Some thoughts regarding Surefire

[chef4850]

We have all read all the trashing, bashing, comments that seems to close these threads. This is not one of thoes threads and should the MODS. choose to close it that is fine.

I have quite a few Surefire lights and and after reading just about everything posted about them I have several questions and observations that I would like a little (positive) feed back on.

1). the ano. - I have read all the posts with the "why can't they get the ano the same color?". Here is my thought on that one which I have not heard anyone comment on but probally someone has. I really like the ano on the SF line and here is why. It does not match! These lights are geard for the military and LEO persons. So on that note - Do you think they do this intentionally? I personally would hate to drop a SF light at night (not turned on of course) and be expected to find it. It seems to me like it is intentional (ano) because it makes the light less conspicuous more like camo?

If the light is geared toward this line of work would it not make sense that it would better serve them. I notice that on my E2Dl it is a perfect ano match (all black) with all parts and if I put the E2Dl and my A2l out in the yard and asked someone to locate them I would bet that they would find the black E2DL first. So it seems to me like they do the "mis matched ano" intentionally. This is just my thoughts and nothing more. What do you think?

2). Colored filters - I have some of their colored filters and I notice that they have a "mirror finish" to them. Is this for signaling in the day time? Like using a mirror? Or is it just the result of the manufactioning proccess? Just a thought.

3). Price per lumen ratio and "outdated emitters" - Is it possible that Surefire is doing the right thing with all of this. Sure their lights might be under driven but I feel that this would make the lights "more durable"? Last longer and more reliable and isn't that just what everyone tauts as the reason to own a Surefire? Maybe Surefire uses "outdated emitter" for this reason. New doesn't always mean better. Everyone always says "I will wait till her/him gets the bugs out before I jump in and make the purchase of this or that light". Maybe that is what Surefire is doing. Using tested and proven emitters (waiting till the bugs are worked out). Just a thought.
I carry a p4 light and that is not a "new emitter" but I like the beam profile and it has not let me down yet.

4). No more knurling on the new lights. - I have to be honest. When I first got a glimps of the "new design" I was not a fan. However! After using a Lx2 for a while I acctually like the "slotted design" better. Seems more functional to me. I have since purchased other SF lights based on this very design. I realize that to each his own and what I like you may not. It just amazes me that when Surefire comes up with all these changes the thought and preparation that went into them staggers me. I am not a physicist (man and by no means - I can't even spell it for that matter).

Just some of my thoughts and I hope that I don't offend anyone or create a bashing thread this is not my intention.

So on that note I am leaving it up to some of you with better insight as to whether this all was done intentionally or just the way Surefire does things.

I for one like the way Surefire approaches thier light design and will continue to have them on me. Reliable!

Mods. Please feel free to close this if it turns into a bashing thread. It was done from my insights and opinions and NOT TO STIR THE POT!

Thanks CPF - if it were not for all of you their would be a pretty dark spot in my life.

Chef

 

[lovenhim]

I can say this for Surefire, it is the nicest light I own. That being said I do not own but three lights. I got a Surefire C2 Centurion in a trade and it is the incandescent model. My goal for this light is a relieable flashlight that is there when I need it. It will not be an EDC but rather "good ole' reliable". I want to put a warm LED drop-in in it due to the light going through batteries like candy. I can get a drop-in, 2 RCR123's, and charger for under $30 from DX. To me that is a nice deal for my use. I am not rough on a flashlight and I can not remember ever dropping one, so this Surefire C2 should searve me well. I do not need the latest and greatest flashlight, I would rather have proven and reliable.

 

[red02]

2). Colored filters - I have some of their colored filters and I notice that they have a "mirror finish" to them. Is this for signaling in the day time? Like using a mirror? Or is it just the result of the manufactioning proccess? Just a thought.

The mirror finish is done to reflect the undesired colors back and trap them. This is a functional part of the filter designed for that explicit purpose. IIRC this is only one part of how the filter is supposed to block undesired light.

3). Price per lumen ratio and "outdated emitters" - Is it possible that Surefire is doing the right thing with all of this. Sure their lights might be under driven but I feel that this would make the lights "more durable"? Last longer and more reliable and isn't that just what everyone tauts as the reason to own a Surefire? Maybe Surefire uses "outdated emitter" for this reason. New doesn't always mean better. Everyone always says "I will wait till her/him gets the bugs out before I jump in and make the purchase of this or that light". Maybe that is what Surefire is doing. Using tested and proven emitters (waiting till the bugs are worked out). Just a thought.
I carry a p4 light and that is not a "new emitter" but I like the beam profile and it has not let me down yet.

I am of the opinion that a light is just a tool. While its nice to be able to show off your 500lm light, it will rarely be really needed. 80/90lm is more than enough for any one of my tasks so for me lm/$ isn't something I place in high consideration. There are things like build quality and beam pattern that are more important to me.

 

[chef4850]

Thanks for the feed back on the filter. Make sense to me.

I only use the low mode on most of my lights. I agree with you that the several big, high lumen lights that are sitting under my bed just waiting to be pulled out, batteries put in, fired up and put back under the bed for the next time I need a WOW monent are getting far and few between. But they are cool to have.

Chef

 

[ragweed]

Surefire makes a great product! Do I want or need their product...NO. I have plenty of LED's that do the job for me & my needs. JMHO.

 

[msap]

Surefire lights are tools. My opinion here but, SF doesn't seem to care about the collector side of things. These lights are made for use. Looks and the newest/brightest emitters are not what dependable tools are about. Never cared about different color unmatching anodizing. With a few months of real use, you would never notice ano.

 

[Brigadier]

Well, I have been going against the stream and not buying any LED's for myself - only incans - and they have all been SureFires. 2 E2E's, E2O, M3, G2, Z2, 9AN.....all incans. All old style. I do not like the new MELT, A2Z, etc, and in general the direction SureFire is heading. The interchangeable P60 design was a big plus for them IMHO. Their new designs are no longer legos in the bulb/led department which IMHO, is a big mistake.

Me, I am saving up for an M6, incan, and it will stay incan.

YMMV.

BTW, I still own the very first Laser Products 6P I ever bought.

 

[red02]

I really like knurling on my lights. the Z2 is probably the most unique and attractive light I have seen, I've been toying around with getting one and if I do it will probably be my only "collector" light as it wont see regular action. Normally I would be opposed to getting anything that doesn't meet a pressing need, for some reason with the Z2, I can make an exception. Unfortunately the knurling and the fact that most Surefires are cr123 only have so far scared my away from them. Now that E2L and the Saint can use AAs, I'm definitely thinking of giving surefire a try.

 

[chef4850]

I have several SF lights. Some incan and some LED's. I do prefer the incan beam and color no doubt. I am also in the market for a M6. Just need the funds to build a little.

I also like the M3LT design and looks BUT! From what I read the M6 is the way to go and about the same $.

If you have never owned a surefire get one. I was in the same boat when I first started with lights. When I finally broke down and purchasd my first SF light it all made sense. I am currently building my Sf collection and selling off the rest of my - Well - not surefire lights.

Chef

 

[csa]

I've got to say, my surefires are certainly all in a sweet spot in the dollar to reliability ratio. I've owned some really nice very expensive custom lights, but the surefires do really well for a mass-market product.

 

[Xacto]

I got my first Surefire (6PLED) in 2008 while visiting the USA and thus finally fullfilling a 10 year old dream - own one of those "cop lights" / "tactical lights" / "handgun lights". Since it was (and still is) treasured that much, it never leaves the drawer. It was my first LED light (they had no incan 6P Defender in stock in that Police supply store in Tempe) and finally sold me on LED lights. Until then, I never thougth that LEDs could match my incan Maglite 3D and 6D.....:candle:
Only the Z41 tailcap seemed a little bit cheap to me on from a technical point of view....

Fast forward to march 2010. After realizing in the late summer of 2009 the power a powerful flashlight can have, I wanted to get my hands on a flashlight with strobe. Got me an iTP SA-1 Eluma, but wanted for some reason something in the line of a Blackhawk Gladius (too expensive in Germany, but getting one from the states could have meant problems in case of any warranty issues).

While still pondering what to do, I somehow got my hands on my Surefire 6PLED again..... and I realized - skip the strobe, stick to the (as I finally realized - tactical safer) Z41 twisty and get another Surefire 6P LED for EDC.....

well..... currently I have two incan 6PDefenders, one 6PLED Defender, one incan 9P, two incan 6Ps and a second (EDC) 6PLED - all with the trusty, reliable Z41 twisty. Currently I am collection founds for a third 6PLED (meant as a backup for the EDC 6PLED).

But I must admit that I wonder what advantages the other Surefire typs do have over the 6P design and why they are producing them. Okay, I understand the reasons for the Nitrolon bodys and the Z-typs, the small E1 backup and the multi-mode lights.
But they nonetheless do have some typs (e.g. L4 LumaMax, C2 LED Centurion, L5 LumaMax, E2E Executive Elite, C2 Centurion, C3 Centurion) where I can see no real technical advantage over the 6P/9P etc. series.

Regarding the anodizing - on my lights the difference is barely noticeable. To me, it is more important to have a reliable light where I can switch parts in case of defects, with a long production history meaning plenty of spare parts and most importantly - which I can use as a last-ditch defense tool.

Cheers
Thorsten

 

[chef4850]

Xacto - I have the C2 (led version) and I personall really like the light. It is a very solid peice and takes drop ins incase you are into that kind of thing.

I do not have a 6P however and I am NOT trying to compare these two. I have a Solarforce L2M (I believe that is the version). great light but for some reason don't really use it that much. I guess I like the "look and feel" of the C2 better. To each his own.

Never had one of the Nitg*** (plastic) lights. I guess it really never turned me on for some reason. I have had one firearm that was a (plastic) steel combo but got rid of it. I (and please don't laugh) always seem to equate weight to quality. If I purchase a light and it is "heavy" I like it (I also take other things into account) and if it is very light weight well the dissapointment sets in for some reason.

So when I get a light I always wrap it with lead tape to increase the weight and quality!...........Just kidding I never did that, Really!

I appriciate all the feed back you guys are the best! Thanks

Chef

 

[Locoboy5150]

After getting involved with flashlights a little more this past year or so I have a new type of respect for Surefire and their products. I respect how they keep out of the lumen wars since that's just a losing battle. Like others, I have learned that raw output really does not increase the usefulness of any one of my lights. Anything around 100 to 150 lumen is all that I really need from any light in my life and Surefire lights will provide that.

That being said, I have yet to actually purchase a product from Surefire as they are too expensive for my budget. I have been considering a few though so that may change in the near future. The new E2L-AA looks interesting.

 

[kelmo]

They also have outstanding customer service. I recently bought an old (4 flats) A2. The previous owner really used it as it was intended to used. Then I discovered that it would not function with my spare MA02 LAs. I contacted SF, got an RMA number and within a week it was back in my hands, cleaned, lubed, and with a new tailcap.

 

[chef4850]

+1 for the CS Surefire supplies!

It is amazing.

Any problems - NO PROBLEM! it's fixed.

Chef

 

[Brigadier]

They also have outstanding customer service. I recently bought an old (4 flats) A2. The previous owner really used it as it was intended to used. Then I discovered that it would not function with my spare MA02 LAs. I contacted SF, got an RMA number and within a week it was back in my hands, cleaned, lubed, and with a new tailcap.

SF CS is the best!!!!

http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=230203

 

[chef4850]

I was just thinking something that puts things in perspective for me.

I have always (since I have started with the lights) purchased a second or third of the same light (just the ones that I was really fond of). Just in case something happened to the other one I would have another.

I have not done that with any of my Surefire lights for some reason?

I guess I know it will always be there when I need it.

So I guess Surefire is saving me money to boot!

Chef

 

[Sgt. LED]

LEGO

That's one of the big reasons I am into Surefire lights. You can sit down and swap stuff out to custom make something all Surefire but still pretty unique.

 

[Kestrel]

LEGO

+1

 

[sjmack]

I have yet to get into the 'lego' aspect of surefires, but the reason I continue to buy these 'over priced' lights is due to their reliability. Out of all of my lights, the ones I turn to when I go to work every day are my 6P and E2DL. I know they will turn on when I need them. I know if I drop them, they will take it. Hell, my coworker asked me why I was trying to get some G3L's for the control room for the plant that I work for instead of Magchargers - I took out my 6P led and threw it about 100 feet onto the rocks next to the plant, then went and picked it up and shined it at him.