Thrower - A worthy step up from the TK35?

[00ChevyScott]

Just picked up the TK35 and it's an awesome flashlight, but I'm still shopping around for flashlights haha. I'm wondering what a worthwhile step up would be from the TK35? I'm looking at possibly picking up the Catapult V3 because of it's affordable price, but I see it's only 900 lumens. Would it be worth spending the $150 on the V3 if I already have the 820 lumen TK35? I know their beam profile is different, but I'm wondering if there is maybe a better option out there for a similar price with similar quality.


And here's a picture I took tonight of my TK35. My camera seems to amplify the brightness a bit though.

 

[roadkill1109]

I'm in the exact same boat.

I got the Olight SR51.

I might eventually get a V3, just for the heck of it.

I love throwers! 🙂

Current thrower collection: (from nearest to furthest)

1. Lumintop L1C
2. Quark Turbo X
3. Jetbeam BC25
4. Fenix TK35

Incoming:

1. Olight SR51
2. Dereelight DBS V3 R2 3SM w/ Aspheric and E650.

You're lucky, your TK35's not greenish in tint.

 

[jl123]

I was in the same boat 🙂 I noticed the Olight SR90 on Amazon fluctuate in price so I set it as a favorite(to check the price as often as I could). I finally snagged one for $310 (free prime shipping too) and even though I just spent 300 bucks on a flashlight, I probably saved more in the long run. I still love my TK35 though 🙂

 

[LEDninja]

You guys are going to need a Dereelight DBS with the aspheric head. Don't know which pill is the best. (have not kept up with Dereelight for 2 years now)

Just remember you need LUX not lumens for throw.

 

[00ChevyScott]

I've seen that the tk35 puts out like 26k lux while the v3 puts out 40k+. Is that a noticeable amount? $150 worth it?

 

[Chrisdm]

I have a tk35 and a jetbeam m1xm, both modded to neautral xml.... The m1xm matches the catapult v3 in throw from what ive read. My m1xm throw is noticably better than my tk35, so i would say go for the v3 if youre after throw.. but note the form factor, weight etc is much much different. The tk35 seems much more compact, lighter etc so i really like it even though it isnt the best thrower...

 

[00ChevyScott]

What about the TK70? Is it worth the $$$ jump to get to 2200 lumens? I know worth is a relative thing, but I'd rather spend more to get a larger jump in performance rather than spending a lot of money and not being impressed.

 

[roadkill1109]

I've seen that the tk35 puts out like 26k luxury while the v3 puts out 40k+. Is that a noticeable amount? $150 worth it?

Dereelight DBS R2 3SM w/Aspheric and EX650 $120 Shipped, 90k+ lux.

 

[weidmark]

Dereelight DBS R2 3SM w/Aspheric and EX650 $120 Shipped, 90k+ lux.

Or 1SM will give 90k lux correct?

 

[PerttiK]

IIRC DBS with aspheric and X-RE R2 is around 65k.

 

[think2x]

What about the TK70? Is it worth the $$$ jump to get to 2200 lumens? I know worth is a relative thing, but I'd rather spend more to get a larger jump in performance rather than spending a lot of money and not being impressed.

I've seen the TK70 and it's a solid built light with plenty of throw and output. If you get it you really need the best rechargeable D-cells since it pulls like 7.5 amps!

I personally have the Olight M3X and it's a great thrower, from all my reading it should do around 58k? The only other light I have had that can be considered a "thrower" was a BC40 which has similar throw (by the numbers) to the TK35 and the BC40 can't touch the M3X's throw IMO.

 

[think2x]

Or 1SM will give 90k lux correct?

That's what I've read, the 1SM drives at 1.5A

 

[00ChevyScott]

I've seen the TK70 and it's a solid built light with plenty of throw and output. If you get it you really need the best rechargeable D-cells since it pulls like 7.5 amps!

I personally have the Olight M3X and it's a great thrower, from all my reading it should do around 58k? The only other light I have had that can be considered a "thrower" was a BC40 which has similar throw (by the numbers) to the TK35 and the BC40 can't touch the M3X's throw IMO.

The only thing about the V3 vs M3X debate is I think the V3 looks much cooler. I know the M3X is a tad bit better thrower, but the V3 just looks awesome.

 

[roadkill1109]

Or 1SM will give 90k lux correct?

both 1sm and 3sm will, since it will drive the LED at 1.5 amps.

 

[easilyled]

Have a look at the reviews by selfbuilt ..... there's a rather inexpensive light called the Crelant 7G5 which outthrows all the other 2 X18650 category lights such as the Catapult. Its rated at ~ 56,000 lux at 1 metre. :bow:

 

[luminositykilledthecat...]

The Dereelight DBS V3 aspheric with the new XRE-R2 EZ900 1.5amp pill is around 90 - 100k. Saabluster (of DEFT fame) measured 107k lux on his 1.5amp DBS. Both the 1SM and 3SM are 1.5amp. You need to check out the 'Dedicated Throwers' thread from around page 10 onwards for info and pictures on the DBS v's olight m3x, mpp1 etc. Here is one of my pictures (reduced exposure) to demonstrate just how bright the new DBS is. From left to right: Solarforce Masterpiece pro-1, New DBS V3 1.5amp r2 ez900 aspheric, Olight M3X, Crelant 7G5. There is a link under this photo to the 'Dedicated Throwers' thread, you really should check the whole thread out, its full of great info. Please note that when this pic was taken my 7G5 was underperforming. Its sorted now, and the other pictures in the thread show it at its best.

Rob


http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?325827-Dedicated-throwers

 

[Chidwack]

If you want throw, the M3X will out throw your TK35 by a long shot but it's only 700 lumens. Selfbuilt talks about the Crelant 7G5 being the best 2 cell 18650 thrower he has tested but I don't think he has tested the Olight M3X yet. Some say the M3X throws better but I would bet that it's not by much and I'm not sure it's worth the extra money the M3X costs.
On the other hand, if you want a different light that throws better than your TK35, you might want to look at the TK41. It uses AA batteries and will throw just about as good as the M3X but it has a few more useful modes. I have the M3X and the TK41 and if I had to choose, I would pick the TK41. I'm not interested in the TK35 because it's output is very close to the Jetbeam BC40 which I already have, just a different shape.

 

[LiteTheWay]

Re: Thrower - A worthy step up from the TK35? - Trustfire X6

How about the Trustfire X6 if you want a real thrower.

 

[j3bnl]

Got to agree with those who posted above, DBS with Aspheric head will out throw anything else mentioned.

 

[luminositykilledthecat...]

Got to agree with those who posted above, DBS with Aspheric head will out throw anything else mentioned.

Yeah, and its about $85 shipped 🙂