<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by mikep:
I haven't seen the Pulsar2 reviewed at Brock's site or the LED Museum- anyone review the latest version yet?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I just bought one at REI as a matter of fact for a gift but have been fooling around with it a little bit. Since fooling around with it, I feel I can no longer give it as a gift.
It's a little bit more bulkier then a photon but not as rugged although I think rugged enough for a key chain light. The light output is equal to that of a photon probably because it's directly driving the LED from the batteries as does the photon. Not sure if it is just this model but I like the eveness of the photon beam a bit more. I would gather that they both are using the same LED (or maybe not) but the photon's center beam appears to be much more smoother while the Pulsars is more "blotchy". The Pulsars beam although more narrow is slightly brighter at the center, though. It lights up easy enough by squeezing the unit but the constant on/off switch is a bit flimsy and it is easier then the photon to accidentally turn it on.
Now the reason I can no longer give it as a gift is the damage done when attempting to access the battery compartment. It has a small slot that you twist open rather then the tiny screws of the photon which is why I bought it as a gift. According to directions, you just have to gently pry the slot for the case to come apart. The slot was too narrow to fit a dime in, so I used a knife edge. The case severely resisted my attempts to open it so much that I ended up warping/bending the slot opening so it is no longer suitable to give as a gift. Eventually I did get it open, however once so, changing the batteries is as tedious as it is for a photon II. The inner workings are a carbon copy of the photons so that you have to be careful not to dislodge the LED when changing the batteries. The only saving grace is that the constant on switch remains attached to the shell so you don't have to worry about that coming loose. Once apart, getting it to snap together was a bit of a chore also. The center slot opening is now obviously damaged.
So for my money, the photon II is worth the retail extra five dollars over the Pulsar II. I won't be buying another Pulsar. Hope this helps.
