The NEW New Malkoff 1600 Lumen Wildcat - beam shots added!!

[run4jc]

Can't wait!

I echo callmaster and everyone else - and Brandon/Greg cracked me up! Small guy in the back yard with a light bazooka. :laughing:

Finally had a chance to try mine out on the early dog walk this morning...darn time change overnight ensured that it was plenty dark when Heidi (my pup) and I set out!

I live at the edge of rural - in a suburban neighborhood but right at the edge of the city limits. In fact, there's a deep wooded area across the street from the road into my neighborhood. Right at the edge of those woods is an old church slightly beige in color. As I hit the ~60% mark of my walk I usually light up the church's parking lot with whatever light I'm carrying...my 3V 119V Haiku will slightly illuminate it....the 6V 119V Haiku is noticeably brighter - and I'll carry an Armytek Viking 2.5 warm that really lights it up. Alas, no Hound Dog or V4 Wildcat....:sigh:

V5 Wildcat DOES light it up - at about the same level as the 6V Haiku (maybe a bit brighter), but it also lights the entire parking lot and the road leading up to it. Holy smokes, this thing is a monster!

-Tint is darn near perfect
-Low is more than adequate for 95% of my dog walk -and it really is nice having all that flood. I've used a mule on the walks before, but having this much extra brightness on tap is nice
-It's a Malkoff - :thumbsup:

As has been said multiple times in this thread, this light is "different" from anything else I own. And while I cannot help but be curious about the 3000K version, the tint on this one is near perfect for my tastes.

Home run, Gene!

 

[Swedpat]

I have seen the word "mule" mentioned a few times in this thread. When I have searched carefully the only explanation I have found is that it's the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. I guess this can't be the meaning in this matter...🙄
So what does it mean here?

 

[run4jc]

I have seen the word "mule" mentioned a few times in this thread. When I have searched carefully the only explanation I have found is that it's the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. I guess this can't be the meaning in this matter...🙄
So what does it mean here?

Typically it means pure flood - no reflector. Look at the McGizmo Mule for an example - HERE.

I'm certain there are better light related definitions...but "pure flood - no reflector" is the simple definition that I go by...

Hope that helps

 

[Swedpat]

Typically it means pure flood - no reflector. Look at the McGizmo Mule for an example - HERE.

I'm certain there are better light related definitions...but "pure flood - no reflector" is the simple definition that I go by...

Hope that helps

Aha, ok! Thanks!

 

[twl]

Aha, ok! Thanks!

There are some other types of usage for the term "mule", too.
For example, a device which is being modified and tested multiple times to see how things are progressing is sometimes called a "test mule" or a "mule".
A person or vehicle carrying something for transport can be called a "mule", such as a traveler carrying a load of drugs in their suitcase can be called a "mule".

I have a feeling that McGizmo was trying some things out on a light without a reflector, and called it a "mule" or "test mule", and the terminology stuck, and became jargon for that kind of reflectorless light.
Just my guess, but it has a logical basis.

 

[LEDAdd1ct]

Hi, all!

I have two questions, for the willing and able:

1) What is the current draw off two freshly charged Panasonic 3400mAh cells on low?

2) What is the current draw off two freshly charged Panasonic 3400mAh cells on high?

Thanks, guys!

 

[PoliceScannerMan]

880, GREAT SHOTS!! 🙂

WC V4= Apples
WC V5= Oranges

Completely different lights.

As far as my Mule comments, this light definitely throws WAY farther than a Mule ever could. I meant the beam is wide and even like a Mule.

Dan agreed on tint. I am curious to how the beam looks on the 3000K as well, but this 5000K is so creamy delicious. 😀

 

[880arm]

880, GREAT SHOTS!! 🙂

WC V4= Apples
WC V5= Oranges

Completely different lights . . .

I agree completely. I have my review posted with some side-by-side comparison beamshots with several other lights.

On one hand, this was an easy review (and certainly my quickest) since I'm so familiar with the Wildcat and Malkoff "system" of lights. On the other hand, describing this beast is beyond my abilities. It is like nothing I have used before. Just a few random notes for those who don't want to read the full review . . .

• It won't run on a single li-ion battery
• It will power up (at a reduced output level) on 2x123A but probably wouldn't last long.
• Glare from nearby objects is almost non-existent due to the relatively low beam intensity. Friday night there was still 4" of snow in my yard and it didn't blind me at all.
• The 50 yard throw estimate is a good one. I can make out a good amount of detail at 40 yards and even at 60 yards I could recognize shapes fairly easily. I wouldn't be able to positively ID a person at that distance, but I would be able to see them if they didn't blend with the background too much.
• This light is hard to "aim" when taking beamshots as there is no hotspot beyond 10 feet or so. However, the beam is so even it really doesn't matter! :thumbsup:

The beam is VERY broad and although it does have a noticeable cut-off at the edges I think it's wider than the V4 Wildcat. Compare the two photos below and pay attention to the chimney on top of the house. The lights were about 5 yards from the wall.

​

This may be the first time in recorded history that the V4 Wildcat looks like a thrower!

 

[Swedpat]

The beam is VERY broad and although it does have a noticeable cut-off at the edges I think it's wider than the V4 Wildcat. Compare the two photos below and pay attention to the chimney on top of the house. The lights were about 5 yards from the wall.

What I aimed at is that the spill of Wildcat v4 like other optics as M60 reaches almost to the sides(maybe 150deg or so) and in this case I think the spill of v4 goes far wider than the chimney even if it's not visible at the picture because it's too dim. But in real life under real dark conditions it is noticable and useful.
Anyway; when I see at the picture it looks like the reflector of v5 is shallow and I think the spill is wider than a typical light. Is it wider than the spill of a Maglite reflector?

And: nice review! :thumbsup:

 

[yoyoman]

I read the full review. I was particularly interested in the comparison beamshots with the Oveready triple. I have a few Oveready triples and like them a lot for the smooth wall of light they produce. This new WC seems to make the Oveready Triple look like a aspheric thrower. Great review and beamshots. I don't have this light yet, but everything I've seen and read makes me speechless. Of course it is hard to talk when you are drooling. Could you pleas expand your comments about using this light on Low. This is one of my favorite features of my Hound Dog - it makes the HD a very useful tool and not just a one-trick pony.

 

[880arm]

What I aimed at is that the spill of Wildcat v4 like other optics as M60 reaches almost to the sides(maybe 150deg or so) and in this case I think the spill of v4 goes far wider than the chimney even if it's not visible at the picture because it's too dim. But in real life under real dark conditions it is noticable and useful.
Anyway; when I see at the picture it looks like the reflector of v5 is shallow and I think the spill is wider than a typical light. Is it wider than the spill of a Maglite reflector?

And: nice review! :thumbsup:

I agree about the optics and you are probably right that the V4 may have a broader, yet very faint spill at the very edges. That is one of the nice things about optics. The reflector of the V5 is very shallow (less than 1" or 25mm deep) and the spill is much wider than a typical light. As best I can tell the spill is about 20% wider than the outermost ring in a 3D Mag-lite's spill. As point of reference, the reflector from the 3D Mag is actually bigger than the entire Wildcat head!

I read the full review. I was particularly interested in the comparison beamshots with the Oveready triple. I have a few Oveready triples and like them a lot for the smooth wall of light they produce. This new WC seems to make the Oveready Triple look like a aspheric thrower. Great review and beamshots. I don't have this light yet, but everything I've seen and read makes me speechless. Of course it is hard to talk when you are drooling. Could you pleas expand your comments about using this light on Low. This is one of my favorite features of my Hound Dog - it makes the HD a very useful tool and not just a one-trick pony.

I think the new Wildcat is useful on low mode but only for close-in tasks. The 90-110 lumen output (according to Gene) sounds like a lot but it is spread out over such a large area it's not hard on the eyes. It's certainly no micro-lumen light like some prefer but it suits my purposes just fine. Of course the Hound Dog and even the V4 Wildcat could reach out a fair distance even on low mode but the V5 won't go far at all, maybe 6 or 7 yards. I have to admit, I haven't spent much time using it in low mode yet :devil:

 

[seery]

Usable Throw; The maximum distance at which a flashlight allows the positive ID of a person in the black of night.

In 880's pics in post #57, there is obvious light pollution. But there doesn't seem to be enough light to make a positive
ID at the 120' distance of the swing. Or I am wrong?

So based on the above definition, what do you guys feel is the "usable throw" of the new Wildcat?

100'?

 

[880arm]

Don't put too much stock in the photos as they are mainly for comparative purposes and, although I try to get them close, they aren't exactly the same as what you would have seen. As you noted the amount of light pollution will affect the "usable throw" per your definition, in addition to things like atmospheric conditions, your own eyesight, familiarity with the subject or contrasting (or not) backgrounds. I don't think there is a single set distance but if there is some sort of standard I'm sure someone will set me straight.

I can say that last night (45 degrees Fahrenheit, 80% humidity, light misting rain and the light pollution shown in the photo), I would be able to easily identify someone I am familiar with if they were sitting on that swing at 40 yards. For unfamiliar subjects I would be able to determine what they are wearing and their general description (estimated height, weight, etc).

At 60 yards I would be able to tell the difference between an adult and a child but I doubt I would recognize my own mother at that distance.

 

[seery]

I can say that last night...I would be able to easily identify someone I am familiar with if they were sitting on that swing at 40 yards.

For unfamiliar subjects I would be able to determine what they are wearing and their general description (estimated height, weight, etc).

At 60 yards I would be able to tell the difference between an adult and a child but I doubt I would recognize my own mother at that distance.

Thank you for the very helpful insight and the pics.

So based on my definition of usable throw, it sounds like 100' would roughly be the max distance for an accurate description of an unfamiliar subject.

Sounds like Gene will be getting more of my money! :naughty:

 

[greatscoot]

I was thinking about picking up a V4 Wildcat, but wasn't sure I needed anything that floody. Now that the V5 is out I wish I had picked one up in neutral.
So if anyone wants to upgrade and sell me their V4 neutral.....:thinking:

 

[archimedes]

....I am curious to how the beam looks on the 3000K as well, but this 5000K is so creamy delicious. 😀

Wasn't sure which to choose, at first, since I tend to prefer about 4000K tint, +/- 500K or so ... but went with the High CRI warm version.

Yep, it's WARM !! I think this is officially The Warmest Light that I now have. Actually seems almost like "real" torchlight (FOAS) - massive warmth, with massive flood.

The emitter is seriously enormous.

On low, output is very modest. Switch to high, 😱 :devil:

Yeah, it is definitely a unique flashlight 😀

 

[scout24]

You guys are killin' me... 🙂 C'mon, Gene!!!

 

[PoliceScannerMan]

Whew man that sounds too warm for my current tastes, that change often. 😀

 

[5001craig]

The more I look at this new Wildcat head, the more I think it may work even better for my application--which is normally close-up or less than 10 feet. I didn't think my WC could be improved on but...

May just have to get one to try. Kind of surprised at the price compared to the triple V4 I am currently running. I do like the single LED without a diffuser as my diffuser came out today when I was cleaning the light. May be a bit "tougher".

 

[Cerealand]

When the v4 was first released, the price was very close to the current price of the v5 version.