Premierlight Reviews (3)

[Former_Mag_User]

I acquired these light from the passaround, started by Jonsidenyb, that is being run by our good member GreenLED.

PL 3 watt

This light uses one 3 watt Luxeon LED powered by two cr123's. Uses an optic.

It is very comfortable to hold in the hand. It has a body switch (a la maglite) and has a good feel to it, not cheapy
The threads are smooth and the finish is excellent. Walls are thick. The beam is a bit blotchy/uneven, probably due to the optics, but is only noticeable when viewing on a white wall This is the perfect light for walking at night. There is not much of a hotspot, just a broad, bright, smooth beam plus it has strobe mode if you get in trouble
The light comes with holster, seems to be well built, it should hold up. A good bit of knurling is present on the body and the tailcap

The switch goes: Off-->On-->Strobe-->Off

PL-7
everything above applies to this light. Except for a few things.
It uses 6 LED's 5mm LED's could be 3mm, not too sure. The beam is a large flood typical of multiple LED's and it also features strobe mode. This light also has a laser. There's not much too say, it's a standar red laser. It works well.

The switch goes: Off-->Laser-->LED's-->Strobe-->Off

PL-1
The PL-1 is a different animal. It uses one AA battery and it has one LED. My sample has a very nice black HAIII finish. It has one LED with a domed, seems to be glass, lens. The result is a tightly focused round spot of light with no sidespill. It looks like an inova beam. It also comes with a neat little holster. If the light had some sidespill It would be an awesome EDC.

Switch: Off-->On-->Strobe

I'll try to get some pictures up tommorow if I can get my hands on a camera. For now I'll leave you with these from GreenLED.

PL-3 watt

PL-7

 

[arewethereyetdad]

Last year I wrote a couple of mini-reviews on the PL-7 and PL-1. Thought I'd link those reviews to this thread:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB16&Number=811190&fpart=1&PHPSESSID=

and

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB16&Number=805050&fpart=&PHPSESSID=

 

[greenLED]

First a family shot comparing size against other common flashlights:

and this is how they fit in an adult's hand:

The PL3 and PL7 are powered by 2x123 lithium cells, and the PL1 uses 1xAA.

The PremierLights are very nice lights for their price. They are machined out of aluminum and are anodized (Type II, I believe). I found no scuff marks from the machining. Knurling is just about right, not too coarse, not too smooth either. All the PremierLights have o-rings, making them at least splashproof. Both the PL3 and PL7 felt extremely solid in my hand and here's the reason why, they have incredibly thick walls! Try crushing one of these! (PL7 - PL3)

They all have a small rubber button switch located towards the bezel. The switch feels solid and provides the right amount of resistance when changing modes (and it clicks). Yup, these lights all have 3 modes: constant on - SOS strobe - off (the PL7 has a laser pointer also, read below for more details). Pressing the switch will advance you through these modes. The very first time I turned the PL3 on, I had no idea of the presence of these modes and got the full strobe at less than a foot from my eyes /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif Dalmatians all over!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif Gettting used to cycling among these modes takes a bit of practice, but quickly becomes natural. Here are some beam shots (PL3 - PL7 - PL1):

All these lights come with a stretchy nylon holster. I liked the PL1 holster the best; the other too dangled too low below my belt.

Now, for some specific notes:
PL-3 Watt:
The beam was slightly off center on the light I evaluated. This may be a problem for beam purists, but I could see no difference when walking outdoors. Beam is brighter than your "standard" 2xAA light. Good for all-around use.

PL-7 Laser:
As the name implies, this flashlight has a laser pointer in the center of the bezel. I used it around the house and in a classroom to point things out in class and it works very well. I see this light being very useful for flashaholics in a teaching or business environment where a laser pointer is needed often, but you don't want to carry an extra pointer. The black finish adds to the elegance of this light, so it won't seem out of place.

PL-1:
This light is the smallest of the three lights I evaluated. It fits comfortably in the hand and it carries very well on its belt pouch. The beam is very tightly focused as in the above picture.

I believe the PL1 has a tight beam because of a special feature in the optic. I hard time taking a picture of it. In real life it looks like an inverted cone in the center of the optic. This may be what allows the beam to be so tightly focused (?). From the pics I've seen, the beam looks similar to the Inova X0's (or was it X1?). I found it nice for medium range (3-15m; 9-45ft) distances outdoor, but too focused for closer range use indoors; sidespill is minimal, but the beam is very uniform.

 

[rscanady]

ok got the lights today and finally started to play with them. Im not going to go over everything as green LED covered most of it.

First Impressions:
PL-1, for some reason I really dig this light, perhaps due to size and beam, it reminds of a theatre type spotlight. The light itself feels good in the hand. If only it were a bit brighter, perhaps utilizing a nice R bin Lux I, that would be awesome. I cant get over the beam shape though.

PL-3W: Brightness is good (its a LuxIII after all), size is ok, still like the 1x 123 size better, but the strobe function is a big plus. Major downer for me is beam quality, my QIII runs circles around it. The beam is splotchy, off center and not very uniform at all. I am not a big fan of optics either, would rather see a reflector in there.

PL-7: First thought, this thing would ROCK with a green 5mw laser and 3 premium binned Lux I's around it. I dont really like the bluish color of most 5mm Leds, and think that 3x Lux I's be just rock this thing good. I understand that the green laser and Luxeons would make this more expensive, but I would buy one. The size is better on this one than the PL-3W to me.

Overall so far, the fit and finish are great, love the knurling (small and not to sharp), seem to be built like a tank (the battery walls in indeed fat!), the rubber push buttons are cool, and I like having the strobe function.

So far my favorite is the PL-1 though, cant quite explain it but....anyhow im going outside to play some more.

Ryan

 

[rscanady]

ok I mailed off the lights to BuddTX and finally get to sit down to type some.

My final thougts are pretty much inline with my intial feelings.

My favorite was the PL-1 with its distinct beam shape, I just wish this was a bit brighter. But really like the size of it. I nice Lux I or Lux III in there would rock!

Not really big on the 3 watt, probably due to the optic, I am really more of a reflector person myself and I thought the size was a little to big for my taste.

The PL-7, with a green 5mW laser surrounded by 2 5mm Nichias and 3 Premium Bin Lux I's, with the ability to switch between all 3, that would be an awesome light. I really liked the size of this one too, as it stands Im not a fan of the multi 5mm array lights by themselves and really have no need for a red laser pointer. Im sure this would fit the need of some out there just not me.

The fit, finish, and construction of these lights is top notch. These things are built like tanks. They have promise in my book but Im just not ready for these versions, but am interested to see what else comes out of this company it will be one that I keep tabs on for sure.

Ryan

 

[Wits' End]

Most of the details are already covered. I'll be more qualitative and subjective in my review(s)

The quality of build on these lights seemd quite good to me, solid, nice switch, no rattle from battery.
The PL-1 seemed similar to the Inova X1. Tight beam. I didn't care for it.
The PL-7 was the light I'd probably be most likely to buy. Good walking light from the 6 LEDs and the throw on the laser can't be beat /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif . Seriously, we have been having bear problems and I liked being able to 'scan' with the laser to look for 'bear-shapes' a distance ahead. Again it feels nice and solid in the hand and I prefer the side clicky switch. As others have said I'd prefer a Hi/Lo to the SOS.
PL-3 I liked the far reaching flood on this light. When looking for the afore mentioned bear I had my L1 for distance but the PL-3 made me feel secure that the area around me was secure. Of course once I saw a cub in a tree I didn't feel secure at all /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/str.gif This light was good for faster travel returning to my house /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/aaa.gif .

All in all the only light I wouldn't be likely to get/hold onto would be the PL-1 due to its (to me) useless beam.