Which flashlight(s) to choose...

[cos4]

Hi I'm new to CPF and currently own a standard 2xAA MiniMag. I'm from Germany(Solingen(yeah where the knives come from)).
I'm currently looking for flashlights for two purposes – EDC and outdoor use. I do not have a fixed price limit but just to give you an impression something between 40 and 120$ would be nice. Quality is important to me and I'm willing to pay for it although there are always limits especially for me as a student(e.g. a gatlight looks great but is simply too expensive atm).


+ =important
- =willing to make compromises


EDC-Specs:
+small/handy
+robust
+reasonably bright for its size
+should run on rechargeables without problems
+regulated
-runtime
-Red-light filter available


Outdoor-Specs:
+reliable&robust
+runtime
+bright
+different modes
+regulated
+Red-light filter available
-size
-rechargeable solution(would be nice though)


If I can get this all in one flashlight that would be great but I don't expect to find such a flashlight for a reasonable price therefore I thought I'd probably be better off buying two lights each suitable for its purpose.


I so far thought about getting a Fenix P1D or L0D for EDC and a P3D or T1 for outdoor use. But this are merely my first thoughts. I haven't yet decided on how to carry the EDC light although the best solution would probably to attach it to the key chain.





What do you think? Which flashlights would you suggest to me?


I am not a great Fenix fan or something. I just found a lot about these lights and from the pictures and stories compared to the price they seem to be pretty good. But I would gladly buy a good flash light from any other company.



Thanks for reading. If you've got any further questions feel free to ask.

 

[Marduke]

+1 for the LOD Q4 for pocket carry
+1 for the P3D Q5, since it can take your red filter

They both work well on their respective rechargeables.

https://www.fenix-store.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_65&products_id=363
https://www.fenix-store.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_69_49&products_id=257
https://www.fenix-store.com/product_info.php?cPath=27_38&products_id=338

 

[adirondackdestroyer]

Since you plan on EDCing your light on a keychain I would go with the L0DCE Q4. If you were going to carry it in a pocket or anywhere else I would go with the P2DCE Q5. Both are great lights, but CR123 sized lights are too large around for keychain carry (imo).

For your outdoor light I would go with the Regalight WT1 V.2 or the Fenix T1. The Regalight has a promo sale in the Dealer forum that for $65 you get the light with both smooth and op reflectors as well as momentary single stage clickie and two stage reverse clickie. The real advantage this light has over the Fenix T1 (or P3D) is that it can use protected 18650 cells for awesome free runtime! There is a review done by Selfbuilt in the review forum if you want to check that out.

 

[Gunner12]

I would recommend the Fenix L2D-CE Q5 because it uses AA batteries (Might be a bit long, slightly more then the minimag) or the Powerpack because you get two bodies(1 CR123 or 1 AA). It would be quite a bit brighter then the minimag(low mode is similar to the minimag's output). Fenix Store has a 8% off coupon(Along with shipping included in the price), "CPF8".

I'm guessing for outdoors you would like throw?

If you want low priced, Dealextreme has some lower priced lights and they include shipping in the price. I'd look in the Cree/Seoul/Rebel section (current gen LEDs) for lights getting good reviews.

If you already have a red light filter on the smaller light, why do you want one with the larger light? A red filter will cut down a lot of the output of a LED light. Removing that will open up a lot more options.

:welcome:

 

[EntropyQ3]

If the light should run on rechargeables without problem (a requirement I have myself) then you should be aware that the Fenix P1 loses its modes with rechargeable RCR123s, at least the 3.7V ones. I don't know about LiFePO4s, they might work well since their voltage is closer to Lithium primaries.

One thing you don't touch upon is what you would want to do outdoors with a flashlight. If you are going to check fences at a farm at 100m distance, you want a strong thrower. But for most purposes a throwy light have problems - you have a very strong hotspot with extreme contrast to the surrounding spill, so if you actually look at the hotspot, your eyes will adapt, and everything around the hotspot will appear correspondingly darker. Not what you want. So if you want to light up at low to medium distances, even for outdoor use, a floodier beam makes a lot of sense. A thrower is the wrong light for nighttime walks in the woods for instance. (I think their popularity here is because this is an enthusiast site, and throwers are the dragsters of flashlights - extremely impressive at their thing, but not very versatile. )

So if I were you, I'd get a good EDC. Who knows - maybe it will do it all for you. After all, the output span between an AAA keychain light and a double CR123 light is no more than a factor three different, one and a half f-stop in photographic terms and while that is a readily apparent difference in direct comparison, in the dark it really doesn't matter a whole lot.

If you find yourself wishing for more, then it's time to go shopping again.
(Forget the T1, it's just an overweight P3D.)

So - a good EDC. Lots of threads on that.
AAA lights have the edge in size and lack of pocket sag, so I can comment on some current options.

The benchmark is the Fenix LOD. And for good reason, it is small and lightweight, offers excellent regulation and battery life vs brightness, has different modes for different needs.

But maybe you want something different - the Lightflux LF2 SSC has a very wide beam, is the best option for running with rechargeable LiIon batteries (generally speaking not worth it IMO, now that LSD NiMH are available), has continously variable output from very low to very bright, and is just as small as the LOD.

LumaPower Avenger offer a simpler interface, very well regulated output and good running times vs brightness. It is designed to optionally use Lithium rechargeables but offers nothing to protect vs. over discharge. It also comes with a clickie option, which really is very handy for single handed operation. To be honest, twistie operation is awkward at best with one hand, and hopeless if you wear gloves. The clickie option makes the light bigger though, and there are still unresolved issues with the design of this light and operation with different cells.

The Tiablo A1 has the simplest interface of all, and a great finish. The single level of output is well chosen but doesn't offer the versatility of 2+ modes. It got a lot of criticism for not living up to its super inflated output claims, but with a single level I think their current output is actually a good compromise.

The list goes on. All lights are a compromise between properties, and before you've tested it is difficult to prioritise. You will overspend. Try not to do it for reasons that make sense to someone else though.

 

[adamlau]

RaidFire Spear, or Dereelight DBS V2. Good stuff :twothumbs .

 

[Federal LG]

Hi I'm new to CPF and currently own a standard 2xAA MiniMag. I'm from Germany(Solingen(yeah where the knives come from)).
I'm currently looking for flashlights for two purposes – EDC and outdoor use. I do not have a fixed price limit but just to give you an impression something between 40 and 120$ would be nice. Quality is important to me and I'm willing to pay for it although there are always limits especially for me as a student(e.g. a gatlight looks great but is simply too expensive atm).


+ =important
- =willing to make compromises


EDC-Specs:
+small/handy
+robust
+reasonably bright for its size
+should run on rechargeables without problems
+regulated
-runtime
-Red-light filter available


Outdoor-Specs:
+reliable&robust
+runtime
+bright
+different modes
+regulated
+Red-light filter available
-size
-rechargeable solution(would be nice though)


If I can get this all in one flashlight that would be great but I don't expect to find such a flashlight for a reasonable price therefore I thought I'd probably be better off buying two lights each suitable for its purpose.


I so far thought about getting a Fenix P1D or L0D for EDC and a P3D or T1 for outdoor use. But this are merely my first thoughts. I haven't yet decided on how to carry the EDC light although the best solution would probably to attach it to the key chain.





What do you think? Which flashlights would you suggest to me?


I am not a great Fenix fan or something. I just found a lot about these lights and from the pictures and stories compared to the price they seem to be pretty good. But I would gladly buy a good flash light from any other company.



Thanks for reading. If you've got any further questions feel free to ask.

Hey, I lived in Germany once a time... in Northeim, near Goettingen! It´s a beautiful nice country!

:welcome:

 

[JCup]

I recommend Fenix in both cases.

EDC - L0D CE Q4 using AAA NiMH rechargeable cell

Outdoor - L2D CE Q5 using 2 x AA NiMH rechargeable.

The pocketable L0D will amaze you with its output, and can be carried on your keychain. Mine lives in the watchpocket of my jeans or the bottom of my front pocket if wearing slacks.

The L2D CE Q5 has a big, strong white beam with enough throw to reach out a hundred meters or so; and it operates a long time on its reduced output modes. It comes with a nice belt holster.

Both are water resistant to 3 meters immersion.

I've had both these a short time, but they have benched my Surefire 9P, my Streamlight Ultrastinger, and an assortment of low power LED based lights. These are both well made lights, and total cost for both a little more than $100. The Cree XLamp LED modules these are based on are amazing new technology, and Fenix uses regulation circuits to get the most out of the standard format 1.5 Volt batteries.

Take a look at the Sanyo "Eneloop" NiMH batteries, they last well and have good capacity with the ability to provide the current needed for the high output voltage boost circuits.

Fenix-store.com ships free worldwide.

 

[iTorch]

The NovaTac 120P may fit your needs for both, with the variable outputs you can customize for EDC use, then when on a camping trip you can quickly re-program for outdoor use, then change again when back in the city, its strong, sumbergable to 66 feet (though not a diving light), and I have seen red, blue, and IR filters on SPA Defense SPL-120 website (google it).

 

[cos4]

Thanks a lot for your replies.


Concerning outdoor use. Well there's nothing special, more like going for a walk with the dog, going trekking in the woods - so you're probably correct that I don't need that much throw as there will be not many people I could impress.
I want to have a red light filter because I usually try to use my night vision when its dark. But if I occasionally need a light it's gone and I have to keep the light on or wait until my eyes are adjusted again. I don't expect a very powerful output with the red light filter just want to be able to have a look at something without being blind afterwards.

@Federal LG:Yeah it basically is, although we've got a lot of idiots and will probably end up like the Brits - not being allowed to carry a pocket knife in their own country. </OT>

 

[kelmo]

Welcome to CPF cos4!

Why do you guys pay so much for a torch?!

I was in Heidleburg last October and Minimag LEDs were selling for 49 euros. I second iTorch's recommendation for a NovaTac. I have a 85P and it is a great light, if you don't have to pay 200 euros for it. Back on topic. The programmability makes this an excellant choice. You can get something like 5 or 6 hours of runtime at 30 lumens on a fresh cell. Thats a lot of light.

Love your people and country. Germany rocks!!!

Weidersehan