UK-SL4 & SL6

[Brock]

The SL6 used to be the light I would tell people to get for a everyday bright light. Now I would recommend the Surge. The Surge is easier to carry and hold and the beam is much better. The SL6 is brighter, but the beam is "ringy" and pretty tight, but it does have a longer runtime and heavier then the Surge.

I don't have the SL4 so I can't say about that one.

 

[Artie Choke]

Here's the sl4 at 25':

sl4

and the e2 at 25':

e2

The sl4 has a tighter hot-spot than the e2.

Let me know if you want close-ups.

 

[Gandalf]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by recercare:
1. Is SL6 brighter than Princeton's Surge? According to the specs it is, but what about in real life? How is the beam like? Better or worse than the Surge, very narrow? Dark rings? Which other flashlights can compare with the SL6

2. Is SL4 brighter than SF E2? How is the beam? Which flashlights compare/compete with the SL4?

3. What are the SL4/SL6's pros and cons in general?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Sorry, I can't answer your first question, I don't have a SL6

The SL4 is quite bit brighter than a SureFire E2. The SL 4 has a very distinct, tight, elliptical shaped beam, with some dark and light spots. You can see the shadow cast by the electrodes leading to the filament. So it's not at all like a SF beam. But, it has a good, long reach to it, making it good for outdoors use. The bright spot can be a bit much indoors, especially if you have dark adapted eyes. But comparing the rather large and heavy SL4 to the tiny, by comparison, SF E2, is a bit of apples and oranges comparison. AS for other flashlights that compete with the SL4, lights like the Princeton Tec Super Saber, and the Streamlight 3C, both have tightly focused beams, though neither are as bright as the SL4. Only a light with a xenon lamp could be said to compete with the SL4; none of the Maglights, except possibly the enormous 6D, could come close to it.

AS for pros and cons: the SL4 puts out a *lot* of light, but using 4 C cells makes it a bit heavy and bulky for carry use. Cost, and long burn time are real advantages. Battery cost would be a tiny fraction of any SureFire light. The switch, which is a lever a bit like the PT Surge, can be easily managed while wearing gloves. It comes with a nice lanyard, with both a padded plastic tubing section, and a spring loaded widget to adjust the size of the loop.

The SL4 is a very nice flashlight, and considering it uses 4 C cells, quite compact. But I would consider it a home or car flashlight; it's just too bulky and heavy to carry around, unless in a heavy coat pocket. The PT Surge is just enough lighter that carrying it, in a coat or jacket pocket, is much more practical, and comfortable. HTH.

 

[recercare]

1. Is SL6 brighter than Princeton's Surge? According to the specs it is, but what about in real life? How is the beam like? Better or worse than the Surge, very narrow? Dark rings? Which other flashlights can compare with the SL6

2. Is SL4 brighter than SF E2? How is the beam? Which flashlights compare/compete with the SL4?

3. What are the SL4/SL6's pros and cons in general?

 

[recercare]

Thanks all.

I know that UKE have similar lights using AA instead of C. Are they just as bright/good?

btw....in 5W(or more) flashlighs I really think adjustable focus or beam filters should be obligatory!

 

[recercare]

The SL4 seems to be A LOT brighter than SF E2!...according to the pics

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I have the SL4 and i believe it to be the "best bang for the buck" in its class. The SL6 is not noticably brighter but it will burn longer with the 6 C's. I also have the PT Surge, great light! albiet its less economical to operate with the 8 AA's.

 

[recercare]

I will be amazed if the Surge turns out brighter than the SL6. The SL6 has 8W while Surge has 6W. Wattage is not all, but still..........I'm waiting for that comparison

Judging from the specs it seems more propor to compare the Surge with SL4, not SL6.

btw..It would be very interesting to compare SL6 with SF 8NX

 

[Brock]

The SL6 lamp is running at 7.6w and 60 CP at 20 feet (7 meters) and the Surge is running 5.9w and 28 CP at 20 feet. The SL6 has a beam size of 1.5 feet @20 feet with a tight beam, while the Surge is 2 feet with a slow fade off, appearing much larger and smoother.

I would say the SL6 would be better for distance (over 150 feet) lighting, while the Surge would be better for closer light (under 150 feet).

 

[Mr. Blue]

I have both the Surge and the SL6 and will add another post here with specific observations, but after considerable experimentation/ comparison, I think the two are equally bright..BUT, the SL6 is way tighter, so it may look brighter. I use the surge for flood applications and the SL6 for spot needs. However, they are both so bright with such nice beams, that they have significant overlap in function out to about 175 feet...after that, the surge lights up things, but the SL6 is brighter. I will give details tomorrow regarding distances, coverage and one anecdote where the sl6 really "shined".

 

[recercare]

When calculating Brock's data I get 4.3 degree beam angle on SL6 and 5.7 degree on Surge. Wow, narrow beams!!

 

[Mr. Blue]

I have both the SL6 and the Surge and have been meaning to post a full review...In the meantime, here are some observations. First, the method... I started with fresh Duracell ultras (dated like 2008) in both lights; the Surge had 3 hours on the bulb, the SL6 was new. (Both from Brightguy, both with clean, no wholed beams).
I have access to a walled-in yard 100 ft. x 300 ft. with trees and some shrubbery around the perimeter. There are some trees in the middle as well. When looking at the beam as it leaves the light, the Surge starts out as a 1" tube, then flairs broadly after about 4'. The SL6 starts as a 1" "tube" of light that looks like a light sabre out to about 15'-20'. The SL6 also has a broad ring that is dimmer than the PT, but so bright that nighttime walking in bad terrain is no problem at all. At about 50 ft., shined against a wall, both lights have almost the same hotspot, in diam. and brightness.
At 150 ft, the surge lights up everything in its path with a 25-35 ft. spread: the SL6 has a much tighter spot (like about 3-4'), but b/c of its brightness illuminates out to the side almost as much as the surge. At 250'-300', the Surge illuminates the back fence line to the point where you can identify the bushes against the fence. Without the Surge , it is complete darkness. The SL6 at the same distance can focus on the same shrub, create shadow behind it and illuminate to the side about 10' on each side of the hot spot.
These two lights, at least the versions I have, really duplicate function until about 150'. I use the surge and recommend it when you want to light up everything in front of you out to about 125-150'. At this distance, the Surge still has enough oomph to penetrate bushes and light up things behind the bushes. The SL6 is the light I use to see a more narrow perspective out to about 300'.
I used the SL6 to spot a leaking gutter during a rain storm..it was so bright, and narrow, I could actually distinguish the varying rates of the water droplets. The Surge did the same, but not at the same distance. I must say, it is rewarding to hold the SL6 at shoulder level and spot 300' away with nice white light. Recently, I escorted an elderly neighbor to her home where her ex-con son sometimes lurks in the shadows of the bushes against her house. I used the SL6 to light up her driveway and the bushes . The SL6 beam rips through the vegitation out to 75' with ease...I mean you could see squirel marks on the ground, and pine needles in the bushes 50' away no problem.
Both lights are excellent for output and beam. I like the switch on the Surge much better...as much as I like the SL6, it is a tad awkward and bulky...both lights do fit in a winter coat pocket, I have even put the SL6 in my back pants pocket to conceal it from my wife so she doesn't know how many lights I am taking for my "walk". Hope this ramble was illuminating....

 

[Mr. Blue]

Having just re read Brocks informative post above, I think our observations dovetail nicely.

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I've been thirsting for an SL4 ever since I saw that episode of the X-Files where that killer satellite is trying to kill this hacker girl. That light really does project a lightsaber-like beam.