Surefire A2 vs Kroma vs Kroma Mil-Spec (pics - lots of pics)

[Phredd]

I love my Surefire A2. It's the only incandescent flashlight I have left. I'm considering replacing the A2 with either the Kroma or Kroma Mil-Spec. Of course, there's always a trade-off. The A2 has a great white flood, but the bright mode is a yellow incandescent. The Kroma has a great white spot, but the only flood that compares with the A2 is the blue of the [civilian] Kroma.

Here are a few pics of the lights to compare their sizes.







Here are some beam shots. Most modes were most interesting, not as beam comparisons, but as practical scene illuminations. Don't trust the relative brightness of one color versus another.

A2 versus Kroma - High White



Kroma Mil-Spec Blue



Kroma Mil-Spec versus Kroma Blue



Kroma Mil-Spec versus Kroma Red



Kroma Low Blue



Kroma High Blue



Kroma Low Red



Kroma High Red



Kroma MS Green



Kroma MS Blue



Kroma MS Red



A2 Flood



I've ruled out the Kroma Mil-Spec for me since the floods are not as good as either the Kroma or the A2. The advantage of the MS would be either the IR or night-vision green. Otherwise, the MS floods are with only 4 LEDs compared to the Kroma's 8 LEDs. Besides the white flood of the A2, the Kroma is a little larger and less pocketable. I wonder if I wait, will Surefire release an all-LED version of the A2?

Enjoy the pics!

Phredd

 

[jumpstat]

Thanks for sharing! Cheers

 

[search_and_rescue]

The Surefire A2's flood is defintely not bad. The only LED beam that has impressed me more is the Surefire L2's high beam.

Both are great lights. Thank you for sharing these great beamshot comparisons!

 

[ScooterBug]

i have thought about the Kroma and maybe one day i will get one. but i do LOVE my A2 and plan too keep it

 

[dudemar]

Wow Phredd awesome beamshots!:rock: Hope you're enjoying all three!

the Dude

 

[Phredd]

Thanks. I'm glad you like the beam shots. I hope they help you make a good choice. Of course, if you can't decide, get all three, right?

Phredd

 

[DM51]

That is a very interesting and useful comparison, with excellent photos. It can't have been easy to get the exposure and color balance right.

You say you are thinking of replacing your A2 with a Kroma. If I had an A2, I'd keep it.

As a matter of interest, why did you get the blue LED version? And which color would you get now if you had to choose, and why?

 

[Strauss]

Very good post with excellent pics :goodjob: A good friend of mine has the Kroma, and I used to have an A2.....we both really liked the Kroma a lot. To me, if it was $100 cheaper, I would buy one in a heartbeat

 

[Phredd]

That is a very interesting and useful comparison, with excellent photos. It can't have been easy to get the exposure and color balance right.

You say you are thinking of replacing your A2 with a Kroma. If I had an A2, I'd keep it.

As a matter of interest, why did you get the blue LED version? And which color would you get now if you had to choose, and why?

Maybe the I didn't get the color balance exactly right. The A2 is white. It has a slight blue tint, but if you compare it to the blue flood of the Kroma, it is very white. If I could replace the red LEDs with white, I would definitely choose the Kroma. If I could replace the xenon lamp with a Cree, I'd definitely keep the A2.

Phredd

 

[beezaur]

I think the choice between a Kroma and an A2 boils down to two things (besides budget):

1) whether or not you want multiple colors available for a low beam

2) size

Beyond these, there are some "finer points" worth considering:
-- A2 and Kroma both loose their high beam suddenly; Kroma Milspec's high fades gradually
-- Kroma Milspec low white is brighter than Kroma low white
-- Kroma Milspec's ring is more positive than Kroma's ring
-- A2's high beam is spottier than the Kromas', though I only have YG and RD A2s

Scott

 

[greenLED]

:kewlpics: Do you have shots comparing both Kromas?

 

[Phredd]

:kewlpics: Do you have shots comparing both Kromas?

The high beam of both Kromas looked identical, so the beam shot shootout seemed pointless. So, the only comparisons between the two are in the scene lighting (my kitchen) which shows drastic differences, especially with the blue.

Phredd

 

[dudemar]

if you can't decide, get all three, right?

Absolutely!:thumbsup:

 

[Phredd]

Just added blue and red comparison beam shots...

 

[batman]

The president of Surefire EDCs an A2 and so do I. I think it's high beam is more exciting because of the broad light spectrum an incan delivers. 3,300K color temp that's regulated - to me is better in any situation than an LED of comparabe brightness, because as you know, LEDs only produce a blip of radiation compated to incans/HID.

And look at the big picture; 10 years from now your A2 won't be nearly as out-dated as the more exensive Kroma. (Unless there is a big buzz about regulated incans which I doubt there will be in mainstream flashlight indsutry).

 

[Phredd]

A2 ... high beam is more exciting because of the broad light spectrum an incan delivers. 3,300K color temp that's regulated...

I just didn't appreciate the benefit of incandescant. I thought the LED was the future, but this article put things in perspective for me. I went out a couple days ago, lucky enough to have a little fog, and the A2 really did light a distant tree much better than the Kroma Mil-Spec. The article not only made me want to keep my A2, but I kind of want to buy another.

Surefire A2 - More Than A Collection of Numbers

I hope I didn't risk the balance of the universe by bringing an incandescant thread over to the LED forum.

Phredd

 

[dudemar]

http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=107943I hope I didn't risk the balance of the universe by bringing an incandescant thread over to the LED forum.

Not at all, I enjoyed your post!:goodjob: