-3.html

It's reasonably bright, durable, regulated, and runs on readily available alkaline or NiMH AA batteries - for only $39.99. Some buyers might be concerned about buying a flashlight without the warranty of a major manufacturer, but Wayne has a well-deserved reputation for excellent customer service.

Having said all that, I don't have one. I like pocket rockets, so I'm holding out for an Elektrolumens Zorch.

The UK 4AA eLED has gotten great reviews as well.

http://flashlightreviews3.home.att.net/reviews/uk_4aaeled.htm

 

[cratz2]

Yeah... I've looked at it. But I'd rather have a shorter light... I also think ther Gerber Trio would work great, except it's longer than I'd like. Seems like there is a trend to move towards 2xAA lights and away from 1x123 lights. Really, looking at the review of the Trio on Doug's page, the trio looks about perfect, if it were a 1x123 instead of a 2xAA.

 

[STEVENT6]

I forget exactly which peak it is but the brightest 1aa is listed about 40,000mcd at the led museum's site. I don't know how many lux. I think it will be a bit better than the 2L and has good quality with a infinity size. I think that would suite you and the price is what you want to pay.