Photon Light...Best???
- Thread starter Kenny Yum
- Start date
Help Support Candle Power Flashlight Forum
Steelwolf
Flashlight Enthusiast
That's a very hard statement to qualify. Certainly, in my opinion, for all the little LED flashlights that use button batteries and are "squeeze to switch on" type, the Photon II is the best.
Of course some people don't like all the fiddling one needs to do to change the batteries. There are four very small screws (which I think could easily be reduced to 2) that you need to unscrew before you can get to the batteries, whereas many of the others merely require a quick pry. But on the other hand, many of the Photon II's competition do not have a "constant on" latch.
The closest and best competition, IMHO, is the CMG 0-4. Same batteries, almost the same size, ability to be constant on, slightly more spunky looking case.
Of course, if you didn't mind paying a little more to get a nice aluminium flashlight that has a much easier battery change procedure, and a more easily and cheaply available battery, with not much of an increase in weight or size, then you should look at the Arc-AAA. But really, I think that falls in a slightly different category.
Of course some people don't like all the fiddling one needs to do to change the batteries. There are four very small screws (which I think could easily be reduced to 2) that you need to unscrew before you can get to the batteries, whereas many of the others merely require a quick pry. But on the other hand, many of the Photon II's competition do not have a "constant on" latch.
The closest and best competition, IMHO, is the CMG 0-4. Same batteries, almost the same size, ability to be constant on, slightly more spunky looking case.
Of course, if you didn't mind paying a little more to get a nice aluminium flashlight that has a much easier battery change procedure, and a more easily and cheaply available battery, with not much of an increase in weight or size, then you should look at the Arc-AAA. But really, I think that falls in a slightly different category.
napalm-2002
Enlightened
i could never afford a photon II.well yeah i could but...i went to wallmart and found a photon II like light that.it cost me 4.95 and is every bit as bright as my stylus 3 white.some of the online shops are selling the same light for 10$.
its called ULTRA BRIGHT LED LIGHT.by gsm products.look at your wallmart.you'll find em buy the bulb section or by the toy (matchbox cars).also buy there flashlights.
its definatly worth you while to pick one up.
and also get an arc-aaa its worth a ton more than it costs.gransee makes one hell of a light...
its called ULTRA BRIGHT LED LIGHT.by gsm products.look at your wallmart.you'll find em buy the bulb section or by the toy (matchbox cars).also buy there flashlights.
its definatly worth you while to pick one up.
and also get an arc-aaa its worth a ton more than it costs.gransee makes one hell of a light...
D
**DONOTDELETE**
Guest
a fool and his money,
are soon parted...
are soon parted...
vcal
Flashlight Enthusiast
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by napalm-2002:
i could never afford a photon II.well yeah i could but...i went to wallmart and found a photon II like light that.it cost me 4.95 and is every bit as bright as my stylus 3 white.some of the online shops are selling the same light for 10$.
its called ULTRA BRIGHT LED LIGHT.by gsm products.look at your wallmart.you'll find em buy the bulb section or by the toy (matchbox cars).also buy there <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Does anybody here have both the P-2 AND the gsm (also known as "Klik-it"-$10.@ the Glow-bug)?
I sure have not been able to find that (gsm) at 3 Wallys I've been to...
-I just wanted to compare in person that light's brightness, with the P-2 on my Keyring.
Napalm, -why don't you get a P-2 from Hosfelt-only $14. to do a direct comparison?
p.s.-since you have that gsm light, do think there's any chance to mod it to accept the 2032 cells??..I noticed that the case of the light itself is larger than the P-2....
i could never afford a photon II.well yeah i could but...i went to wallmart and found a photon II like light that.it cost me 4.95 and is every bit as bright as my stylus 3 white.some of the online shops are selling the same light for 10$.
its called ULTRA BRIGHT LED LIGHT.by gsm products.look at your wallmart.you'll find em buy the bulb section or by the toy (matchbox cars).also buy there <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Does anybody here have both the P-2 AND the gsm (also known as "Klik-it"-$10.@ the Glow-bug)?
I sure have not been able to find that (gsm) at 3 Wallys I've been to...
Napalm, -why don't you get a P-2 from Hosfelt-only $14. to do a direct comparison?
p.s.-since you have that gsm light, do think there's any chance to mod it to accept the 2032 cells??..I noticed that the case of the light itself is larger than the P-2....
Although it's a somewhat larger, I bought a Lightwave Pocket Bright. It has an on/off switch (only) and uses higher capaity batteries than the Photon. Burn time should be at least 50% longer. Also, the bulb is recessed, so you don't get side light spill; a bit like the 'covert' Photon II. It's not perfect, by any means, but I like it. It comes with a lanyard, which I hought was kind of silly, untill I got the idea to put it around my neck at night. I tuck the light in my pajama shirt pocket, and it's been very handy for getting to the bathroom at 3AM. Now I'm trying to decide weather to get a Photon II covert, to actually *put* on my keychain, or get another Pocket Bright. I don't think the Pocket Bright has any significant advantage over the Photon II, except possibly he larger batteries. The price, of course, is that it's quite a bit larger, if you go by percentage. It's still a very small light.
geepondy
Flashlight Enthusiast
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Gandalf:
Burn time should be at least 50% longer.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
It's more then 50 percent longer and at a more regulated steady output but the intensity is much less. Probably half way between an infinity and a photon that has freshly installed batteries. Lots of people have complained about the pocketbright switches but mine has been OK.
Burn time should be at least 50% longer.
It's more then 50 percent longer and at a more regulated steady output but the intensity is much less. Probably half way between an infinity and a photon that has freshly installed batteries. Lots of people have complained about the pocketbright switches but mine has been OK.
Brock
Flashaholic
The L1 is brighter, but it is overdriving the LED more. I should run less time then the photon since the batteries have a smaller capacity. It is a nice little light. But for that size I would get an Arc AAA.
vcal
Flashlight Enthusiast
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Kenny Yum:
Pelican L1 LED Light and Photon Light II,
which is the brightness. The L1 is look like brighter than Photon Light II and batteries
burn time about 100 hours.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
FWIW-In comparing the beam colors of the P-2 vs. the Pel.L1, the output of the Photon is Noticeably more yellow/white than my L1, which itself is not really bluish either-(possibly an accidental "S" Nichia on my P-2)?
BOTH of these lights are not as bluish as my 2nd Gen. Arc-AAA.
Also, in a practical sense, the L1 puts out strong light for only about 1 hour, but using 4-rech.NimH batts makes it a moot point. What I like about the L1 is that it's head configuration allows you to substitute much better (inexpensive) lenses for a far superior real Flashlight spot.
Edit-has anybody here seen that miniaturized focusable keyring Eveready 2-AAA DoubleBarrel for sale anywhere??
Pelican L1 LED Light and Photon Light II,
which is the brightness. The L1 is look like brighter than Photon Light II and batteries
burn time about 100 hours.
FWIW-In comparing the beam colors of the P-2 vs. the Pel.L1, the output of the Photon is Noticeably more yellow/white than my L1, which itself is not really bluish either-(possibly an accidental "S" Nichia on my P-2)?
BOTH of these lights are not as bluish as my 2nd Gen. Arc-AAA.
Also, in a practical sense, the L1 puts out strong light for only about 1 hour, but using 4-rech.NimH batts makes it a moot point. What I like about the L1 is that it's head configuration allows you to substitute much better (inexpensive) lenses for a far superior real Flashlight spot.
Edit-has anybody here seen that miniaturized focusable keyring Eveready 2-AAA DoubleBarrel for sale anywhere??
The_LED_Museum
*Retired*
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Brock:
The L1 is brighter, but it is overdriving the LED more<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
You couldn't have understated that more.
I burnt my fingers on the LED of an IR Pelican L1 after running it just 15-20 seconds. Thankfully, the batteries sag rather quickly, and it does have a decent warranty... so even if the LED blows, it shouldn't be a big deal to get your light fixed or replaced.
Overall size and value: The Arc AAA.
Overall brightness for momentary use: Pelican L1.
Overall small size: Photon II.
Pick your poison.
The L1 is brighter, but it is overdriving the LED more<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
You couldn't have understated that more.
I burnt my fingers on the LED of an IR Pelican L1 after running it just 15-20 seconds. Thankfully, the batteries sag rather quickly, and it does have a decent warranty... so even if the LED blows, it shouldn't be a big deal to get your light fixed or replaced.
Overall size and value: The Arc AAA.
Overall brightness for momentary use: Pelican L1.
Overall small size: Photon II.
Pick your poison.
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Kenny Yum:
Photon II and Photon III (High Output) which is the brightness?
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
They are effectively the same. There are 2 ways of getting high mode on a P3, go into high mode by going through the options with the back of the switch, or just press the front of the switch to get instant high. Others reckon there is a slight difference between the 2 modes - my eyes don't notice
Photon II and Photon III (High Output) which is the brightness?
They are effectively the same. There are 2 ways of getting high mode on a P3, go into high mode by going through the options with the back of the switch, or just press the front of the switch to get instant high. Others reckon there is a slight difference between the 2 modes - my eyes don't notice
The_LED_Museum
*Retired*
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by arab:
There are 2 ways of getting high mode on a P3, go into high mode by going through the options with the back of the switch, or just press the front of the switch to get instant high. Others reckon there is a slight difference between the 2 modes - my eyes don't notice
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I noticed a difference of perhaps 5-8% between digital high and override high when observed with the eye.
Let's see what the meter has to say...though it will be hard to capture because the fall-off is so rapid...
22,200mcd using the lower button to set "high" mode, and 24,500mcd using the override (top) button.
There are 2 ways of getting high mode on a P3, go into high mode by going through the options with the back of the switch, or just press the front of the switch to get instant high. Others reckon there is a slight difference between the 2 modes - my eyes don't notice
I noticed a difference of perhaps 5-8% between digital high and override high when observed with the eye.
Let's see what the meter has to say...though it will be hard to capture because the fall-off is so rapid...
22,200mcd using the lower button to set "high" mode, and 24,500mcd using the override (top) button.
Coherence
Newly Enlightened
Here is my review of the Photon 3
When you first get it, you *have* to read the manual, to get it to work correctly you have to remove a plastic piece inside the light. Then you should learn the sequence of modes so you know when to stop holding down the back button to leave it in the desired mode.
On the plus side the P3 is approx. the same size as the P2 and has a lot of functionality -
bright
medium
low
fast blink
etc.
a cool way to understand pulse width modulation, put the P3 in high mode and swing it around with a string. You should see a circle of light, as the duty cycle is 100% (always on).
Now switch to medium mode, swing it around and you see on/off pattern like a dashed circle, you can estimate the duty cycle by comparing the on and off distances.
Go to low mode and see the ratio change.
All that said, I am dissappointed in the P3. Maybe I got a bad batch but it has never been stable (it 'crashed') requiring the batteries to be removed to reset it. And it takes several minutes of no power to reset it. I know because I have had to do it more than once.
So on my keychain is an Arc AAA, and a Photon 2. Neither has ever 'crashed', and I recommend them both.
When you first get it, you *have* to read the manual, to get it to work correctly you have to remove a plastic piece inside the light. Then you should learn the sequence of modes so you know when to stop holding down the back button to leave it in the desired mode.
On the plus side the P3 is approx. the same size as the P2 and has a lot of functionality -
bright
medium
low
fast blink
etc.
a cool way to understand pulse width modulation, put the P3 in high mode and swing it around with a string. You should see a circle of light, as the duty cycle is 100% (always on).
Now switch to medium mode, swing it around and you see on/off pattern like a dashed circle, you can estimate the duty cycle by comparing the on and off distances.
Go to low mode and see the ratio change.
All that said, I am dissappointed in the P3. Maybe I got a bad batch but it has never been stable (it 'crashed') requiring the batteries to be removed to reset it. And it takes several minutes of no power to reset it. I know because I have had to do it more than once.
So on my keychain is an Arc AAA, and a Photon 2. Neither has ever 'crashed', and I recommend them both.
The_LED_Museum
*Retired*
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Coherence:
Maybe I got a bad batch but it has never been stable (it 'crashed') requiring the batteries to be removed to reset it.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
You know... I'm beginning to wonder if maybe the chip in the P3 is unusually susceptible to static charge, like the old Zilog Z80 CPUs were.
Maybe I got a bad batch but it has never been stable (it 'crashed') requiring the batteries to be removed to reset it.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
You know... I'm beginning to wonder if maybe the chip in the P3 is unusually susceptible to static charge, like the old Zilog Z80 CPUs were.
Craig720
Enlightened
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Stingmon:
Overall size and value: The Arc AAA.
Overall brightness for momentary use: Pelican L1.
Overall small size: Photon II.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I want them all! Is that bad? Groan, I AM a flash-aholic.
Overall size and value: The Arc AAA.
Overall brightness for momentary use: Pelican L1.
Overall small size: Photon II.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I want them all! Is that bad? Groan, I AM a flash-aholic.
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Craig:
I want them all! Is that bad? Groan, I AM a flash-aholic.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I have them all! That's a flash-a-holic!
I want them all! Is that bad? Groan, I AM a flash-aholic.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I have them all! That's a flash-a-holic!
