Pelican Magnum+ outhrow UK 4AA?

[ikendu]

I've got a UK 4AA AS2 that I really like. Although, it has a broader beam than I really need. I use an Attitude for a flood beam for up close work and only carry an incandescent for throwing a tight spot a long way.

I see in the forum that the Pelican Magnum Plus 2AA has a "laser like", really tight spot.

So...even though it is only a 2AA light, might it out throw my 4AA UK? I only need a spot that is about 6" at 100-150 feet.

Thanks!

 

[sotto]

My old Pelican Magnum Plus 2AA has I believe the tightest beam of any flashlight I've looked at. I only wish it were a 4AA light with a replaceable PR-based bulb setup. My feeling is that the UK4AA would still throw a brighter as well as larger spot at the distance you're talking about, although I haven't done a side-by-side. What I have that I like better than either the Pelican or the UK4AA is the Kroehler Bright Star. I used NIMH rechargeables and an overdriven 3C/D krypton bulb in it. It has an adjustable beam that can be set very tight, and it has a nice tailswitch.

 

[ikendu]

I tried the Kroehler Bright Star (4AA Responder) and it is a really nice light. Although, one criteria that I had at the time was a light that was quite "pocket-able" because I use the Attitude as my primary light and I need a light that is easy to slide in and out the pocket only when I need it (to throw a bright spot). The UK 4AA AS2 is really great for that aspect and I kept it while I gave the Responder to my daughter for Christmas.

I figure the Pelican Magnum will be even more pocket-able, so... if it is equal (or even better) for throwing that bright spot...it'd be my choice. I've just ordered a Surge, which although bigger, might out-throw the UK. Just couldn't resist finally ordering that Surge! I love AA based lights and it seems like one (the Surge) that any self-respecting flashaholic would just have to have (I really like that it can run on either 4 or 8 AAs).

I'm still interested in the Pelican Magnum Plus though...

 

[arioch]

Ikendu:

I own both the Magnum 2aa and its rechargeable version, the M7. The light is xenon, relatively bright for its size, and has what looks like a longer throw than the AS2 that I just bought a few weeks ago.

However, I have found that the pencil-thin beam of the M7/Magnum2aa, while having a darkness piercing quality, is not very useful to me when checking an area in the dark. The extremely small hotspot (your desire for a 6" spot at 100' does not seem that far off the mark) has a very dim corona on both my Pelicans, which is almost useless for seeing at 100'-150'.

I really enjoy my AS2, and find the slightly larger hotspot to be a lot more practical for viewing an area at a distance.

If you are set on the Pelican 2aa, I would suggest you spend a few more bucks and get the rechargeable M7 instead of the Magnum Plus 2aa. It offers a tailcap switch,rechargeability, and in a pinch, the rc battery can be switched out with alkalines (don't know if Pelican meant the M7 to be used with alkalines, but I've been doing it for the last year with no problems).

M7's are available for $39.95 here

 

[ikendu]

Hmmm. Is the M7 optimized for rechargeable (brighter than the Magnum+)?

 

[arioch]

Pelican's website lists the M7 at 10kcp, while the magnum plus is listed at 8kcp. However, in real use, I don't see any difference in apparent light output.