Solarforce L2 impressions (Cree R2 5-mode)

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Norm said:
The L2 lens appears to be plain glass I'm sure it wouldn't be considered a "quality lens" 🙁
Norm
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This should be interesting then - I've got 6 lenses on their way from FlashlightLens.com. Shipped today, hopefully will be here by the end of next week.
Rated at 99% transmission.
Looks like it may be worth the $5-6 each.
 
Slash5 said:
This should be interesting then - I've got 6 lenses on their way from FlashlightLens.com. Shipped today, hopefully will be here by the end of next week.
Rated at 99% transmission.
Looks like it may be worth the $5-6 each.
Click to expand...

Can you tell us what size of lens you bought for the Solarforce L2?

Thanks
 
Slash5 said:
This should be interesting then - I've got 6 lenses on their way from FlashlightLens.com. Shipped today, hopefully will be here by the end of next week.
Rated at 99% transmission.
Looks like it may be worth the $5-6 each.
Click to expand...

I ordered some 99% transmission from KD ... to see ...

20% loss just reeks ...

L2 lens is , 27.5mm , the ones on KD are 28mm multi coated bla bla : Here
 
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Slash5 said:
This should be interesting then - I've got 6 lenses on their way from FlashlightLens.com. Shipped today, hopefully will be here by the end of next week.
Rated at 99% transmission.
Looks like it may be worth the $5-6 each.
Click to expand...
Which size did you get?

The ones the MrGman used for his L2s in his sphere tests (26.8mm x 1.85mm) are currently sold out and should be in soon.

According to my calipers, the Solarforce L2 lenses measure 28.02mm x 2.03mm
 
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Black Rose said:
Which size did you get?
The ones the MrGman used for his L2s in his sphere tests (26.8mm x 1.85mm) are currently sold out and should be in soon.
According to my calipers, the Solarforce L2 lenses measure 28.02mm x 2.03mm
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I ordered both the 28.8 X 1.9 and the 28.6 X 2.84 to try.
I measured 28.3 X 2 but there should be room for up to 29mm.
I just checked again and just noticed that the bottom rubber ring is stepped for the lens so I may have trouble. I might have to go to a normal 0-ring for the bottom or flip the stepped one upside down.
 
May simply be reflection, although I don't know what kind of loss is typical for that. That's why the best lenses have anti-reflective (AR) coatings.
 
old4570 said:
If you have a light box , try your flashy with and without the lens .

With lens , 13000+ Lux , without the lens 16000Lux + .

Wait for it : My Mini L2 with MC-E , 17000+ Lux , without the lens , ready ? ...................................................................................................................................... 22,000+ Lux Thats 5000Lux lost to the lens or close to 20% light loss .

Interesting , No ! :grin2:
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Just a quick question on this. When you tested them without lenses did they still have the bezels on? I'm wondering if that would make any difference to the readings as the bezels (especially the crenulated ones) cut off some of the spill. Just a thought.
 
solarforce7_800.jpg


Here is another short colour comparison.

From top:
Solarforce L2D (Sand): very nice matt finish
UltraFire WF-503B Cree R2-WC - Grey (Olive/OD): nice colour, matt finish (but not as matt as the L2D), but the rest of the light is not that special
Solarforce L2GF (Grey/Gun-Metal): smooth, glossy finish

Dropins:
Solarforce R2M 5 modes
Red Label: Solarforce LC-1, R2-M 4.2V-8.4V,..
nice dropin, overall good performance, memory mode

Ultrafire R2 1 mode
Label: Super Bright R2

Solarforce R2 1 mode: identical with the Ultrafire dropin
Label: R2 (they just cut away the "Super Bright" part)

These are exactly the same dropins and I am pretty sure they are not from Solarforce as told here:

boomhauer said:
Re: 5-mode memory
The bulbs are the same with Solarforce Label or Super Bright label, they are from the same factory.
Click to expand...

The Solarforce R2M dropin is brighter and the single mode dropins have a green tint.
 
Zatoichi said:
Just a quick question on this. When you tested them without lenses did they still have the bezels on? I'm wondering if that would make any difference to the readings as the bezels (especially the crenulated ones) cut off some of the spill. Just a thought.
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Its not the Bezels ... The bezel may effect spill/flood ever so slightly , but they wont kill 20% of the brightness .

Anyway , you would see the shape of the bezel when shining the light on a flat surface ..

Its the lens . I have some new ones on order , so , will see .
I have coated ones and plain ones on order just to see .
 
old4570 said:
Its not the Bezels ... The bezel may effect spill/flood ever so slightly , but they wont kill 20% of the brightness .
Click to expand...

Fair enough. I just wondered because I was surprised how much of the spill those bezels can cut off. I may be thinking of my actual P60 though which seems to have very wide spill without a bezel.
 
Zatoichi said:
Fair enough. I just wondered because I was surprised how much of the spill those bezels can cut off. I may be thinking of my actual P60 though which seems to have very wide spill without a bezel.
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You were right - The bezel does have effect ...

13200Lux - Stock
14100Lux - Less Bezel = Cost 900+ Lux or approx 6.8%
16500Lux - Less Lens @ Bezel Lens costs = 2400Lux approx 17%

Ok , there we go . :thinking:
 
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old4570 said:
You were right - The bezel does have effect ...

13200Lux - Stock
14100Lux - Less Bezel = Cost 900+ Lux or approx 6.8%
16500Lux - Less Lens @ Bezel Lens costs = 2400Lux approx 17%

Ok , there we go . :thinking:
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It'll be interesting to see if your 99% KD lens will improve the efficiency - should be a 5-6% improvement if their figures are correct.
 
KD still has my orders Pending - Packing .

So might have them early next week ..
DX has already shipped the plain glass lenses I ordered . But not my SSC P7 .
Im just itching to build a L2 SSC P7 or Two .
A single 18650 P7 and a 2 x 18650 P7 .... Hot stuff !
 
fishx65 said:
Just went for the L2GF-R2M! I'm in Michigan. Are we talking DX shipping times here or is Solarforce fairly quick?
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To answer my own question, 5 days! Surprised the heck out of me cuz I'm on DX shipping time!!
 
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