karlthev
Flashlight Enthusiast
When I received the Spartanian II for testing last Friday, what I initially noticed was the two-tone color and the head—front of the light which set it aside from other lights I have of similar size and configuration such as the HDS EDC, Novatac, Arc4+s—and the rather thin, wasp-waist of the body between the head and the tail. This "waist" is provides a near perfect grip when holding and using this fine light. This light is a variation of a "twisty" design in that it turns on and off by rotating a 7/8" wide ring located behind the head of the light either to the left or the right for two user pre-set levels or for adjusting the light intensity to thirteen different levels.
The best way to approach operation of this light (which has a brand new UI) is to imagine the light having two "sides". Side "A" is accessed by twisting the spring-loaded front ring to the left while side "B" is accessed by twisting the ring to the right.
To gain momentary illumination of either "side" the ring is twisted to the "stop" (end of twisting rotation) in the direction of the "side" and the light illuminates. Twisting and holding the ring to the right for approximately 1 second will turn the light on and remain on until a separate action is taken. The same interface is true for the left side with the exception of the fact that the ring must be held for at least 5 seconds after twisting to the left in order for the light to remain on. In either direction, you know the light will remain on by a slight flicker in the light. The light is turned off (either "side") by twisting the ring to the right and holding it there for about the one second period.
Various light levels (right or left "side") may be pre-set for ready access to one of the two levels as soon as the ring is rotated in the appropriate direction. The levels are set by first turning the light on (holding for the appropriate period of time depending on which side is to be adjusted) releasing the ring and then, rotating to ring to the left to Decrease the light level or to the right to Increase the level of the side which is "on". The adjustment procedure occurs in "steps"--that is the ring is not held constantly to the left or the right during the intensity adjustment procedure rather there are repeated rotation and release motions used to increase/decrease the intensity of the illumination. This protocol is followed since the new, adjusted light level is only reached after release from the rotated position. This allows for the user to view a light level to ascertain if that level is the one at which we wish the light to arrive at when he/she accesses that "side" of the light. Once a desired level is reached, that level may be locked in by loosening the tail piece until the light is extinguished. The identical action is used to set the second "side" to a preset level.
While the process may sound complex, it is mastered after a few attempts and the actions become virtually automatic. It is one of the most simple user interfaces of any multiple level light which I own.
As we all know, I've never been a technical reviewer and so you won't find any specific measurements in this assessment however I am most impressed with the incredibly wide range of light levels from a
low-low get up in the middle of the night to visit the whatever to an all-out light up the backyard blast to check out what's making the noise at midnight. The specific measurement have been identified in another review so, if numbers are needed, please read there. This is a thrower with a more narrow beam than my HDS, Novatac, SPY 005 and many others. The beam also displays a donut and some concentric circles both of which will identify the fact that I was shining the light on the wall. I generally don't use my lights to light up walls however so I will say that in real life performance, it is a most effective light—I didn't notice any beam artifacts when the light was used for lighting purposes.
I am, admittedly, a clicky fan vs. a twisty fan. That is not to say that I don't own twisty operated lights—those where you twist the head (generally) to turn the light on and off and, in some cases, reach different light levels—I just PREFER the clicky type. Whatever floats yer boat as they say. Despite that fact, I found this light to be the best of two worlds in the fact that this twisty interfce is much smoother than any other light which I own. This is due to the fact that the ring is internally connected to a spring mechanism which returns it to a "center" location whenever the ring is released from twisting it left or right. If you set the right side to the highest level and want to give a quick burst to dazzle the object of your interest, twist to the right for a second and let go. If you need the lowest level and you have preset the left side to that level and need that short burst again, twist to the left and then let go! It's actually a fun light (as well as most useful!) to operate!
I have used this light for about two hours total at this point and for me, that is quite a bit of use over the period of only several days. My impressions? Well, I really like the appearance, physical size in my hand, ease of use and most of all, light performance. It's a great piece. My beefs? I'd like the anodizing to be better, I'd like the ring travel to be shorter, the spring stiffer and the ring a bit tighter in it's rotation. Would I buy one? Definitely! I find this design and user interface to be a great breakthrough and one which will be equally appreciated by twisty and clicky lover alike.
Karl
The best way to approach operation of this light (which has a brand new UI) is to imagine the light having two "sides". Side "A" is accessed by twisting the spring-loaded front ring to the left while side "B" is accessed by twisting the ring to the right.
To gain momentary illumination of either "side" the ring is twisted to the "stop" (end of twisting rotation) in the direction of the "side" and the light illuminates. Twisting and holding the ring to the right for approximately 1 second will turn the light on and remain on until a separate action is taken. The same interface is true for the left side with the exception of the fact that the ring must be held for at least 5 seconds after twisting to the left in order for the light to remain on. In either direction, you know the light will remain on by a slight flicker in the light. The light is turned off (either "side") by twisting the ring to the right and holding it there for about the one second period.
Various light levels (right or left "side") may be pre-set for ready access to one of the two levels as soon as the ring is rotated in the appropriate direction. The levels are set by first turning the light on (holding for the appropriate period of time depending on which side is to be adjusted) releasing the ring and then, rotating to ring to the left to Decrease the light level or to the right to Increase the level of the side which is "on". The adjustment procedure occurs in "steps"--that is the ring is not held constantly to the left or the right during the intensity adjustment procedure rather there are repeated rotation and release motions used to increase/decrease the intensity of the illumination. This protocol is followed since the new, adjusted light level is only reached after release from the rotated position. This allows for the user to view a light level to ascertain if that level is the one at which we wish the light to arrive at when he/she accesses that "side" of the light. Once a desired level is reached, that level may be locked in by loosening the tail piece until the light is extinguished. The identical action is used to set the second "side" to a preset level.
While the process may sound complex, it is mastered after a few attempts and the actions become virtually automatic. It is one of the most simple user interfaces of any multiple level light which I own.
As we all know, I've never been a technical reviewer and so you won't find any specific measurements in this assessment however I am most impressed with the incredibly wide range of light levels from a
low-low get up in the middle of the night to visit the whatever to an all-out light up the backyard blast to check out what's making the noise at midnight. The specific measurement have been identified in another review so, if numbers are needed, please read there. This is a thrower with a more narrow beam than my HDS, Novatac, SPY 005 and many others. The beam also displays a donut and some concentric circles both of which will identify the fact that I was shining the light on the wall. I generally don't use my lights to light up walls however so I will say that in real life performance, it is a most effective light—I didn't notice any beam artifacts when the light was used for lighting purposes.
I am, admittedly, a clicky fan vs. a twisty fan. That is not to say that I don't own twisty operated lights—those where you twist the head (generally) to turn the light on and off and, in some cases, reach different light levels—I just PREFER the clicky type. Whatever floats yer boat as they say. Despite that fact, I found this light to be the best of two worlds in the fact that this twisty interfce is much smoother than any other light which I own. This is due to the fact that the ring is internally connected to a spring mechanism which returns it to a "center" location whenever the ring is released from twisting it left or right. If you set the right side to the highest level and want to give a quick burst to dazzle the object of your interest, twist to the right for a second and let go. If you need the lowest level and you have preset the left side to that level and need that short burst again, twist to the left and then let go! It's actually a fun light (as well as most useful!) to operate!
I have used this light for about two hours total at this point and for me, that is quite a bit of use over the period of only several days. My impressions? Well, I really like the appearance, physical size in my hand, ease of use and most of all, light performance. It's a great piece. My beefs? I'd like the anodizing to be better, I'd like the ring travel to be shorter, the spring stiffer and the ring a bit tighter in it's rotation. Would I buy one? Definitely! I find this design and user interface to be a great breakthrough and one which will be equally appreciated by twisty and clicky lover alike.
Karl
