Rocketman
Enlightened
Hi there and Merry Christmas.
Received my Surefire LX2 Lumamax Wednesday. It is a very nice light, I'm happy with almost everything and even a little surprised that it is such a handsome light, the anodizing is very nice, machining is very nice, printing is very nice. Yes, I think the printing is important too.
1. The TIR beam is less than perfect but still quite nice. There is a central region where the beam is slightly less bright and there are a few rings in the spill beam. My disappointment comes mostly from my expectation that the beam would be as nice as the beam on my 6P LED, which is perfect. So, tell me why Surefire has chosen their TIR lens rather than a stippled reflector? For throw? A mistake perhaps.
2. The reflective surface inside the TIR lens is damaged. I would say about 33% of the area inside the lens is somehow scarred, starting from the forward edge and reaching down towards the led emitter. I will be sending it in for warranty work.
3. Turning it on takes some practice. I turn on my 6PL using one hand quite easily, as easily as a switch. However, my LX2 requires that I avoid the lanyard ring and also the clip, which I don't actually mind. A fair amount of turning though is required for the high beam. I chose this, though, over the click switch of the E2D LED Defender. Were I to do it over, though, I might choose differently. I didn't choose this light for a "tactical" use. I'm thinking, though, the rotating selector is the way to go for all multilevel lights. I have learned how to turn it on and off with one hand, it's not difficult.
4. Haven't had any problems with the clip, although I am using a holster. I can't see relying on the clip to hold such a nice light.
5. The beam brightness can be described as a somewhat darker inner disk surrounded by a brighter circle surrounded by a gradually fading circle which is then surrounded by the spill beam. Were there no inner darker disk, I would be entirely happy with the beam. I'm thinking that it may be quite difficult to make a lens that gives a perfect beam which leads me to wonder why such a lens is used at all when I know a reflector can make a perfect beam (controversially so.)
I'll get back with you if I have issues with this light.
Edit: Having used my new light outside a few times, I must say the anomalies in the beam seem to disappear in actual use outside. Beam anomalies indoors or up close might be visible, perhaps, perhaps not. I will be quite happy with my 195 dollars when Surefire replaces my TIR lens.
Received my Surefire LX2 Lumamax Wednesday. It is a very nice light, I'm happy with almost everything and even a little surprised that it is such a handsome light, the anodizing is very nice, machining is very nice, printing is very nice. Yes, I think the printing is important too.
1. The TIR beam is less than perfect but still quite nice. There is a central region where the beam is slightly less bright and there are a few rings in the spill beam. My disappointment comes mostly from my expectation that the beam would be as nice as the beam on my 6P LED, which is perfect. So, tell me why Surefire has chosen their TIR lens rather than a stippled reflector? For throw? A mistake perhaps.
2. The reflective surface inside the TIR lens is damaged. I would say about 33% of the area inside the lens is somehow scarred, starting from the forward edge and reaching down towards the led emitter. I will be sending it in for warranty work.
3. Turning it on takes some practice. I turn on my 6PL using one hand quite easily, as easily as a switch. However, my LX2 requires that I avoid the lanyard ring and also the clip, which I don't actually mind. A fair amount of turning though is required for the high beam. I chose this, though, over the click switch of the E2D LED Defender. Were I to do it over, though, I might choose differently. I didn't choose this light for a "tactical" use. I'm thinking, though, the rotating selector is the way to go for all multilevel lights. I have learned how to turn it on and off with one hand, it's not difficult.
4. Haven't had any problems with the clip, although I am using a holster. I can't see relying on the clip to hold such a nice light.
5. The beam brightness can be described as a somewhat darker inner disk surrounded by a brighter circle surrounded by a gradually fading circle which is then surrounded by the spill beam. Were there no inner darker disk, I would be entirely happy with the beam. I'm thinking that it may be quite difficult to make a lens that gives a perfect beam which leads me to wonder why such a lens is used at all when I know a reflector can make a perfect beam (controversially so.)
I'll get back with you if I have issues with this light.
Edit: Having used my new light outside a few times, I must say the anomalies in the beam seem to disappear in actual use outside. Beam anomalies indoors or up close might be visible, perhaps, perhaps not. I will be quite happy with my 195 dollars when Surefire replaces my TIR lens.
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