relative brightness of maglites

[r2]

Maglites seem to be the hot topic of the day, so I'll add my question. Mags are available in lots of sizes, 2-6D and 2-6C (I think) as well as the minimags and the solitare. How do the brightness and runtime compare for all these models? Has anyone ever put together a chart? Do the C lights use the same bulbs as the Ds? I seem to remember them having the same head assemblies.

Also, I'd be interested in knowing where some of the other popular lights fit in as far as brightness. From what I've read, a SF E2 is around 60 lumens; which maglite would have comparable light output? Let's ignore beam quality and color and other stuff like that for now.

It took me a long time to find out that an Arc LS puts out roughly the same light as a minimag (I think the LS puts out a bit less, but I have both now and the LS seems like more because of the even beam and superior color). I think in general it's hard to find comparisons between lights that aren't competing directly with each other. Someone will usually cry "don't compare them! different lights for different jobs!" but that argument doesn't ring true to me. If I'm considering the advantages of an Arc LS, I want to know how much light I'm giving up by not going with a Surefire or a 6D maglite, even if other factors than pure light output will ultimately decide the matter. I still want to know just what I'm sacrificing when I go for a really small light.

When people say the Brinkman LX is really bright for its size, how bright is that? Does it outshine a 6D maglite? What about the PT Surge vs a maglite? I think there is good coverage of the LED lights (thanks Craig!) and a few other sites do a good job with the high end incandescents (thanks Brock and others!) but the bridge between them (low end incandescents) is still fuzzy to me.

Recent discussions have brought out the point that the maglite series is what everyone in the world knows about, so it seems like a natural benchmark for comparisons.

Please illuminate the matter!

Thanks,

Russ

 

[Brock]

A 5 D cell Mag spotted the same size as the E2 beam puts out just less then an E2. If you spot the Mag all the way down the Mag is brighter.

The 3D and 3C are very similar in output, even spotted down all the way they can't match the E2. With the beams the same size as the e2 beam they are about 1/2 as bright.

I won't mention the rings or color temp of the beam or the 15 times increase in weight over the E2. But the Mag's will run MUCH longer on a set of batteries and are MUCH cheaper to run per hour and cheaper to replace if lost.

 

[rlhess]

Hi, r2,

I've posted some measurements--but caution the early ones with the Minolta AutoMeter IIIf are inflated as they are not weighted.

The LX is as bright as a 6D mag under most conditions.

The UKE SL6 is brighter than a 6D mag.

Don't forget we have peak brightness, brightness over a useable circle and overall width of the beam (at least) to consider.

Peak brightness if it falls off extremely rapidly is not all that useful.

I think the 6D mag throws a bit better than the Brinkmann LX, but no where near as good as the UKE SL6.

Anyway, search for my posts and I have a fair number of measurements posted.

Brock has some great objective measurements on his Web site and the www.LEDMuseum.org site has a great set of reviews.

Cheers,

Richard

 

[Silviron]

I have beam shots and LUX measurements up for MagLights from 2AAA to 5D (plus many other non-Mags) at:
http://az123.com/darksbane/beamshots_&_lux.htm

 

[this_is_nascar]

All of the statistical data aside, bottom line is none of the MAGS are brighter than their competition within the same class.

You made comment early in your post about the mini-MAG being brighter than an ARC-LS. I have had several mini-MAG's throughout the years and just as many ARC-LS lights. The MAG has never looked to be brigher to me.

I'm not going to get into the MAG debate. That's going on in another thread, that I've chosen not to engage myself in. In my opinion, the money spent on any MAG is better saved and put towards a real light.

 

[Darell]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by this_is_nascar:

I'm not going to get into the MAG debate. That's going on in another thread, that I've chosen not to engage myself in.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
You are a wise, wise man. Me? Not so wise.

 

[Silviron]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by r2:

Silviron, I liked the "xyzzy" reference slipped in there

- Russ<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Plugh???

 

[r2]

nascar,

I agree about the LS always looking brighter than a minimag. I remember reading some measurements and the output of the minimag is a bit higher (it has more throw, too) but looking at the beams next to each other it is hard to believe. The sickly yellow light with rings and darkspots is does such a poor job of illuminating anything that an Arc LS or Lambda Illuminator seems much brighter in comparison. My point was to say that I already know the advantages of LED lights (I'm sold, believe me) but I was still curious about the lumens to lumens comparison.

Silviron,

I made a map of the maze a several years ago and have it on my homepage to this day (www.russross.com). Why can I not let it go? Is this the same obsessive behavior that draws me to CPF?

- Russ

 

[Silviron]

I'll bet that most of the folks here haven't a clue what we are talking about with xyzzy and plugh.

That's a human generation (and 10,000 computer generations) past.

I'm embarassed to say that the primary reason that I bought my first computer (Commodore VIC-20) was to finally finish the game (original Adventure) started on the school's mainframe in around 1978.

 

[r2]

Some great info, thanks! I was recently recommending some lights to a friend and realized I didn't have a good way to describe how bright these lights are that would be meaningful to her ("60 lumens is bright! Honest!").

After I posted I also noticed several maglites in the comparison chart on Brock's site which I'd overlooked before.

Silviron, I liked the "xyzzy" reference slipped in there

- Russ