A practical review.
Have been looking at two models of LED Lenser, with a view for purchase, and here are my observations. I will add the pictures later, when I work out how!!!
Some info and comments on the LED Lenser P17 and P14 models, sourced from a retailer in Australia. Note that I do not have light meters etc, and this is more about the general practicality of the lights, with a few photos and figures where I could. Camera was a Sony Cybershot, pretty much automated, but the aim of the shots was more to show the beam characteristics than to be a true representation of the lumens/output.
Some general specs (as per packaging, check the LED Lenser site for more info, although they differ a little from data claimed below).
P14
1xCree
39mm lens diameter
4xAA alkaline in an insert holder
Length 205mm
Weight 383.5 grams
Manufacturers quoted runtime 150h
Manufacturer’s quoted lumens 200 or 210 lm, depending on where you read
Switch: tactical type in the tailcap, push button, three modes: low, medium, off with push and hold for ‘turbo’.
P17
1xCree
45mm lens diameter
Length about 335mm
Weight 799 grams
3xD Cells alkaline dropped straight into tube
Manufacturer’s quoted runtime 280h
Manufacturer’s quoted lumens 190 or 200 lm, depending where you read
Switch: push button, mounted on the battery cylinder, three modes: low, medium, off with push and hold for ‘turbo’.
Lens focussing
Both the P14 and P17 have a focusable lens system and the beam can be varied from a pretty tight spot a broad flood pattern by pushing or pulling the torch head (lens) along the axis of the torch cylinder. This is pretty positive and effective, but I found the beam quality best (fuller, cleaner, less rings) at each end of the range (spot or flood) and more ringy in the middle. Actually, the flood was possibly just better backed off from full flood, giving a cleaner, less ringy beam at close ranges.
Beam patterns – some figures
Beam spread was calculated, using Locoboy5150’s suggested lens-to-wall distance of 54 inches (137cm). For comparison, Locoboy5150 quotes the approximate figures for the Fenix TK40 as being about a 13 inch hotspot at 54 inches, so the LL P17 is considerably tighter than the TK40.
At 54 inches:
LL P17 (high, focus to spot) hot spot 190mm (7.5 inches), softer spill to 330mm (13 inches)
LL P17 (high, focus to flood) a good solid beam width 50.75 inches.
LL P14 (high, spot) hotspot 300mm (12 inches)
LL P14 (high, flood) a good solid beam width of 1720mm (68 inches)
A few beam shots, at 5 metres (197 inches = 16.4 feet) on a white coolroom wall. NOTE that you can compare the brightness only within models, not across models, as the shots of the P17 beams had different camera settings. For all intents and purposes, I would comment that the P17 shows more light out the front, possibly larger due to its lager lens/head diameter.
General comments on LED Lenser P14.
Nice in the hand and an easy carry. Not a small pocket torch, but not unwieldy or too heavy, would fit in a big coat pocket. The P14 light comes with a relatively solid pouch with belt loop, absent in the P17 package.
On high mode (rated at 200 lumen) the P14 light is a good prospect for flooding an area out to say 50m or so, and the spot is fine to 200+m or maybe a little better. On low, I found it a little dim… ok for closer work (10-15m), but if the LL website is right that low is 15% of 200 (putting it at 30 lumen) I would say a low of 50 lm would be a good improvement. In practical outdoor use, looking at field, roads, trees etc, the turbo mode, rated at “130%” on the LL website, did not seem to boost the light that dramatically over high setting (to the eye, not the meter) but maybe was a fraction brighter. In any case, high mode was fine for that sort of work.
The P14 has a good simple tailcap switch but I found the clicky on the P17 (a la Maglite type) better to use in carrying the torches. The P14 maybe is a just a little long and heavy for a one-handed tactical switch on the tail cap, it feeling a little front heavy in that sense, and I found myself using the other hand for the switch all the time, though you could get used to using it in the tactical way I expect. Also the light cannot tailstand due to the rounded base and switch set up (see photo).
General comments on the LED Lenser P17
A similar light to the P14, but threw more light on high with a much tighter spot than the P14, and a better prospect for longer spot work out to 250-300m.
The P17’s low power mode is to me much more useable and less dim than that on the P14.
The switch button on the cylinder was more practical and easy to use than the tail-cap button on the P14, and is the right choice for the larger, heavier, longer P17.
The torch is quite long and heavy at nearly 800 grams, but anyone who has loved a Maglite 3D or 4D will find it familiar in style, and it also fits the clips on a Maglite bracket. Definitely not a ‘pocket torch’ or every day carry torch. This is a model for a purpose (good throwing and good flood in the one unit, with good battery life).
Summing up
If you are after a simple to use light and do not need programmed flash/strobe/SOS functions, these lights are worth a look. From reading this forum, it seems the LED Lenser lights are not as technically advanced as some, without circuit regulation for example, but they are practical and easy to operate, and function well. No doubt they are a compromise in allowing you to carry a thrower and a flood in one light, but they do not do a bad job of either.
It is hard to know the real lumen output, as the packaging and the company website tell a different story for both models, but of the two tested, the P17 definitely appear a stronger beam. I think this has a fair bit to due with the larger lens diameter.
If you’re after light with both flood and spot capabilities, then the LED Lenser P14 and P17 are worth looking at. For something easy to carry all day go for the P14, but if you want that bit more throw in a tight spot with little peripheral light, and can handle the extra length and weight (say for a light to be carried in a vehicle) then the P17 wins out, and has a superior, more useful low power option in my opinion.
TC
Have been looking at two models of LED Lenser, with a view for purchase, and here are my observations. I will add the pictures later, when I work out how!!!
Some info and comments on the LED Lenser P17 and P14 models, sourced from a retailer in Australia. Note that I do not have light meters etc, and this is more about the general practicality of the lights, with a few photos and figures where I could. Camera was a Sony Cybershot, pretty much automated, but the aim of the shots was more to show the beam characteristics than to be a true representation of the lumens/output.
Some general specs (as per packaging, check the LED Lenser site for more info, although they differ a little from data claimed below).
P14
1xCree
39mm lens diameter
4xAA alkaline in an insert holder
Length 205mm
Weight 383.5 grams
Manufacturers quoted runtime 150h
Manufacturer’s quoted lumens 200 or 210 lm, depending on where you read
Switch: tactical type in the tailcap, push button, three modes: low, medium, off with push and hold for ‘turbo’.
P17
1xCree
45mm lens diameter
Length about 335mm
Weight 799 grams
3xD Cells alkaline dropped straight into tube
Manufacturer’s quoted runtime 280h
Manufacturer’s quoted lumens 190 or 200 lm, depending where you read
Switch: push button, mounted on the battery cylinder, three modes: low, medium, off with push and hold for ‘turbo’.
Lens focussing
Both the P14 and P17 have a focusable lens system and the beam can be varied from a pretty tight spot a broad flood pattern by pushing or pulling the torch head (lens) along the axis of the torch cylinder. This is pretty positive and effective, but I found the beam quality best (fuller, cleaner, less rings) at each end of the range (spot or flood) and more ringy in the middle. Actually, the flood was possibly just better backed off from full flood, giving a cleaner, less ringy beam at close ranges.
Beam patterns – some figures
Beam spread was calculated, using Locoboy5150’s suggested lens-to-wall distance of 54 inches (137cm). For comparison, Locoboy5150 quotes the approximate figures for the Fenix TK40 as being about a 13 inch hotspot at 54 inches, so the LL P17 is considerably tighter than the TK40.
At 54 inches:
LL P17 (high, focus to spot) hot spot 190mm (7.5 inches), softer spill to 330mm (13 inches)
LL P17 (high, focus to flood) a good solid beam width 50.75 inches.
LL P14 (high, spot) hotspot 300mm (12 inches)
LL P14 (high, flood) a good solid beam width of 1720mm (68 inches)
A few beam shots, at 5 metres (197 inches = 16.4 feet) on a white coolroom wall. NOTE that you can compare the brightness only within models, not across models, as the shots of the P17 beams had different camera settings. For all intents and purposes, I would comment that the P17 shows more light out the front, possibly larger due to its lager lens/head diameter.
General comments on LED Lenser P14.
Nice in the hand and an easy carry. Not a small pocket torch, but not unwieldy or too heavy, would fit in a big coat pocket. The P14 light comes with a relatively solid pouch with belt loop, absent in the P17 package.
On high mode (rated at 200 lumen) the P14 light is a good prospect for flooding an area out to say 50m or so, and the spot is fine to 200+m or maybe a little better. On low, I found it a little dim… ok for closer work (10-15m), but if the LL website is right that low is 15% of 200 (putting it at 30 lumen) I would say a low of 50 lm would be a good improvement. In practical outdoor use, looking at field, roads, trees etc, the turbo mode, rated at “130%” on the LL website, did not seem to boost the light that dramatically over high setting (to the eye, not the meter) but maybe was a fraction brighter. In any case, high mode was fine for that sort of work.
The P14 has a good simple tailcap switch but I found the clicky on the P17 (a la Maglite type) better to use in carrying the torches. The P14 maybe is a just a little long and heavy for a one-handed tactical switch on the tail cap, it feeling a little front heavy in that sense, and I found myself using the other hand for the switch all the time, though you could get used to using it in the tactical way I expect. Also the light cannot tailstand due to the rounded base and switch set up (see photo).
General comments on the LED Lenser P17
A similar light to the P14, but threw more light on high with a much tighter spot than the P14, and a better prospect for longer spot work out to 250-300m.
The P17’s low power mode is to me much more useable and less dim than that on the P14.
The switch button on the cylinder was more practical and easy to use than the tail-cap button on the P14, and is the right choice for the larger, heavier, longer P17.
The torch is quite long and heavy at nearly 800 grams, but anyone who has loved a Maglite 3D or 4D will find it familiar in style, and it also fits the clips on a Maglite bracket. Definitely not a ‘pocket torch’ or every day carry torch. This is a model for a purpose (good throwing and good flood in the one unit, with good battery life).
Summing up
If you are after a simple to use light and do not need programmed flash/strobe/SOS functions, these lights are worth a look. From reading this forum, it seems the LED Lenser lights are not as technically advanced as some, without circuit regulation for example, but they are practical and easy to operate, and function well. No doubt they are a compromise in allowing you to carry a thrower and a flood in one light, but they do not do a bad job of either.
It is hard to know the real lumen output, as the packaging and the company website tell a different story for both models, but of the two tested, the P17 definitely appear a stronger beam. I think this has a fair bit to due with the larger lens diameter.
If you’re after light with both flood and spot capabilities, then the LED Lenser P14 and P17 are worth looking at. For something easy to carry all day go for the P14, but if you want that bit more throw in a tight spot with little peripheral light, and can handle the extra length and weight (say for a light to be carried in a vehicle) then the P17 wins out, and has a superior, more useful low power option in my opinion.
TC
