elumen8
Enlightened
I bought a new Mag ML100, so I thought I'd post some thoughts and pics of the new 2C-cell LED flashlight...nothing scientific or technical.
The first thing I noticed when I picked up the unopened package was the longer and narrower head assembly. I also spotted the smaller clicky button and dimple. The packaging has a stated 137 Lumens. Then the printing caught my eye..."Personalize for Quick Access to Your Preferred Functions"....now isn't this gonna be fun.
Taking the light out, you feel the same solid build of any other C-cell Mag. The new 2C LED light is just slightly longer than the previous 2C incan version. It holds nicely in the hand. Looking down the business end of the light, I see the Cree XP-E that they are using in their latest MagLeds. The new sleeker head assembly is quite nice. Then I started twisting the head assembly to play with the focusing action...you know the one that turns a laser-like beam into a huge funky donut hole of light. The main body of the head assembly was twisting but the bezel was not turning along with it. I thought to myself "well that's odd". The main section of the head twists and the LED moves up and down but the bezel remains stationary. I tried to remove the entire head assembly but no amount of unscrewing would make it come off. I unscrewed the bezel and out came the lens and newly designed reflector. The main head assembly is somehow attached to the barrel of the light and adjusts the focusing in a new way. I didn't have the guts to try to disassemble it any further. There is some kind of metal retaining ring along the bezel thread section. It also looks like there might be some better heatsinking on the LED assembly.
I pressed down on the now smaller power button expecting to hear the traditional clicky spring sound but got none. It looks like Mag is using the same electronic switch they have in their XL series of lights. I like the reponse of the switch, a slight push with a soft click or pop sound.
I put in the included batteries (without reading the instructions, of course). The thing did not light up. So I quickly grabbed the instructions and learned all about the functions and usage, thinking that maybe you have to program it the first time out of the packaging. Here comes the fun stuff. There are five different functions and a total of four different function sets. Each function is activated by the number of clicks pressed on the switch. Programming the the function set is amazingly simple. slightly unscrew the tailcap, hold down the switch, rescrew the tailcap and count the number of flashes...one through four.
The five functions are:
1) Full Power
2) Power Save (Low)
3) Strobe
4) SOS
5) Momentary (yeah you read right, momentary on the ML series electronic switches...unfortunately not on the XL series lights)
The four function sets are:
1) One click = Full Power. Two clicks = Low. Three clicks = Strobe
2) One click = Full Power. Two clicks = Low. Three clicks = SOS
3) One click = Momentary. Two clicks = Full Power. Three clicks = Low
4) One click = Momentary. Two clicks = Full Power. Three clicks = Strobe (my favorite)
After reading the instructions the light still wouldn't turn on. Suddenly it dawned on me...I can be so stupid. I remove the tailcap and put the batteries in correctly. thank goodness for reverse polarity protection. haha
Turning on the light gives me what I expected, pretty much the same exact beam as the 2D magled. There's not much else to say other than it has a very usable beam for probably the majority of buyers walking into a brick & mortar looking for a reliable flashlight. I've always enjoyed the laser-like throw that a mag puts out. Not the brightest or floodiest light but it has great throw.
Pressing down the switch the desired number of times cycles through the various functions very smoothly. I use the momentary most often. The Power Save or Low really isn't a large enough difference in lumens. There is a very slight humming sound when the light is on. The focusing from flood to pinpoint is like any other Mag...nothing special.
Overall, I really like this new light. Not the brightest light on the block but immensely usable in the real world.
I don't have any beamshot, runtimes or current readings...but here are a few pics.
-JB
Brand spanking new
Sleeker looking design
Looking down the business end
Already rolled off the top of my Jeep and onto the concrete
Comparing the length of the 2C LED with the 2C incan
The 2C incan and the 2C LED bezels removed
New reflector on the right
The difference in size between the 2C LED and the 2C incan
Comparing the LED assembly on the 2C LED and the 2D LED on the right. This pic
is deceiving because the head assembly isn't completely off on the ML100 on the left.
Comparing the lengths between the 2C incan, 2C LED and the 2D LED
Just a few new friends
-JB
The first thing I noticed when I picked up the unopened package was the longer and narrower head assembly. I also spotted the smaller clicky button and dimple. The packaging has a stated 137 Lumens. Then the printing caught my eye..."Personalize for Quick Access to Your Preferred Functions"....now isn't this gonna be fun.
Taking the light out, you feel the same solid build of any other C-cell Mag. The new 2C LED light is just slightly longer than the previous 2C incan version. It holds nicely in the hand. Looking down the business end of the light, I see the Cree XP-E that they are using in their latest MagLeds. The new sleeker head assembly is quite nice. Then I started twisting the head assembly to play with the focusing action...you know the one that turns a laser-like beam into a huge funky donut hole of light. The main body of the head assembly was twisting but the bezel was not turning along with it. I thought to myself "well that's odd". The main section of the head twists and the LED moves up and down but the bezel remains stationary. I tried to remove the entire head assembly but no amount of unscrewing would make it come off. I unscrewed the bezel and out came the lens and newly designed reflector. The main head assembly is somehow attached to the barrel of the light and adjusts the focusing in a new way. I didn't have the guts to try to disassemble it any further. There is some kind of metal retaining ring along the bezel thread section. It also looks like there might be some better heatsinking on the LED assembly.
I pressed down on the now smaller power button expecting to hear the traditional clicky spring sound but got none. It looks like Mag is using the same electronic switch they have in their XL series of lights. I like the reponse of the switch, a slight push with a soft click or pop sound.
I put in the included batteries (without reading the instructions, of course). The thing did not light up. So I quickly grabbed the instructions and learned all about the functions and usage, thinking that maybe you have to program it the first time out of the packaging. Here comes the fun stuff. There are five different functions and a total of four different function sets. Each function is activated by the number of clicks pressed on the switch. Programming the the function set is amazingly simple. slightly unscrew the tailcap, hold down the switch, rescrew the tailcap and count the number of flashes...one through four.
The five functions are:
1) Full Power
2) Power Save (Low)
3) Strobe
4) SOS
5) Momentary (yeah you read right, momentary on the ML series electronic switches...unfortunately not on the XL series lights)
The four function sets are:
1) One click = Full Power. Two clicks = Low. Three clicks = Strobe
2) One click = Full Power. Two clicks = Low. Three clicks = SOS
3) One click = Momentary. Two clicks = Full Power. Three clicks = Low
4) One click = Momentary. Two clicks = Full Power. Three clicks = Strobe (my favorite)
After reading the instructions the light still wouldn't turn on. Suddenly it dawned on me...I can be so stupid. I remove the tailcap and put the batteries in correctly. thank goodness for reverse polarity protection. haha
Turning on the light gives me what I expected, pretty much the same exact beam as the 2D magled. There's not much else to say other than it has a very usable beam for probably the majority of buyers walking into a brick & mortar looking for a reliable flashlight. I've always enjoyed the laser-like throw that a mag puts out. Not the brightest or floodiest light but it has great throw.
Pressing down the switch the desired number of times cycles through the various functions very smoothly. I use the momentary most often. The Power Save or Low really isn't a large enough difference in lumens. There is a very slight humming sound when the light is on. The focusing from flood to pinpoint is like any other Mag...nothing special.
Overall, I really like this new light. Not the brightest light on the block but immensely usable in the real world.
I don't have any beamshot, runtimes or current readings...but here are a few pics.
-JB
Brand spanking new
Sleeker looking design
Looking down the business end
Already rolled off the top of my Jeep and onto the concrete
Comparing the length of the 2C LED with the 2C incan
The 2C incan and the 2C LED bezels removed
New reflector on the right
The difference in size between the 2C LED and the 2C incan
Comparing the LED assembly on the 2C LED and the 2D LED on the right. This pic
is deceiving because the head assembly isn't completely off on the ML100 on the left.
Comparing the lengths between the 2C incan, 2C LED and the 2D LED
Just a few new friends
-JB
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