Skippy Needs a Torch

[NUTSACK]

How you goin? I hope i'm in the right spot as this forum is huge with so many sub forums, which most of them read like chinese to me....anyway i'm wanting a general torch to put in my ute but like most things i don't want to feel like i could have got something better for my money. I will use the guide below to try and get across what i'm after but in short i want something with adjustable beam,decent throw(100m) and good spread when adjusted. I have an old 4D maglite and like the look & feel but want something a little smaller(2/3D size). With the Australian dollar near par with you blokes i'll be getting it shipped from the USA and it will still work out cheaper. Trying to keep it under $100.


1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?

I will be mail-ordering or buying online, so this doesn't matter.


2) Budget: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest! :-)

____Less than $100.
____Less than $150.


3) Format:

____I want a flashlight.


4) Flashlight-specific format/size:

____Every day carry medium (7-10 inches).
____Holster carry.


5) Emitter/Light source:

____I don't know.


6) Manufacturer:

____I want to buy a light from a traditional mass producing manufacturer that is ready to go out of the box.


7) What battery type do you want to use? I have no idea!!

____I intend to use alkaline batteries (AAA, AA, C, D) (disclaimer, while it does not preclude all choices, these are not recommended for many of today’s most powerful lights)
____I intend to use rechargeable nickel chemistry (NiCad, NiMH, NiZn)
____I intend to use lithium primary batteries (CR123, CR2, Energizer Advanced/Ultimate Lithium AA/AAA)
____I intend to use rechargeable lithium (li-ion) chemistry. Feel free to specify a size if you know which size you want (14500, RCR123/16340, 17500, 17670, 18650, etc.)
____I want a light with an integrated rechargeable battery. (Note: these choices may be very limited unless you are looking at spotlights)


8) How much genuine out the front (OTF) light do you want/need? Sometimes you can have too much light (trying to read up close up with a 100 lumen light is impossible). Something in the middle.

____I want to walk around an unlit rural area (50-150 lumens).
____I want to illuminate my entire backyard or a campsite (150-300 lumens).
____I want to illuminate an entire field, the neighbor's front yard several houses down, impress my friends and neighbors, etc. (300-700 lumens).


9) Throw vs. Flood: At what distance will you be most likely to use this light? Select all that apply.

____5-20 yards/meters (check out a noise in the backyard)
____30-50 yards/meters (I have a big backyard)
____50-150 yards/meters (I live in a very rural area/farm with wide open spaces)


10) Runtime: Not over-inflated manufacturer runtime claims, but usable brightness measured from first activation to 50% with new batteries (Measured on maximum output). Again,something in the middle

____30-60 minutes (I have plenty of batteries just ready to be changed)
____90-120 minutes (Runtime is moderately important, but still not critical)


11) Durability/Usage: Generally the old phrase “you get what you pay for” is very accurate for flashlights.

____Very Important (Camping, Backpacking, Car Glove-box).



12) Switch Type and location (choose all that apply): Either of these

____I want a body mounted switch (near the head, like on a Maglite).
____I want a tail mounted switch (found on the majority of today’s high end lights).
____I don't care.


13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection. Select all that apply. If it's real bright id like 2 levels, strobe is a bonus but not important.


____A simple on-off with only one output level is fine for me.
____I want 2 light levels. (Brighter/short runtime and Dimmer/long runtime.)
____I want a strobe mode. (Blinks to show location.)


14)Material/Finish/Coating

____Anodized Aluminum – either type II or III (Hard Anodized) (Aluminum, specifically HA, is the most common material/finish for today’s flashlights).
____Stainless steel (durable, but much heavier than aluminum)
____Titanium (durable and nearly as lightweight as aluminum, but can be moderately to significantly more expensive).
____I don’t care.


15) Special Needs/extras: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Select any below.

Adjustable focus, i think, or are lights that good these days that they have a good beam(distance) with plenty of coverage???

Hopefully this won't turn out to be another expensive hobby!!!

Thanks

 

[KevinL]

Hopefully this won't turn out to be another expensive hobby!!!

Thanks

Are you kidding? These lights will empty your entire bank account if you even give them half a chance!! :D

BTW, hang onto that old 4D. Some crazies around here have published plans for a DIY conversion kit that will bring ye olde 4D up into the 1000+ lumen range. :rock: you might just look at it in a whole new light. :devil:

Nowadays we used fixed-focus but with a perfect focus and beam that eliminates the need for adjustable focus. Or more precisely, we adjust focus once to get the beam right, then it can be left as it is.

There are tons of options from the checklist you have suggested. May I also start by saying you will have three lights:
1. The pocketable keyring light that will always live on your keyring so it is there in the most inconvenient of situations. This light will be very small, but potent and VERY reliable. It offers a reasonable amount of output - for me, that's currently 80 lumens.
2. The medium-sized light. For me, this is a slightly-less-than-6" Surefire with up to a 1.5" bezel. This will be the light you use most of the time, you may carry it on your belt (a personal choice of course). It offers a significant amount of output, perhaps 300-400 lumens. This is already very powerful. Your 4D Maglite is probably 60 lumens on a good day.
3. The big light. This is the monster you leave in the car/ute/truck. 3D, 4D, are possible sizes. This light should be a true photon cannon, for me, it has to exceed 700 lumens. I'm building one in the 4 THOUSAND lumen class.... can't wait for the parts to get here :D


4. The manifestly-excessive class of light. These may be vehicle-towed, require their own generator, infrastructure and operations staff. Very few reach this level of nirvana ;)

 

[NUTSACK]

It's about $50 above your budget, but I recommend this. 325 genuine otf lumens :devil:

p.s. are you in Oz ? The title of this thread suggests that you are. Coz if you are, here's the link to the official Australian Malkoff (and HDS) dealer.

Ye mate i'm in Australia. Thanks for the info so far and i'll check the suggested recomendations. If my Maglite is only punching out about 60 Lumens i should be happy with about anything i buy as long as it still has a good beam. I've rethought my criteria and i don't think i would need it to be bright at 100m as i would use a spotlight if i need to see that far. Do lumens measure how far it will theow a beam as well as brightness or not? I don't understand alot of the lingo on here so it's hard to know what most people are talking about. I'll be keeping the Maglite under the bed but i want to put a LED bulb in it and get a new lense and reflector if i can find them. Keep the suggestions and info coming as i definately need it...
I've just had a look at the light recomended and they all seem to be very little, is this because you can get alot more out of something so little these days?? I kind of want something a little bigger, about the size of a 2/3D maglite, i like to feel like i'm actually holding something. I keep referring to a Maglite as it's the only torch i own except for a dolphin torch

 

[NUTSACK]

Well i finally decided on the Fenix TA30 & TerraLUX Ministar5 upgrade for my 4D Maglite but now i get an email from Battery Junction telling me they are out of stock and don't know when it will be arriving.

Does anyone know where i can get both of these items at the same place online for the same price as i don't really want to wait.

The TA30 - $87.99
TerraLUX - $19.95
Express Postage - $35 (approx)

 

[Bullzeyebill]

NUTSACK, do a google search for online vendors. I know that you are enthusiastic and in a hurry, but this forum, or any forum on CPF main is not for WTB discussions for retail sale prices. Sign up at CPFMP, and you can find a listing of dealers and some possible discounts from those dealers or manufacturers who offer CPF discounts.

Bill

 

[Jash]

For $25 you can get the Fusion 36 for your mag and 4Sevens (free shippig world wide) stocks Fenix stuff. The upcoming TK15 has more output and better runtime than the TA20 and also gives you the 18650 option. That TA20 is using an older XR-E and it's not even an R2. Lots of money for something not quite up to date.

Cooltorches has the Malkoff MD2 with high/low ring for AU$135 (in stock atm). A very good buy as it's US$129 plus $35 for shipping.