Al.... can't tell you much about LSI RC3800 yet because I haven't got the opportunity to play with it outdoor.
I can tell you that physically it is big, really bulky, and heavy, compared to my SF12ZM. Not the kind of light you can put in your pocket and briefcase (won't fit into any standard jeans or jacket pocket) or be comfortable to travel with it hanging over your neck or wrist with a lanyard, ....probably hanging over the shoulder with a strap.
It comes in a box with a AC-Charger and a DC-Charger for its rechargeable battery. The Lexan lens covering the reflector and bulb is too thin and looked flimsy for a high brightness searchlight of this size. It bends inward with the light push of a finger and it looked more like a clear transparent x-ray film to me.
About the beam, LSI RC3800's beam is not as clean as SF12ZM as seen on a side-by-side beam comparison against a wall. It has some darker rings around the wider center beam which is not noticeable because when beam is directed to a target farther from the light its brightness seem to overwhelm the dark rings. Its brightness beats my SF12ZM and I can tell you not by a very big margin.
Runtime is rated at 20 minutes of continous light with fully charged battery but I haven't tried to run it for that long.
Photo of SureFire12ZM basement hallway shot;
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=443720&a=9513897&p=31276228&f=0
Photo of LSI RC3800 basement hallway shot;
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=443720&a=9513897&p=31276229
Here's an indoor/basement room shot I did of different lightbeams. You'll find SF12ZM's and LSI RC3800's lightbeams at the lower portion of the photo.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=443720&a=13143240&p=50425315
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by phred:
Thanks Verge.
Based on your comparison to Surefire, i'll buy one for home use.
Sorry to hear that you can't play with your lights in your neighborhood without a BANG. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
You're welcome phred. Yeah, but I'll find a way. I'll try to take some outdoor photos of SF12ZM and LSI RC3800 lightbeam's long-throw while the weather is still nice.
- verge -