Would you buy an N30 or L35?

[BigBoy2U]

When I stumbled across this forum I was in search of a battery for my old 20mcp Costco light. Then I bought a few POB's thanks to you guys and now I am about to mod one of those to a 50W 4300K.

But as I was reading this forum over the last couple months I ran across the N30 and said "thats the light for me!" But BJ was out of stock and I sent them an email and was told late part of the first quarter 09. Well then the L35 came out two weeks ago and the N30 is still not in stock and also did a nice price little jump.

But, its still around 33% more for the L35 vs the N30. I have been following the build thread. I honestly can't convince myself that the L35 is worth the 33% more. Well actually its more than 33% in a way since I wanted an N30 at the old price point (yes I realize they don't sell for that anymore). But you get my point. a buck and a half was a nice price point that you could live with.

So since money is a factor, would you buy an N30 at the new price point? Or buy an L35 at its current CPF price point or choose something else?

I do like the form factor and the fact its more of a work light, but we are almost at the same price of the L35 vs. the Streamlight Lite Box HID.

As a retired fire chief I can attest to how tough Streamlights are, not sure about the HID though.

 

[Flick]

The fact the L35 will hold a charge and better waterproofing are worth the price to me. If that is not important, and money is a factor, I am sure some used N30's will be up for sale in perfect condition. HID's are reported to be tough.

 

[BVH]

If money is a factor, the N30 is the light for you, IMHO!

 

[mtbkndad]

The N30 has been due for a price increase for some time and is still a real bargain for what you are getting.
If the extra run time and lighter weight and other improvements are not an issue then get the N30 when it is available.
The N30 is no tank itself at only 3lb 8oz. Remember new N30's will have the upgraded reflectors too. They are also pretty tough too. So by all means, get the N30 if budget is an issue. If budget is not an issue, the black rubberized surface of the L35 and it's light 2lb 14oz weight is really amazing. Not to mention the other upgrades.
One friend mentioned to me that one problem with the L35 is that Matt did such a great job and it looks and feels so nice, he might not be as willing to use it as a beater light as the N30.

Take Care,
mtbkndad :wave:

 

[Beer]

I think I'd have to do the N30...which is kind of ironic.

I checked the L35 thread weekly to see when it would come out, I thought the black would be sooooo much cooler than the green N30.

Turns out when I saw picks of the L35 and the green must have grown on me becuase I like the look of it better.

The weight and runtime are not really a big issue for me since the N30 is still MUCH lighter than my current HID's, and I can honestly say I have never run the battery all they way down on any of my HID's in one sitting.

Now I just need to hold my breath and wait for a sale or something.... just can't bring me self to get a N30 at the new price point.

 

[BVH]

 

[mtbkndad]

Beer,

You will need to get a used one because the green will is a thing of that past. The last I heard it will be red or orange. .

The N30 is well worth the current price.
Everything has gone up since that was produced, plus our weak US dollar does not get as much as it used to in China.
If you think the N30 is too much, then by all means find a better deal in a new 30+ watt 3.5 pound HID with a proven track record of reliability and an auxiliary LED light in the handle.

Take Care,
mtbkndad :wave:

 

[hivoltage]

I bought a used N30 that looks and works line new at a great price in the Marketplace. I am very happy with it....so I am recommending the N30 at the lower price.

 

[richardcpf]

Did they increased the price of the N30 to make us buy the L35? This way people won't have to think that the L35 costs twice than the N30, but it is not twice better.

I would go for the N30. For the $130 price difference, I could buy more battery packs and do some mods to it, like a MCE led module, always on beacon leds, extra water resistance, etc.

They also increases the price of the battery pack for N30. From $50 to $75.

 

[BVH]

At $189, the N30 is still a bargain IMHO.

 

[mtbkndad]

Did they increased the price of the N30 to make us buy the L35? This way people won't have to think that the L35 costs twice than the N30, but it is not twice better.

I would go for the N30. For the $130 price difference, I could buy more battery packs and do some mods to it, like a MCE led module, always on beacon leds, extra water resistance, etc.

They also increases the price of the battery pack for N30. From $50 to $75.

For sheer light output, the N30 is still the best bang for buck sub 4 pound light on the market.
It is still a great deal at it's current price.
Wayne at Amondotech, never planned on the $149 as being anything more then an introductory price. The light was not available for several months when the company was sold to Matt. CPF members have just benefitted from an extended 'introduction' time.

You may want to check the prices of competitors lights and battery packs and you will see that the N30 and it's spare packs are still very reasonably priced.

The L35 stands just fine on it's own for people who value the upgrades that have been built into it.

Take Care,
mtbkndad :wave:

 

[BigBoy2U]

At $189, the N30 is still a bargain IMHO.

Well not that I won't agree, just when you look at the fact the N30 sold at one time for $133 to CPF members, than was I think $149 but they were out of them and now they are still out and they are $189.

I realize that many people here are fanatics and yes I am becoming one also. But yes, I also cried when I look back at the fact that a lot of people got POB from Sam's for <$30 and I just bought mine for twice that much. I don't expect to find N30's for that low of a price but not sure that a 25% price hike in a couple months was to be expected. But then from a strictly marketing standpoint you can't keep selling the N30 for 1/2 of a L35 and expect people to keep buying the L35 once the early adopters are gone. So, I kind of think IMHO (here I go shooting myself in the foot) they either need to lower the L35 to under $300 like $289 and then I would look at and think...huh...$100...huh...well...ahh...oh its only $100... Or (and this is where the gun goes off) they need to make the N30 closer to $245+ and throw in something else like an extra battery and make you buy it that way. The problem is not with the products, its the marketing and price points. Both the lights are to closely related in performance its only minor differences to warrant the price difference. JMHO.

 

[mtbkndad]

Well not that I won't agree, just when you look at the fact the N30 sold at one time for $133 to CPF members, than was I think $149 but they were out of them and now they are still out and they are $189.

I realize that many people here are fanatics and yes I am becoming one also. But yes, I also cried when I look back at the fact that a lot of people got POB from Sam's for <$30 and I just bought mine for twice that much. I don't expect to find N30's for that low of a price but not sure that a 25% price hike in a couple months was to be expected. But then from a strictly marketing standpoint you can't keep selling the N30 for 1/2 of a L35 and expect people to keep buying the L35 once the early adopters are gone. So, I kind of think IMHO (here I go shooting myself in the foot) they either need to lower the L35 to under $300 like $289 and then I would look at and think...huh...$100...huh...well...ahh...oh its only $100... Or (and this is where the gun goes off) they need to make the N30 closer to $245+ and throw in something else like an extra battery and make you buy it that way. The problem is not with the products, its the marketing and price points. Both the lights are to closely related in performance its only minor differences to warrant the price difference. JMHO.

Please read this whole post, because you are shooting yourself in the foot.
I don't think you realize who you are replying to so I will make this very clear.

Before Batteryjunction, before, Amondotech.

I was working with the manufacturer, in a volunteer capacity, to create this light.
BVH was the ONLY person I ever showed the original prototype to at the very beginning.
He probably knows more about the development of the N30 and it's history then anybody other then me.

We are not dealing with a 25% increase in a matter of month's.
We are dealing with Matt honoring an original intro price on a fairly large quantity order from over 2 YEARS ago and officially announced on 3/10/2007.
I won't go into all of the deals, but understand that right when the N30's started to be getting popular, the original Amondotech started having serious CS issues as the owner was dealing with non business crises and also at the same time was being leveraged out of his lease because the building owner wanted to sell the building. Sales of all "Amondotech" products dropped drastically as CS issues rose.

Matt ended up buying Amondotech and moving everything across the country and by December 2007 was selling the N30's again, it took a while for them to catch on again.
I do not know if there was a second order placed in the mean time. But since Matt and others have never liked the Green, I doubt it. The N30's have been out of stock for a while and will receive a couple of the upgrades of the L35, (reflector and possibly one other thing.)
All focus has been on finishing the L35 and now attention can go to the new N30 with it's new color.

So as you can see, the New N30's are an IMPROVED light that is being produced over 2 YEARS later then the originals. Even back then the price was only supposed to INITIALLY so low because some people were attacking this light before it even came out, because it was being made in China.

Wayne chose the low initial price because we both knew it would prove to be a reliable tough little light, and it has. CPF members and other customers just reaped the benefits of the business troubles of the original owner of Amondotech.

The current price increase is long overdue and very reasonable.

Regarding the price differences of the L35 and N30 and the current price points, You need to find find another sub 3 pound 35 watt HID with a lithium battery, and see what it costs before you don't have any feet left

For that matter try to find another sub 4 pound 30+ watt HID with the performance of the N30 anywhere near even it's new price.

Take a look at the price differential other companies charge for Li-Ion models with everything remaining exactly the same.

As I stated before the price points are very reasonable.
If you don't need the L35, get an N30.
If you don't want to pay the current price, check the marketplace for a used one.


Take Care,
mtbkndad :wave:

 

[Flick]

Anyone in business will not drop a price if item is selling. I feel they are a great product at a very good price. If anyone does not think so, don't buy. I bought my two best friends one each.

 

[BigBoy2U]

Anyone in business will not drop a price if item is selling. I feel they are a great product at a very good price. If anyone does not think so, don't buy. I bought my two best friends one each.

I can't disagree with that statement, but when the N30 becomes available you may have a lot of N30's sitting around not selling or L35's collecting dust. A lot of overhead and costs went into building two very similar lights with not a signficant difference but a rather significant price point.


But really the point of this topic was not to get into marketing 101, it was about and Flick did earlier answer the question Why would YOU buy the L35 over the N30. If I am on the fence and money should and is a consideration for most people, I just wanted to hear from other why they pulled the trigger on the L35 over the N30. Now I realize some will buy one just to have the newest and best toys, that fine. Some like me tend to be more analitical and want to know why others (not just the differnce in the specs) chose to buy one over the other. In the end on this paticular light it may all come down to just personal preferences that are all very minor.

I mean if you polled people and asked them why the bought the POB I think well over 85% would say #1 it was cheap and #2 easy to mod.

I do tend to like the black case on the L35, I am not that fond of the green to start with or new orange. But thats all I was really looking for. IMHO, I just have no found a significant enough difference to warrant the price difference. I am not bashing anyone or BJ for how they do business. And of course I realize I have a choice to not buy anything if I choose also. I just thought I might not be the only one with the same or similar stuggle over what light to buy.

Its all good. :mecry:

 

[Flick]

It is the old story what flavor ice cream do you like. To me I could care less about color, but give me a light that will hold a charge better and I am on it(major difference btn. N30/L35).

 

[windstrings]

I purposely waited for the L35. Not that the N30 is a bad light, but I seriously wanted the LiIon battery technology.

NiMh is much better than all its predecessors, but LiIon is the cats meow at this time for battery technology thats accessible to the common folk like us.

 

[Beer]

Beer,

You will need to get a used one because the green will is a thing of that past. The last I heard it will be red or orange. .

Take Care,
mtbkndad :wave:

ORANGE!?!?!?! .....


Oh well.....*sigh*

 

[brightnorm]

I ordered the L35 for light weight, excellent runtime and 4200K.

Brightnorm

 

[Patriot]

Having owned an N30 and knowing what I know now about lights and batteries, I'd have to go with the L35. I don't think either light is overpriced. I always have to take a step back ask myself, what's comparable? In the case of the L35 the only light that shares some relevant features is the ACRO RL-11. If I was considering the N30 today, I'd probably have to strongly consider doing a li-ion upgrade to a Stanley spotlight. The stock output is already there but the run-time performance isn't. For a $150 including the cost of the light, you could do some really trick things to the Stanley. Then again, mod's aren't for everyone and for some a stock light is the best option.