Looking for a very small single cr123 thrower

Contenders/Reflector and Battery used (L to R):
*Zebralight H501 no reflector (Sanyo 2300 mAh AA @ 1.39v) | Lumapower VX Ultra w/OP Reflector (UltraFire 880 mAh @ 4.09v) | Jetbeam RRT-0 w/Smooth Reflector (UltraFire 880 mAh @ 4.09v) | Dereelight DBS V2 R2 w/Smooth Reflector (Tenergy 2600mAh @ 4.15V)

* The Zebralight should not be considered as a contender but more as a reference point at the opposite extreme of the DBS of someting w/out a hot spot and just pure flood.

Control Shot w/flash (12.5' from door, door width w/out frame = 31.5"):


All shots: Canon S3IS on Manual | ISO80 | f2.7 | 1/2 sec | Auto WB

HIGH (L to R: DBS, RRT-0, VX Ult, H501)


MEDIUM (L to R: DBS, RRT-0 (has 2 mediums, 2nd & 3rd pics), VX Ult, H501)


LOW (L to R: DBS, RRT-0 (has 2 lows, 2nd & 3rd pics), VX Ult, H501):


Even though in these pics, it looks like the RRT-0 is brighter than DBS, the DBS definitely has a brighter hot spot and I'd imagine better throw (will need to do some long distance shots).

So which beam do you prefer between the RRT-0 and VX Ultra?

Tim

all pictures/readings must be with the battery at 4.2v

the jetbeam rrt0 its beautyful


and the lumapower...it have the sst 50??????? really nice size if it have the sst-50!!!!!
what batteries? the max recomended current draw of the aw16340 imr its only 4 amp and the sst50 need 5 amp for full power

Thanks for the pics. I really like how much light you get in that setting from the VX ultra, but outside I don't think I would feel the same. The hotspot is so big, I'm afraid you would loose too much throw. I don't care for a laser type hotspot, but I do like it narrow enough to reach out there a pretty good ways while still being able to see a very defined and bright hotspot.

The RRT-0 looks great in those pics. I'm quite impressed how it seems to compare with the DBS. My DBS is my first really impressive flashlight, and I haven't seen anything in person yet that impresses me as much. I wish I had an opportunity to see a lot of the lights here in person.

I would like to see these pointed at an object maybe 50-60 yards away, outside.

with the lux@1m you can know the true throw power

Click to expand...

I understand what you mean, and I see what you are talking about, but a pic like that doesn't translate into what I would see at any distance outside, at least in my mind.

That pic of the light with the optic looks like a laser beam but I can't visualize it at distance, not with any accuracy anyways.

I think I understand the lux readings and what not pretty well, I just can't relate them to what I prefer or don't without seeing the actual beam shining at a distant object outside. You probably wonder how I ever settled on my DBS. LOL! Me too, sometimes.

It's been my experience, that if I pick up two flashlights and one is brighter than the other, considering both have a comparable throw, then I will only appreciate the brighter one. So far it's been the same with throw. I compare everything I pick up to my DBS. If it can't throw as well, I lose interest, even if it's really bright. For instance, I have both the r2 with a smooth reflector and an mc-e with a op reflector for my DBS. I love the amount of light the mc-e puts out, but it doesn't compare with the r2 and smooth reflector for throw so I don't tend to use it much. I have used the op reflector with the r2 and I love how clean the hotspot looks (Ie no artifacts), but it looses too much throw. I guess I don't really enjoy a wide variety of beam types. I know I can't really compare these really small, single cell lights, to only my DBS though.

I guess what I want is a 10million lumen 2.5" light with enough throw to blind an airplane pilot at 1000ft and still have enough spill to light up most of the plane. LOL!

One of the best value buys I've seen is the 4Sevens Quark 123 - R2. The R2 LED is very warm and throws a lot (from such a small light). If I was to have one CR123 light - that would be it. Especially when you can find them on the CFFMarketplace for really good prices. You can also add an extension tube and run it in that configuration. I've been very impressed since mine arrvied.

moviles said:

all pictures/readings must be with the battery at 4.2v

the jetbeam rrt0 its beautyful

and the lumapower...it have the sst 50??????? really nice size if it have the sst-50!!!!!
what batteries? the max recomended current draw of the aw16340 imr its only 4 amp and the sst50 need 5 amp for full power

Click to expand...

lol, you'll need to tell my batteries to cooperate then. I'm using a cheapo Tenergy TL-100 and was topping off the batteries and I was monitoring it with DMM rather than assuming it would cut-off after 4.2v as I recall reading somewhere that when topping off, sometimes chargers would not stop charging even after reaching 4.2v. This happened to be the case, as one of the 18650's I was charging reached up to 4.25v on the DMM but when I pulled it off it measured at 4.2v.

As for the two UltraFire 880mAh 16340's, I let these charge up to 4.23v w/DMM monitoring and then yanked them off but measuring the battery itself, it was only around 4.15v and then quickly dropped down to 4.09-4.08v.

In order to keep the tests similar, I decided to use a Tenergy 18650 I charged about a month back as that was reading 4.15v thus the voltage readings I have above.

The RRT-0 is definitely a beaut! I was surprised at how well it compared to the DBS (but then again, to be fair, the DBS is now over 2 years old).

Xtremespeed said:

The RRT-0 looks great in those pics. I'm quite impressed how it seems to compare with the DBS. My DBS is my first really impressive flashlight, and I haven't seen anything in person yet that impresses me as much. I wish I had an opportunity to see a lot of the lights here in person.

I would like to see these pointed at an object maybe 50-60 yards away, outside.

I guess what I want is a 10million lumen 2.5" light with enough throw to blind an airplane pilot at 1000ft and still have enough spill to light up most of the plane. LOL!

Click to expand...

Same here, the DBS was my first "true" flashlight after doing much research here and reading up on the great reviews by fellow CPF members. I constantly use it as a reference point as well. As a FYI, I spoke to Alan and he mentioned that upgrades will be posted on their site soon (didn't say exactly when though, I also convinced him to create a mailing list so as to keep his customers informed rather than us having to check on his site constantly).

The RRT-0 measures 3 7/8" so is out of your sub 3.5" initial criteria, HOWEVER, it's due to the design of the flashlight in that the selector ring mechanism contributes some additional length vs. a twisty. I really like this method of switching levels vs. clicking. It normally has 4 levels going clockwsie: L, M1, M2, H. A "hidden" Lower Low can be accessed by going from H down to L then quickly going at least 2 levels up (to M2 or H) and then quickly going back to L will invoke the LL. When regular L is needed again, just repeat the procedure.

I'll try to get some outdoor beamshots between the three later tonight.

Cheers,
Tim

I have had nothing but excellent service out of the Urnabeam Freedom.

It has been mounted to the business end of my M4 and not failed me once in the past year of ownership.

http://www.liotec.com/store/Urnabeam.htm

Thanks a ton turboBB. I may have to buy an rrt-0 yet. Does anyone have any lux numbers for it? I've searched but haven't found anything. If I can associate a number to the beamshots you posted, maybe it will help trying to compare some of these lights.

As for the DBS upgrades, I think I remember reading where someone said Deree was going to offer xp-g's. Edit: maybe that's not what you were refering to. I see Dereelight already has the xp-g's listed.

Actaully, I just recalled that Rob put together an excellent review of the RRT-0 with outdoor beamshots and comparisons against a DBS Q5 amongst others:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=248375

Tim

Yup, I found that one too. I wish more beamshots like that were posted.

You could also have a look at the Ray D1, it's well built, throwes quiet well for its size and still remains compact and pocketable.
Spill is very usable, I have walked a few hours in the woods with mine, it pleased me a lot.
Details can be found at cpfmp:
http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=206698

That's a good looking light. It's a little bigger than what I'm looking for though.

fa__ said:

You could also have a look at the Ray D1, it's well built, throwes quiet well for its size and still remains compact and pocketable.
Spill is very usable, I have walked a few hours in the woods with mine, it pleased me a lot.
Details can be found at cpfmp:
http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=206698

Click to expand...

I have a Ray D1 too and I don't think it's considered as a good thrower. It has a tight beam but the output is very, very, very week as I posted on my mini review.

Well, it's clearly not a spear or a dbs, but I would not say it's weak, and the shape of the beam has a well defined intense and small hotspot.

What do you compare it with, maybe it's me who do not understand well what you call 'weak'.

Do you have a link to your review ?
:popcorn:

Quick and dirty comparaison:
From top to bottom:
raidfire spear
ray D1
dereelight R2 pill with aspheric lens

fa__ said:

Well, it's clearly not a spear or a dbs, but I would not say it's weak, and the shape of the beam has a well defined intense and small hotspot.

What do you compare it with, maybe it's me who do not understand well what you call 'weak'.

Do you have a link to your review ?
:popcorn:

Click to expand...

My first impressions about Ray D1 is at the near bottom of the sale thread.

After seeing your beam shot I would said there's some thing wrong with mine, the output is just about the same as or a little better than 1W Energizer 2AA at Target I bought a couple years back.

Have you tried reseting it (I can't remember how you do, it's in the manual).
Once reseted, the max mode is the third if I remember correctly, just before the strobe.

if the clones return we will wish to have a pocket light saber in the hand ;) :D




I really love the pocket light sabres

fa__ said:

Have you tried reseting it (I can't remember how you do, it's in the manual).
Once reseted, the max mode is the third if I remember correctly, just before the strobe.

Click to expand...

I found out the problem, thanks anyway!

I opened it and cleaned them all with 99% alcohol and put it back together and it works better now. I didn't pay attention when parting it out but if I remember correctly there was some parts were a little loose somewhere. It throws much better now with intense hot spot like it supposed to be with my naked eyes. Again I don't have equipment to check the output level but to see the difference there must be at least 30% more, right? So I can say it's now almost double the intense of the hotspot.

I don't want to hijack this thread but I will test it again Malkoff M60 tonight. And also will read the manual to reset the setting even though I think it's at max output now for an 123 cell.

Happy for you if the problem is solved ;)

I have used or carried most of the lights in this thread, the absolute most unrecognized best performer in my opinion is the Fenix PD20.You just cant beat the price/build quality/output of this light. They throw awesome, there small unlike alot of the lights in this thread, and they work for me all the time every time.

The new Quarks look like an old version of the Fenix to me, my PD20 is brighter than any of the Quarks I have had, three so far.

I have the single and double cell ITP lights now, the spot is too small and not as bright as the PD20.