My first flashlight

[firestarter]

I first ran into this site a few weeks ago trying to find out what kind of equipment people carry everyday. I have since bought a Vapor and a Juice S2 but I thought you guys were a little wacky about the whole flashlight thing.
So today during my lunch break I ran over to Gaylan's (?sp) to look around. I saw a Streamlight Scorpion sitting there (which I had seen some of you mention favorably) but I thought for sure the one I was looking at was a toy version.

Long story short, I went into my basement when I got home to try this little sucker out and I was just floored. It's AWESOME.
Please tell me there's nothing much cooler than this because right now I feel like buying everyone I know a Scorpion.

 

[Size15's]

Welcome to CPF!

Nothing much cooler than a Scorpion?

In my opinion, the coolest flashlight currently available is the SureFire A2, then the 10X.

Something with a Luxeon in it like an SureFire L1 or E2e+KL1 or an ArcLS is very cool.

But cooler still are the coloured flavours:
A2 with Blue or Green LEDs
L1 with Green Luxeon

An ArcAAA with Turquiose is cool I think.

Al /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[Sean]

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

 

[firestarter]

I just looked to see what the Surefire A2 is. How useful is the LED, i.e. only in total darknes like a theatre light?

 

[Size15's]

I find the A2's LEDs beam is very useful. The reds are low output and do illuminate best in very dark environments like very close range inside at night (I suppose this is the red's intended application) I get similar output to the reds from my Photon3 on medium in terms of intensity.

Al

 

[chamenos]

the single led on my arc AAA already produces a substantial amount of light, so i think the 3 leds in the A2 should be more than enough for most uses whereby you don't need a lot of light and throw.

if the L1 can have its LS changed to a high dome emitter, it would make a very good EDC light IMO

 

[Sigman]

WHAT???? Firestarter doesn't have an ARC AAA in white or turquoise? For shame, for shame...

SureFire E2E-HA, add a KL1 to it for versatility, get an eternaLight torch, an ARC LS w/TSP-123...many torches the modders here have made available here...

My suggestion: Read through the different Forums here and you'll learn a lot! Lot's of "WOW Technology" information...

 

[firestarter]

I take it from the above that I should go ahead and purchase an ARC AAA?

 

[flashfan]

firestarter:

The Scorpion is a great light (I love it and have given many away to friends and family), but you won't experience flashlight nirvana until you've experienced the SureFire M6 and McCulloch HID x990...to name just a few. Welcome to the madness!

 

[firestarter]

I see that SF M6. Bearing in mind I don't have a ton of spare cash, is it worth it? Is it really that cool/useful?

 

[tsg68]

Now that we are preaching to the converted, lock up the wallet! You got yourself a great little light but it's just a scratch in the surface, they get better and even brighter as you go up in price and you're just in the incandescent phase. The LED's and mods are a whole other story. The Arc AAA isn't as bright as an incandescent but it is a very cool little backup LED light (probably the best, I use mine alot more than any other light). Read up on lights to see what the larger and more subtle differences are then buy prudently. I have a Pelican M6, Surefire G2, C2-HA, M3, these are my main incans then I have an Inova X5T, CMG Infinity in red, Petzl Zipka, Arc AAA LE with another coming in the mail along with an Arc LSH-P, Photons II and III, and I am considering a Arc AAA turquoise and waiting on the Inova X1 and The much awaited Arc LS4 to be released. I haven't even started with the mods yet but am thinking about some Opalecs and BadBoys for my old obsolete Minigags.

So you can see how out of hand things can get. These are just purchases from the last year and a half. I got lights going back 30 years. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon23.gif

Later,
TSG /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[firestarter]

Can someone describe the difference in the experience between using say my Scorpion and this Arc LSH-P I've seen so many references to tonight? Please remember I'm not so much up to snuff with you guys on the technical side of things, right now I just can't believe that a light this small could be this bright and cool.

 

[chamenos]

firestarter:

an arc AAA is an absolute must in my opinion....it may not be very bright, but its small, relatively cheap (in cpf terms), waterproof, runs on cheap and common batteries and you'll never have to replace the bulb.

as for the arc LSH-P, it will not be as bright as your streamlight scorpion but it will rival the scorpion in runtime (~2 hours), colour temperature, size and ruggedness, in that the bulb will not break. once you see the pure white output of an LSH-P, everything else will seem either too yellow, blue or green (arc AAA tends to be a blueish white).

i currently carry an arc AAA and a surefire C2, with an lsh-p on the way. i only use the C2 when i need a lot of light and throw, but most other times i rely on my arc AAA. the output of the arc AAA is sometimes insufficient and using the C2 would be overkill, so that's why i'll expect the lsh-p to fill in. besides, you can always recycle batteries used in your scorpion in an lsh-p.

the lsh-p is pricey though, so you might want to get an arc AAA first /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[firestarter]

I just made my first post just a few hours ago, actually my first post to any kind of message board, and I have to say you guys have been extremely nice and helpful so far.

Thanks

 

[tsg68]

That's what we are all here for to inform each other and share our common interests. I suggest you educate yourself a little in the differences between the incandescent lights (use filiment lamps, like your new Scorpion) vs. LED lights (light emmitting diode) before you go further as both kinds of lights are being suggested in this thread and it helps to know what the main differences are (I am sure there is someone on the forums who could offer a decent dissertation on the differences and pro's and con's of each) it's too bad that Surefire stopped giving away the free Combat Tactics Magazine on their site, maybe it is still available on the news stands in the gun section as it has an excellent dissertation by the company founder, on the two types as well as some light technologies still being explored.It definitely helps to know a little about the technology and terminology but there are plenty here to help guide you.

Later,
TSG /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[treek13]

Normally I would strongly recommend you check out Sean's Flashlight Site except right now he seems to have exceeded his allowed bandwidth and his site is unavailable. When it is available again, he has great pics of many of the lights mentioned here (both the lights themselves and beamshots) including the Arc LSH, Surefire's, etc. I hope Sean doesn't mind the plug for his site (I am clearly not helping his bandwidth situation) but he really does have great pics.

Welcome to CPF,
Pat