Pinpoint light?

[Phyltre]

I have a very specific role in lighting to fulfill in a few weeks. I will be at a sapphire mine and I would like to be able to check stone translucency with a small flashlight. What I need, then, is the brightest possible light at the smallest possible focal point, preferably with minimal side leak. Testing will be occurring at or around full sunlight. What are my options here?

 

[Gunner12]

What's your price range and what kind of light do you need(Led, or Incandescent)? How big as in inches or centimeters(I'm guessing AAA sized lights)?

For 100+, the Draco with the Cree LED, smaller then a chap-stick yet has more light overall the the 6D Maglite. Runs on special Lithium ion rechargeable batteries.

For $46.50, the Fenix L0D-CE. Runs on 1 AAA battery and has 46 lumens on Max.

Welcome to CPF!

 

[carrot]

Looking for a light with minimal sidespill? You'd better quickly snatch one up because they are going out of favor, and fast! Any of the lensed (non-reflectored) Inovas will do what you ask... and there's also the Surefire E1L or E2L.

I'd take the E1L or E2L over the TIROS Inovas simply because they're thinner and have pocket clips, as well as being easier to get. MattK at BatteryJunction.com might be able to hook you up with a TIROS Inova, though.

For cheap options, pick up the 2AA River Rock at Target -- it's $20 and features a pretty bright spot beam. It's a rebranded version of this: http://flashlightreviews.com/reviews/aurora_alj-012aa.htm

 

[Coop]

I cant believe I'm the first to suggest this, but have you considered a laserpointer?? talk about bright and focussed
But ofcourse this will only work if the color of the light doesn't matter (or if you're filthy rich ) I see no special demands for color in your request...

If you do need the light to be white, I second the suggestion of the SF E1L or E2L.

 

[Spin]

I cant believe I'm the first to suggest this, but have you considered a laserpointer?? talk about bright and focussed
But ofcourse this will only work if the color of the light doesn't matter (or if you're filthy rich ) I see no special demands for color in your request...

If you do need the light to be white, I second the suggestion of the SF E1L or E2L.

If he were to use a handheld laser what about the possible danger of reflection into his eye(s)?

 

[carrot]

<5mW, like the kind you can get pretty inexpensively from Atlasnova are completely safe. I don't think they are watertight though, which may or may not be a problem.

 

[Phyltre]

I have to say that the laser pointer idea peaks my interest. However, I am far from a light specialist and have no idea what color laser would need to be fired into a gray/blue sapphire in order to get a decent read on how clear it is. I can only guess that a white light source would be best in this case.

As such, I really like the suggested Surefires. My only concern is the width of the cone of light--some of these sapphires will only be visible from one facet, and the end of the flashlight will keep me from looking at it and providing light at the same time. I have seen (admittedly years ago) fiber-optic attachments for flashlights that allow concentrating the light stream into a small diameter. Do any such or similar products exist for the suggested flashlights? Thanks for the suggestions and I'm sorry if I seem to be a bit fussy--I'm going to have limited time in the mine and don't want to waste any of it!

 

[enLIGHTenment]

If you need a really small aperture and very high intensity, you'll need a lightguide-based solution:

http://volpiusa.com/product.asp?ItemID=245&CatID=5
http://www.titantoolsupply.com/catalog.asp?prodid=522572

 

[stonehold]

A minimag with the fiberoptic attachment might work.

 

[carrot]

Streamlight makes a version of the Stylus with a fiber-optic attachment.

 

[Phyltre]

A minimag with the fiberoptic attachment might work.

If this is the one we are talking about http://www.x-tremegeek.com/templates/searchdetail.asp?sk=MC51419&productID=11440
then I can't help but notice that it is a third-party accessory. Shouldn't it be compatible with other flashlights such as the Surefires? (I guess I'd love to know the size of the end of the Surefires, it's not listed under their specs.) Also, is there any reason I shouldn't go for the E2E? It seems to have a higher lumen rating than its LED counterpart.

 

[Coop]

IIRC, the nite ize figeroptic adapters will also fit SF eXe and L4 lights....

 

[carrot]

The E2L has a tighter beam, with little to no sidespill. The E2e puts out more light overall. You'll find that the hotspots of either should be about equivalent. I'd assume throw is similar. For your purposes you may find that the E2L works better for you. Either way, you can just pick up the E2e now and the KL1 (E2L) head later, if you cannot make up your mind.

IIRC, the E-series have 1" bezels and the C-series (includes G* and *P models) have 1.25" bezels. Last I checked, Minimag bezel accessories do fit on E-series lights, but not perfectly.