UPDATED - added Haiku XR-E - thanks Greg!
I'll say at the outset that this post might should be in General or Reviews, but considering the 'test' has mostly McGizmo lights, the thought was that it would be the most useful in this area.
I have a life - really -
- but my fascination with these lights borders on obsession. Early in the stages of the addiction, the 'substance' of choice was, of course, the lumen rating. But, as time passed and I learned from so many of the experienced CPF sisters and brothers in this forum it quickly became obvious to me that 'lumens' rating was only a small part of the story. I mean, what good is a 600 lumen monster if it is too big to carry? Granted, they all have a place - and yes, I'd love to have a monster HID for the shock and awe value of it, but like most, the lights I buy are intended to be used as every day carry tools to help my 52 year old eyes 'see better.'
Thus the nature of this post. Curiosity got the better of me and an investment in an Extech EA1 Light meter was made......and in usual fashion, Amazon had it to me quickly. What to do with this new toy? No integrating sphere anywhere within this house...
Still, think about real world use - at home or anywhere. Power failure - all is dark - take out the EDC, click it on and tail stand it...or just hold it. How well does it light up the room?
So the basis for this 'test'...far from scientific, but hopefully useful to my friends on the forum, and it proves even further how amazing and how much utility this little jewel from Hawaii really has.
Not totally realistic, but close - this was done in a 6 x 8 foot room, off white walls, low (8 foot) ceiling (in my basement.) It's the only room in the house (other than the dark dungeon of a utility room) with no windows, thus with doors closed, total darkness.
The meter was set up on a tripod approximately 5 feet from the floor. Each light was placed in a mic holder (really should be called a 'Gizmo holder) at a distance, from the bezel of the light, of 32 inches from the ceiling. The 'ambient' light in the room with the 2 40 watt fluorescent bulbs showed 292 lux.
Here's a few of the lights and their readings - a full score by light is at the end of the post.
Surefire LX2 on high...
Check out this little guy...
Now you may know that the Haiku XP-G is my absolute favorite light. If you don't, there's a review over here that shows how I feel...but seeing this light's result compared to lights that are twice as large or 5 times as large was amazing.
Interestingly, the Jetbeam M1X was far and away the brightest, but the lux meter literally dropped like a rock after I turned the light on (2 freshly charged 18650s) - on at 240 lux but quickly dropped off and after less than a minute had fallen to 214 and was still dropping. In contrast, the Haiku came on at 109, dropped to 108 then locked in at that level. I waited a minute - granted, a longer wait and it may have started to drop, but the regulation seems to be amazing. It was running on a NOT freshly charged AW RCR.
The chart below is a simple Excel chart showing the ratings plus comparisons relative to ambient light, then all the other lights compared to the Haiku on 'High.' Since I've added the Haiku XR-E in a different session I question its results. I tried my best to duplicate the circumstances, but who knows?
I won't offer any commentary on this - it should speak for itself.
Now, some readers of this post may be unwilling or unable to pay a premium for such a light - everyone understands this - especially if you base your position strictly on 'lumens' and cost. However - if you search and search for that "holy grail" of lights (as I did) and keep trying new ones, you'll probably end up here eventually anyway and realize that the price is reasonable, especially considering that you can get most or all (or sometimes more) of your money out of a Gizmo should the need to sell it arise.
And while you own it, you'll experience a level of craftsmanship and quality that is, unfortunately, rare in these days of mass production and extreme price competitiveness. My profession is marketing and sales, and I understand these pressures.
But, as I've said over and over,
"I have still discovered a remarkable pleasure and satisfaction in the 'KISS' philosophy of flashaholism. All the concerns about lumens, blah blah, pale in comparison to the satisfaction of owning a simple, durable tool that just plain works - every time you need it.
Don's lights do that better - at least for me - than any of the others I've tried or use."
And hopefully this test shows that the lights also provide real world, useful levels of lighting.
And that's all I have to say about that....
lovecpf
I'll say at the outset that this post might should be in General or Reviews, but considering the 'test' has mostly McGizmo lights, the thought was that it would be the most useful in this area.
I have a life - really -
- but my fascination with these lights borders on obsession. Early in the stages of the addiction, the 'substance' of choice was, of course, the lumen rating. But, as time passed and I learned from so many of the experienced CPF sisters and brothers in this forum it quickly became obvious to me that 'lumens' rating was only a small part of the story. I mean, what good is a 600 lumen monster if it is too big to carry? Granted, they all have a place - and yes, I'd love to have a monster HID for the shock and awe value of it, but like most, the lights I buy are intended to be used as every day carry tools to help my 52 year old eyes 'see better.' Thus the nature of this post. Curiosity got the better of me and an investment in an Extech EA1 Light meter was made...
...and in usual fashion, Amazon had it to me quickly. What to do with this new toy? No integrating sphere anywhere within this house...Still, think about real world use - at home or anywhere. Power failure - all is dark - take out the EDC, click it on and tail stand it...or just hold it. How well does it light up the room?
So the basis for this 'test'...far from scientific, but hopefully useful to my friends on the forum, and it proves even further how amazing and how much utility this little jewel from Hawaii really has.
Not totally realistic, but close - this was done in a 6 x 8 foot room, off white walls, low (8 foot) ceiling (in my basement.) It's the only room in the house (other than the dark dungeon of a utility room) with no windows, thus with doors closed, total darkness.
The meter was set up on a tripod approximately 5 feet from the floor. Each light was placed in a mic holder (really should be called a 'Gizmo holder
) at a distance, from the bezel of the light, of 32 inches from the ceiling. The 'ambient' light in the room with the 2 40 watt fluorescent bulbs showed 292 lux.
Here's a few of the lights and their readings - a full score by light is at the end of the post.
Surefire LX2 on high...
Check out this little guy...
Now you may know that the Haiku XP-G is my absolute favorite light. If you don't, there's a review over here that shows how I feel...but seeing this light's result compared to lights that are twice as large or 5 times as large was amazing.
Interestingly, the Jetbeam M1X was far and away the brightest, but the lux meter literally dropped like a rock after I turned the light on (2 freshly charged 18650s) - on at 240 lux but quickly dropped off and after less than a minute had fallen to 214 and was still dropping. In contrast, the Haiku came on at 109, dropped to 108 then locked in at that level. I waited a minute - granted, a longer wait and it may have started to drop, but the regulation seems to be amazing. It was running on a NOT freshly charged AW RCR.
The chart below is a simple Excel chart showing the ratings plus comparisons relative to ambient light, then all the other lights compared to the Haiku on 'High.' Since I've added the Haiku XR-E in a different session I question its results. I tried my best to duplicate the circumstances, but who knows?
I won't offer any commentary on this - it should speak for itself.
Now, some readers of this post may be unwilling or unable to pay a premium for such a light - everyone understands this - especially if you base your position strictly on 'lumens' and cost. However - if you search and search for that "holy grail" of lights (as I did) and keep trying new ones, you'll probably end up here eventually anyway and realize that the price is reasonable, especially considering that you can get most or all (or sometimes more) of your money out of a Gizmo should the need to sell it arise.
And while you own it, you'll experience a level of craftsmanship and quality that is, unfortunately, rare in these days of mass production and extreme price competitiveness. My profession is marketing and sales, and I understand these pressures.
But, as I've said over and over,
"I have still discovered a remarkable pleasure and satisfaction in the 'KISS' philosophy of flashaholism. All the concerns about lumens, blah blah, pale in comparison to the satisfaction of owning a simple, durable tool that just plain works - every time you need it.
Don's lights do that better - at least for me - than any of the others I've tried or use."
And hopefully this test shows that the lights also provide real world, useful levels of lighting.
And that's all I have to say about that....
lovecpf
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I appreciate the info you are taking the time to put together for us.
