ThruNite Catapult Review (SST-50): RUNTIMES, BEAMSHOTS, and more!
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recDNA
Flashaholic
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Is it just me or does it appear that the Catapult is aimed AT the car whereas the others are aimed BEHIND the car at the asphault? It makes the Jetbeam look MUCH brighter than the Catapult to my eye but comparison cannot be made if the Jetbeam is aimed to a shorter distance.
CampingLED
Enlightened
ur right. nice observation.
Rod911
Enlightened
I think they were aiming for the car, it's just that the Catapult has such a narrow beam and not much spill that it doesn't give a true indication of its throwing capabilities.
Let's just say they were aiming at the car. From the pictures, it seems that the car in the Catapult shots are reflecting more light compared to the other flashlights. To me, this would indicate that the Catapult is the better thrower out of the either lights pictured.
MTL-TL
Newly Enlightened
Not all the shots were taken the same night. Look at the trees all green, with leaves and the ground is covered by grass in the M1X shot. Now if you look at the catapults shot, the trees are striped. Different season, and if you look closely, the amount of ambient light is not the same. You can see it in the sky and over the city on the right. I'm not an expert photographer, I wonder how much that can affect the outcome of the shots. IMO, the subject in the M1X shot is in a covered and more darker area than the one of the catapult.
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Rod911
Enlightened
I was playing around with the Catapult tonight and noticed something strange. For some reason or another, the light would change modes when the tailcap (not switch) is hit. For example, if I were to tailstand the light on a hard surface and I were to set it down hard, it would change modes.
I have cleaned the threads again and checked the orientation of the extender is correct, but it still does it. Note that it does not change modes when in singkjf cell configuration.
I have cleaned the threads again and checked the orientation of the extender is correct, but it still does it. Note that it does not change modes when in singkjf cell configuration.
This is likely due to the height of the cells not being quite long enough to fully compress the springs (causing a momentary lack of current upon shaking the light). I had something similar happen once, and the problem was solved by adding a small magnetic space between the 18650s. Of course, I don't recommend that as a permanent solution. Maybe try another set of 18650s? :shrug:
Igor Porto
Enlightened
Maybe stretching the spring works
Jack Reacher
Newly Enlightened
Good point...
I note that some of the shots were taken in Dec 2009 and some in May 2009. If that's ice on the road in the December shots (mid winter?) it may affect the overall saturation and colour temperature of the pics due to the reflective nature of ice versus asphalt.
I'm certainly no tech head, but could that be an issue with the apparent discrepancies in exactly where the hot spots seem to be located?
BTW selfbuilt, another excellent review! Although I'm only a newbie, I've read many of of your reviews here, and I'd like to commend you on the time and effort you put in to producing them in such detail. I also appreciate your subjective opinions on all these flashlights, and your "asides" about some of their peculiar little quirks too. :laughing:
—Cheers, Jack.
I note that some of the shots were taken in Dec 2009 and some in May 2009. If that's ice on the road in the December shots (mid winter?) it may affect the overall saturation and colour temperature of the pics due to the reflective nature of ice versus asphalt.
I'm certainly no tech head, but could that be an issue with the apparent discrepancies in exactly where the hot spots seem to be located?
BTW selfbuilt, another excellent review! Although I'm only a newbie, I've read many of of your reviews here, and I'd like to commend you on the time and effort you put in to producing them in such detail. I also appreciate your subjective opinions on all these flashlights, and your "asides" about some of their peculiar little quirks too. :laughing:
—Cheers, Jack.
Rod911
Enlightened
Tried a different set (Trustfire black/red compared to SoShine 2800mah originally) and found it happening to that set as well. As for the magnetic spacer, I don't have one, but I might give it a crack in my next DX order.
Thanks for the suggestion, but I don't really want to do this to my light.
The inadvertent switching of modes is rather annoying, but seems to happen less when using the Trustfire batteries (ie. it takes more force to change modes).
Thanks. Although my goal is to provide consistent and reliable objective data for comparison purposes, I realize a lot of people seem to like the asides. 😉
Umm, have you tried looking at the actual review at the start of this thread? 🙄 Not to spoil the surprise, but at close range they are roughly equivalent in all of the above
One additional point for context - although the throw values at 1 or 5 m are comparable, at greater distances the single-emitter Catapult will indeed throw further than the 3XCree M2XC4.
While I realize stretching the spring may not seem ideal, you probably only need a slight tweak in order to improve the fit. This would be a better fix than the magnetic spacer (they are dangerous, since if they dislodge and connect the positive battery terminal to the battery tube, you will short the cell!).
Jack Reacher
Newly Enlightened
Hi there CM2010...
The Catapult is on my (first-timer's) short list.
Can you let me know your (the torch's) location relative to this shot? Distance and direction out of frame?
— Cheers, Jack. 🙂
FYI, I notice a thread in CPFMP's Dealers forum that a new V2 of the Catapult is due to come out soon:
http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=225422
I don't have any more info than that. Dunno if Thrunite plans to send me one to test ... I typically leave those decisions in the hands of the manufacturers/dealers.
http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=225422
I don't have any more info than that. Dunno if Thrunite plans to send me one to test ... I typically leave those decisions in the hands of the manufacturers/dealers.
HIDblue
Enlightened
I hope they do send you one selfbuilt. I'm curios to see the difference, if there is any, between the old Catapult at 900 lumens and the new Catapult at 1000 lumens. Would 100 lumens make much of a perceivable difference?
IMO, I do like the fact they simplied the UI into a simple, 2-mode light. Tightening the head for max output and loosening the head for low.
I was just holding the torch above my head pointing it out of the window,its about 55 - 60ft to the tree i was pointing it at.
If you do get one make sure you get the newer version which is about to be released.
Jack Reacher
Newly Enlightened
Thanks for the heads-up on both those points CM2010.
Man..... there's always a newer version just when you've nearly made up your mind ain't there LOL.
Although I've also decided against waiting for the TK45 — can't see the point of three emitters when one will do, à la the SST-50.
At the moment the Catapult is numero uno on my list, with the TK40 second and the iTP Polestar A6 a distant third.
— Jack.
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