Photon 3 / Arc light

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Hi everyone, I was doing a search for keychain type lights and came across the Punishment Zone (nice site) with a link to here. I am surprised and pleased to find a forum dealing with flashlights.

I was pretty much set on getting a Photon 3 but now see the Arc as a possible one too. I have a Infinity and like it, but it is to uncomfortable in my pocket and to bulky to hang around my neck and carry all the time. The reveiwer at the Punishment Zone seems to like both equally well.

For my second light, I was looking at the Expedition to be my general purpose light (if it won`t sit in my pocket or hang on my neck size is not important) but now see some nice comments here on the Lightwave 4000 for the same price.

Finally, I was thinking about a nice regular light and see on the other area the Surefire E-2 (although pricey) is well liked.

I know no one light will meet all my needs so I felt three, small pocket one, general purpose, and one that can throw the beam a ways for occational use. I really don`t want to spend more than about $150 (even this is a strech but I realise it`s sometimes cheaper in the long run than buy one, then later wishing you had something else and spend even more).

I welcome any suggestions you all my have. Thanks

 

[Badbeams3]

Welcome low beam, if you can wait a while there will an Arc 5. www.arcflashlight.com It might fit the bill for carry around all the time and general purpose

ps: Go back and check out the manufactures forum...look for Arc 5 cooming soon

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Thanks for the suggestion KenB, it sounds very nice but it also seems to be to big for a keychain light. And for general purpose I would prefer a light with a longer run time. Thanks again.

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

KenB, I agree at this point, the 4000 does look better. Maybe this is not the place to ask for suggestions between the Arc/Photon.
Thanks again.

 

[Brock]

As far as the Arc and Photon go it is a matter of size. The Photon is smaller, but is a pain to find/change batteries. The Arc is built better more durable and uses common batteries that are easily changeable. I carry the Arc now instead of the Photon. To be honest I would change my Photon batteries about every hour of use because I wanted it to be as bright as it could, the Arc stays bright until it is dead. So it is much cheaper for me to carry the Arc, and I don't mind the extra size.

 

[RonM]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR> I would change my Photon batteries about every hour of use <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Brock, we're gonna have to start calling you "Mr. Money Bags"!

Low Beam - Welcome to our really fun forum. Gotta go with the others on the Lightwave 4000. If I were to spend $60 on a flashlight (not likely, you can call me "Mr. Tight Wad", that's what I'd get.

For a pocket light, I like the Photon II because it's no more a bother to carry than a quarter coin. Nice and bright. Easy to use. Battery changes are not all that hard either. If your pocket light will get extended use, the the Arc is a great choice because of the cheaper AAA batteries.

For a regular light, something like the Pelican SuperPelite would be a much cheaper option than a Surefire. Maybe if I was on a SWAT team the Surefire would be the choice.

There's my 2 cents. Mr. Tight Wad has spoken.

 

[Spork]

I have the infinity also and I can carry it just fine in my pocket on my keyring(i only have a few keys though) but I usually carry my keys on a good metal belt hook which gives me more room and less likely to loose my keys when digging through my pocket for change. I even used my infinity when i went camping and thought it was plenty bright.

 

[Badbeams3]

One more thought to consider, according to the pres of L.R.I the Photon 3 is suppose to be used mostly in medium, sliding your finger up and pressing for a burst of bright light when needed. If used like this they claim it will run 10 times (or more) longer than the photon II. On low he said it would run "forever". Craig has said the brightness on medium is just a tad dimmer than a good Infinity.

So if you find you are able to do most tasks with your Infinity and don`t mind paying more for batt replacement, this light has a lot of features and a great warranty in a small package.

But if you think you will use/need a brighter beam most of the time the Arc can`t be beat and as mentioned the batts are cheap.

The Photon 3`s should start showing up at our members doors on Thursday...we will have to wait and see if they feel the medium power level is enough for most tasks.

 

[Badbeams3]

Well, the photon and Arc are the two best keychain lights out there. So that`s a tough one. The Arc has the longest BRIGHT burn time but the Photon can run longer and is bright too. I will recommend the Arc as the owner of the company is one of our members...I might be buying more lights and don`t want to **** him off

Ok, all joking aside I don`t have a narrow beam Photon 3 so I won`t comment.

I do have the 7 led Expedition and I love it, but the 4000 would be my pick right now based on what I have read.

 

[Marked]

Way I see it is Photon 1 2 good for short burst and Arc is good for longer runs and Infinity for the longest runs. I'll cary Proton 1 2 and Arc.
E2 is good I cary it. Fits in my pocket nicely and bright. But 75min run time is short for expinseve batterys.

 

[Chas]

Let's add a new toy to the mix, probably too big or small, depending on your point of view

. And this is not in USA, and it has glowrings in it - http://www.traser.com/ (for the whole site) or http://www.traser.com/cgi-bin/products.cgi?act=list_products&category=Torches (item I'm talking about). Keep in mind this is priced in pounds (about 1.39 to the US$).

I'm sure someone here has been here before, but I'm doing this for the heck of it (read another new toy

).

Best Regards,

Chas

 

[Chris M.]

Chas- yeah I`ve seen those Traser Teknolites too, even joined their email list and got an update recently. They aren`t avaliable yet but it says they will be ready in about 10 weeks. So not long to wait then....

(who knows maybe I`ll have caught up on all my reviews by then

).
Looks quite good (4 LEDs- maybe Lightwave-2000 sort of brightness?) but what with the recent change in US import laws that stopped the Traser Glow tubes being imported, I don`t think they will be easilly avaliable to the States

All that fuss for a teeny tiny bit of slightly radioactive gas....

 

[Chas]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Chris M.:
Chas- yeah I`ve seen those Traser Teknolites too, even joined their email list and got an update recently. They aren`t avaliable yet but it says they will be ready in about 10 weeks. So not long to wait then....

(who knows maybe I`ll have caught up on all my reviews by then

).
Looks quite good (4 LEDs- maybe Lightwave-2000 sort of brightness?) but what with the recent change in US import laws that stopped the Traser Glow tubes being imported, I don`t think they will be easilly avaliable to the States

All that fuss for a teeny tiny bit of slightly radioactive gas....

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


Got the answer Chris - The glowring KEYRINGS are the only item they are not allowed to send over to USA or Canada. ALL other products - i.e. flashlights and watches (they have those items in them - are allowed to be exported here. I know because I got one of the last (read 5) orders of keyrings they shipped before the ban went into effect. I asked about the other items and was advised they could (would) ship those to USA or Canada. I'm telling ya go figure..........

Best Regards,

Charlie

 

[The_LED_Museum]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Chas:

Got the answer Chris - The glowring KEYRINGS are the only item they are not allowed to send over to USA or Canada. ALL other products - i.e. flashlights and watches (they have those items in them - are allowed to be exported here<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

That's really f$*#%ing bizarre... maybe they're worried that some boob will take the keyring apart, get like fifty of those green YAG laser pointers, focus them all on the little glass ampoule, and cause a fusion chain reaction; possibly blowing a chair apart.

 

[Chris M.]

maybe they're worried that some boob will take the keyring apart, get like fifty of those green YAG laser pointers, focus them all on the little glass ampoule, and cause a fusion chain reaction; possibly blowing a chair apart.


Very strange indeed.

Anyway...you can have good fun with some electrolytic capacitors and a large battery....hook them up the wrong way round.......BOOOOM!


OK sometimes I get really bored. Thankfully not that often these days.

 

[vcal]

Re: those Glowrings Chas mentions...
I just checked, and they are shippable to U.S. as NOS stock (only 1 yr. old-MAX) from www.adventureKit.com and mine came out to only costing abt. $5.(U.S.) ea.
p.s.-I was just flabbergasted when I saw a few of them being offered on eBay @ over 20 bucks each!

 

[Chas]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by videocal:
Re: those Glowrings Chas mentions...
I just checked, and they are shippable to U.S. as NOS stock (only 1 yr. old-MAX) from www.adventureKit.com and mine came out to only costing abt. $5.(U.S.) ea.
p.s.-I was just flabbergasted when I saw a few of them being offered on eBay @ over 20 bucks each!

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


Just wonder if you order includes the VATS (tax) or do you get exempt with it being shipped out of England???? If so, that's a darn good price, if the shipping charges are reasonable.

Would appreciate knowing.

Best Regards,

 

[The_LED_Museum]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by videocal:

p.s.-I was just flabbergasted when I saw a few of them being offered on eBay @ over 20 bucks each!

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I paid over $40 for one last year.

Most of the others I saw were in fierce bidding wars and also sold for $30 to $40.

 

[Chas]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by videocal:

Originally posted by Chas:
[QB]
Just wonder if you order includes the VATS (tax) or do you get exempt with it being shipped out of England???? If so, that's a darn good price, if the shipping charges are reasonable.

U.S. buyers are exempt from VAT.
They charged me a whopping $2.75-US to ship all the way from the UK.

-So the total delivered cost for the Four color set of trasers was only $25.40-US

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


Looked at their ad that's pounds not dollars so your $25.40 will be about $35.35 USD. I know been there done that - honest. Still a good price. And hey we can always sell them on E-Bay right??

Best Regards,

 

[vcal]

Looked at their ad that's pounds not dollars so your $25.40 will be about $35.35 USD. I know been there done that - honest. Still a good price. And hey we can always sell them on E-Bay right??

Best Regards,[/QUOTE]

Chas, I reiterate -the UK cost was only abt. 18 Quid- my TOTAL cost was about 25. in U.S. dollars

i.e.(their price is still 14.48 UK Pounds (NO Vat tax) for the set of FOUR traser glowrings) which works out to about $20. U.S. My VISA statement also said I was charged about $25.-including delivery.