SF P90

[3mw]

I recently purchased a SF G3 and I'm not very impressed with the football shaped pattern from the P90 lamp. Is this normal or did I receive a defective lamp? Thanks

 

[ampdude]

Sounds normal, but can't tell for sure without a beamshot.

I've heard they started frosting the P90's now, though I've not seen one. I think that's unfortunate, but alot of people don't like the beam pattern of the P90. Personally I think it's fine and prefer the unfrosted bulbs for real world use.

Is yours frosted or not?

 

[kakster]

They are oval, even the ones with a frosted tip.

 

[brunt_sp]

I've fitted mine with a LF EO-9. It's better I think.

 

[lightemup]

If you look down to this thread just below yours at the moment:

" Anyone with a SF M4 have a beam shape that looks like a football?"

There are already a few answers.

In short: the oval is how they are meant to be. Size15 has said it is related to the filament being a 'bar' instead of a 'dot.' Size15 also said that this arrangement is used to maximise the effectiveness of the reflector/bulb combination.

When white wall hunting it is noticeable, but imho when i'm actually using the light it is not noticeable.

 

[willrx]

I recently purchased a SF G3 and I'm not very impressed with the football shaped pattern from the P90 lamp. Is this normal or did I receive a defective lamp? Thanks

I felt the same way until I learned that was the way it was designed to perform. My solution was 2x17500 and an LF EO-9. Mine doesn't get much use so the 17500's don't get beaten too badly.

 

[JNewell]

What some of the posts above mean is that, depending on what you're using it for, the oval-like beam can be an advantage. Depends...YMMV...the LF replacement lamps are really, really nice.

 

[Outdoors Fanatic]

I recently purchased a SF G3 and I'm not very impressed with the football shaped pattern from the P90 lamp. Is this normal or did I receive a defective lamp? Thanks

There is a pretty efficient medicine for this problem: Lumens Factory lamp assemblies.

 

[mdocod]

like others are saying, if the beam shape is really bothering you, stick the P90 in your spares box and switch to a LF lamp, SR-9 will be an almost direct replacement for brightness and runtime but should have a slightly "prettier" beam.

 

[3mw]

Sounds normal, but can't tell for sure without a beamshot.

I've heard they started frosting the P90's now, though I've not seen one. I think that's unfortunate, but alot of people don't like the beam pattern of the P90. Personally I think it's fine and prefer the unfrosted bulbs for real world use.

Is yours frosted or not?

Yes, the tip is frosted.