I finally broke down and bought my first Surefire last week. And here is a review of it Take it easy on me because it my first ever review. So grap some popcorn and enjoy! 
First things first, this thing feels like it could survive a nuclear blast. Its made of Nirtolon: a nylon and glass polymer. This may not be as tough as an aluminum 6PL, but it is not as heavy, doesn't scratch as easy, and will enable you to hold it in a super cold enviornment because it doesn't conduct thermal energy like a metal light would. The switch is your standard old "tactical style", press for momentary, twist for constant on with lock-out if you turn left.
Emitter: In Surefire's Shot Show 2010 video, they showed many of their new lights with a K2 TFFC LED in it. But it may come as a surprise to some of you, they aren't selling them on the market with a K2. Mine came with an SSC P4 like we have found out in my other thread about this light.
Surefire has a tendency to under rate their lights right? On the package, my G2L says 120 lumens. Well by comparing it to an iTP A3 EOS, rated at 80 lumens, there is a HUGE difference. Most people say it takes twice the amount of lumens to notice a difference in how bright the light is right? The iTP A3 has a fresh lithium primary. They come out of the package at 1.7 to 1.8 volts, so the iTP is actually runnning at at least 80 OTF lumens, while the Surefire is running at "120 lumens". I can almost guarantee that that it is twice as bright even runnning on slightly used cells. Here are pictures of the two beams.
iTP A3 on high
Surefire G2L
G2L left, iTP A3 right
-2.0 Exposure, G2L left, iTP right
Control Shot
iTP A3 High
Surefire G2L
As you can see, the G2L is MUCH brighter. Of course it is kind of unfiar to compare a 1x AAA light to a 2x CR123A light, but remember our CPF philosophy of twice the light= only a little brighter? And the G2L's batteries are slightly used too. I don't have any others yet, but the iTP is running of that fresh lithium primary.
Now for some beauty shots. :naughty:
Looks like they don't want you guys to use aftermarket drop-ins anymore because they emitter/reflector assembly is stuck in there. To bad. :sigh:
The package also states a 2 hour tactical level runtime, and then output drops below 50 lumens. But, they say this even for their 200 lumens lights that also run 2x CR123A batteries. So I am thinking that its more than just a measly two hours. I mean come on, I don't even think they make an emitter that inefficient anymore. (but maybe I'm wrong)
Here are some more beam shots comparing it to a Terralux TLE6EX SSC P4 drop-in in a 5D cell Maglite and a Rebel 2x AA multimode MiniMag. G2L is always on the left. First picture is +1 exposure and second is -2.0 exposure. Terralux first, MiniMag second.
This light has the most spill out of any of mine. I have a small collection BTW. It is also the brightest in terms of lumens output by far, but not in lux. My Rebel Maglite 3D is my real thrower. I am guessing about 160 lumens for this Surefire. Just a guess don't hate me if you think I'm wrong because I still could be. I wish I had a Malkoff M60L light to compare it to because I'm think they would be about the same. But I don't have one. :mecry:
What I like: Bright, brightest of my lights. Bulletproof. Light weight. Throws very well, almost as far as my Terralux 5D mag. Has very bright and useable spill that extends out to the edges very far.
What I dislike: No longer P60 compatible. Maybe if you gut the bezel, but this is no longer a simple drop-in light. My tailcap is faulty. Sometimes it flickers, and it is loose on the end of my light when I try to wiggle it (there is play in the end cap). I may have to call Surefire and see what they say about it and see what it costs to get a new cap.
I would recommend a light like this to everyone because I think they would love it. And $69 for a Surefire isn't to bad.:naughty:
I will be trying to do outdoor beamshots later tonight because they didn't work well last night. So stay tuned for those. Hope you like my review!
EDIT*: I tried doing outdoor shots tonight from about 50 feet, but to my dismay my camera just doesn't capture light very well. I turned it to night shot and it still didn't want to capture any of the spill on any of my lights. But let me assure you it won't dissappoint in throw. Its could be considered a short to maybe mid range thrower depending on your needs. I can shine it down the street 100+ yards and light up the neighbors front lawn and the side of their house. Sorry I couldn't get good beamshots.
First things first, this thing feels like it could survive a nuclear blast. Its made of Nirtolon: a nylon and glass polymer. This may not be as tough as an aluminum 6PL, but it is not as heavy, doesn't scratch as easy, and will enable you to hold it in a super cold enviornment because it doesn't conduct thermal energy like a metal light would. The switch is your standard old "tactical style", press for momentary, twist for constant on with lock-out if you turn left.
Emitter: In Surefire's Shot Show 2010 video, they showed many of their new lights with a K2 TFFC LED in it. But it may come as a surprise to some of you, they aren't selling them on the market with a K2. Mine came with an SSC P4 like we have found out in my other thread about this light.
Surefire has a tendency to under rate their lights right? On the package, my G2L says 120 lumens. Well by comparing it to an iTP A3 EOS, rated at 80 lumens, there is a HUGE difference. Most people say it takes twice the amount of lumens to notice a difference in how bright the light is right? The iTP A3 has a fresh lithium primary. They come out of the package at 1.7 to 1.8 volts, so the iTP is actually runnning at at least 80 OTF lumens, while the Surefire is running at "120 lumens". I can almost guarantee that that it is twice as bright even runnning on slightly used cells. Here are pictures of the two beams.
iTP A3 on high
Surefire G2L
G2L left, iTP A3 right
-2.0 Exposure, G2L left, iTP right
Control Shot
iTP A3 High
Surefire G2L
As you can see, the G2L is MUCH brighter. Of course it is kind of unfiar to compare a 1x AAA light to a 2x CR123A light, but remember our CPF philosophy of twice the light= only a little brighter? And the G2L's batteries are slightly used too. I don't have any others yet, but the iTP is running of that fresh lithium primary.
Now for some beauty shots. :naughty:
Looks like they don't want you guys to use aftermarket drop-ins anymore because they emitter/reflector assembly is stuck in there. To bad. :sigh:
The package also states a 2 hour tactical level runtime, and then output drops below 50 lumens. But, they say this even for their 200 lumens lights that also run 2x CR123A batteries. So I am thinking that its more than just a measly two hours. I mean come on, I don't even think they make an emitter that inefficient anymore. (but maybe I'm wrong)
Here are some more beam shots comparing it to a Terralux TLE6EX SSC P4 drop-in in a 5D cell Maglite and a Rebel 2x AA multimode MiniMag. G2L is always on the left. First picture is +1 exposure and second is -2.0 exposure. Terralux first, MiniMag second.
This light has the most spill out of any of mine. I have a small collection BTW. It is also the brightest in terms of lumens output by far, but not in lux. My Rebel Maglite 3D is my real thrower. I am guessing about 160 lumens for this Surefire. Just a guess don't hate me if you think I'm wrong because I still could be. I wish I had a Malkoff M60L light to compare it to because I'm think they would be about the same. But I don't have one. :mecry:
What I like: Bright, brightest of my lights. Bulletproof. Light weight. Throws very well, almost as far as my Terralux 5D mag. Has very bright and useable spill that extends out to the edges very far.
What I dislike: No longer P60 compatible. Maybe if you gut the bezel, but this is no longer a simple drop-in light. My tailcap is faulty. Sometimes it flickers, and it is loose on the end of my light when I try to wiggle it (there is play in the end cap). I may have to call Surefire and see what they say about it and see what it costs to get a new cap.
I would recommend a light like this to everyone because I think they would love it. And $69 for a Surefire isn't to bad.:naughty:
I will be trying to do outdoor beamshots later tonight because they didn't work well last night. So stay tuned for those. Hope you like my review!
EDIT*: I tried doing outdoor shots tonight from about 50 feet, but to my dismay my camera just doesn't capture light very well. I turned it to night shot and it still didn't want to capture any of the spill on any of my lights. But let me assure you it won't dissappoint in throw. Its could be considered a short to maybe mid range thrower depending on your needs. I can shine it down the street 100+ yards and light up the neighbors front lawn and the side of their house. Sorry I couldn't get good beamshots.
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