"New" Legend LX

[PJD]

\"New\" Legend LX

My brother-in-law gave me a Legend LX today...one of the new, fixed-focus ones. I don't know what Brinkmann was hoping to accomomplish with this move (fixing the focus), but IMHO, I think it was a mistake. My reason for this opinion is mainly because for $20.00 Brinkmann had a light that, when set at it's tightest focus, could easily out-throw a SF G-2 (...well, MY G2 anyway), and appeared brighter than any 2 cell SF I own. With the focus that the newer LXs are set at, the throw has been cut EASILY in half, and the beam is almost flood-like. The bulb is the same as before, but the focus setting that Brinkmann settled on drastically reduces the light's performance. The Legend LX eats a set of 123s faster than any 2X123 cell light I own, and now that it's strong point (the overall OOMPH!) has been taken away, as far as I'm concerned, so has the appeal of the Legend LX. A light that eats 123s this fast SHOULD have some OOMPH! I've bought quite a few of them as gifts for my non-flashoholic friends in the past simply because of their cost vs. "wow-factor" ratio. But because there's no longer a capability to focus it down nice and tight for a good throw, as far as I'm concerned, the wow-factor is gone...and so is the LX's appeal. I think that if they were going to make it a fixed-focus light, they should have kept it as intense as possible. I don't need a "flood light" that eats a set of expensive batteries in 45 minutes or less! I read in a previous post that Brinkmann was trying to make the Legend LX more "Surefire-like" by fixing the focus. If that's the case, they've failed MISERABLY! Sorry for the rant...just my $.02.

PJD

 

[Sigman]

Re:

Is that the one that "looks" like an LX, has no rubber grip on it, says "Aluminum Series" on the package, and has a lens like their plastic "Rebel"? (I thought the package said "LED" though? It merely looked like an aluminum Rebel? I didn't read the details on the package...just saw the lens and immediately hung it back up. Still maybe a good mod platform?)

If so...I saw it on the rack at Walmart, still $20 and I wouldn't touch it!

 

[cue003]

Re:

I just got one of those FIXED ones as well. Damn near broke the head off the thing trying to adjust focus. I am pretty happy with the beam but if it is like you say that its beam has been reduced then I want the real thing that can be focused. I cannot seem to find it...Any help on where to find a focusable one?

It is also true what you said about the batteries. this thing eats batts like crazy.

 

[McGizmo]

Re: New Legend LX

Just fixed the subject. Nothing to see.

 

[illumiGeek]

Re: New Legend LX

Do these look the same? Can you tell the difference from the packaging?

 

[illumiGeek]

Re: New Legend LX

I just saw the new ones at Wall Mart. They look very similar, but the packaging no longer says "Spot-to-Flood Adjustable Beam" on the upper right.

And the new ones are MORE EXPENSIVE!

This blows. They ruined a really fine light. Oh well. I sure as hell won't be buying any of this crappy new design.

 

[illumiGeek]

Re: New Legend LX

Interesting... I just looked at Brinkmann's site and I couldn't find the Legend LX or the replacement lamps for it. Wonder what that means?

Oh well... I was hoping to grab a couple more of them for modding down the road, but it looks like it's too late.

I'm gonna send a nasty-gram to Brinkmann to tell them how much they suck for screwing up the LX.

 

[Empath]

Re: New Legend LX

I already had a Legend LX of the focusable type. I never used it much, finding the focus feature to be as useless as the focus feature of others like the Mag type lights, Scorpian, Surge, Dorcy aluminums, and others. The ability to focus has just been a gee-whiz feature, that once you adjust it for the best beam, you leave it there. The "flood" settings were terrible beams with holes and rings. The earlier LX had the same shortcomings. It had a very slightly textured reflector, but not enough to create a decent beam; a spot yes, but a decent beam, no. I could appreciate a light that could be focused with a setscrew when a new lamp is installed or something, but I never found one that worked too well. The Scorpion comes closest, but they've got a better textured reflector.

I stopped by Wal-Mart and picked up the new version. It was still $19.99 at our Wal-Mart. I was really very pleasantly surprised when I got it home. Not only had they removed the useless focus feature, but they had added additional texture to the reflector that smooths the beam out. I didn't really find the loss of throw to be as extensive as PJD; maybe he got a bad bulb or something. It's very close to my Surefires like the E2 and 6P.

Before, it didn't seem like a very serious contender for the 2X123a lights. Now it seems like a very serious contender.

Illumigeek, I suppose one can complain to the manufacturer over most any feature, but I'm not so sure that the ability to canibalize it and make it into something different would be one of their big concerns.

 

[McGizmo]

Re: New Legend LX

With a parabolic reflector, there is only one focal point. If the manufacturer can consistantly place the lamp's element in that focal point, there is no need for adjustment. If proper allignment is not always insured at the assembly level, having the ability to adjust for focus (not adjustable focus) is a handy feature. A design allowing for fine adjustment seems intuitive but perhaps it is unnecessary, too expensive or some infringement on design.

 

[illumiGeek]

Re: New Legend LX

I too have the older LX and I do use the focusing feature (quite a lot actually). And mine has a very aggressive texture (perhaps too much so). Yes, when set to very wide flood the beam has holes, but I liked the ability to spread the beam out a bit when lighting up path ahead of me, and narrow it down to the tightest focus for long range throw.

At the Wall Marts here the old focusing version was $18.95 and the new fixed focus version is $22.95.

 

[Minjin]

Re: New Legend LX

If you can't remove the head, how is the bulb changed? Can you still do the p60/p61 mod?

I've always felt that the Legend LX was by far the best bang for the buck in the 2x123 arena. Brighter than E2E or P60 and just as good of a beam. It also comes with a clicky switch that the SureFires lack (or did). The only real drawback was the large diameter head, but thats what gave it its nice throw so it didn't really bother me. I've gotten several people interested in flashlights with their first real purchase being a Legend LX.

I still use an LX w/P61 as my bright/compact nightstand light for use with a handgun.

Mark

 

[Empath]

Re: New Legend LX

You replace the lamp by unscrewing the bezel, but not the whole head, and removing the reflector. I don't know what was involved with using the P61, so couldn't tell you if it's still possible.

 

[PJD]

Re: New Legend LX

I guess it just comes down to a matter of personal preference (i.e...YMMV!) Usually when I use a 2X123 cell incan light, I'm wanting to look at something that's out of the range of my usually preferred LED lights. I took the bulb out of my new LX (non-focus) and put it in my old (focus) one...viola! No problem there. Put the old bulb in the new light...same flood type beam. My "guage" for testing a light's throw is the side of a neighbor's garage that's about 150 feet away. The old LX BLAZES it; the new one barely illuminates it. On most of my adjustable focus lights, I don't use the focus feature...the Legend LX being no exception. Loss of focusability with the Legend LX is not a problem with me. The fixed focus that Brinkmann settled on IS. For throw, my SF E2 now smokes it. IMHO, Brinkmann took the best twenty dollar blaster on the market and ruined it...just my opinion; YMMV.

Incidentally, my brother-in-law picked one up for himself as well. The output of his was identical to mine...I don't think I got a "bad" one. I probably got a "typical" one.

PJD

 

[Empath]

Re: New Legend LX

You're probably right, PJD; personal preferences will determine how much you like the change. Any time you clean up the beam and smooth it out, whether through filtering or diffusing it by textured reflectors you'll loose the intense pencil point beam of a narrow focused smooth reflector. For some the ability to apply a drop of light in the far distance may be important. For me it means nothing, for some it may.