nutz_about_lights
Enlightened
Just got my STREAMLIGHT 4AA PROPOLYMER LUXEON!!! Review & (Lots of pics-15 inside!)
Hi all! Just received my SL on fri, a big thank you to icebeng for helping me ship it in!
.
First impressions: Man! Don't let the packaging fool you! After cutting the sides of the package to get it out, I loaded it with the batteries provided and checked it out. Hmm. Not bad, smaller than I expected, and despite what all the others have been saying, this torch fits my hand perfectly, is not too heavy and I can easily and comfortably carry it for extended periods of time. I ordered the black version by the way and its very nice and has the tactical look despite the plastic body.
Light quality: Wow! Nice light. The brightest one I have ever seen. Mine has a slight purplish tint like cheap LEDs. Beam output is in the form of a very, very, very tight hotspot. (Measurements below). Although many people have said that the SL has a lousy spillbeam, I find it very decent and bright enough to light up trees 10m high when the spillbeam reaches it (not the hotspot). Needless to say, it is good for trail walking. In fact, the sidespill is better/or rivals than the beam of my previous (now spoilt) Princeton Tec Rage which was classified as a flood light.
Throw: This light as many have mentioned has excellent throw for its size. I am able to see my light on buildings at about 100m, though it is not very clear. But at least I can see where my light reaches.
Other noticable things: I realised that the head of the torch would become slightly warm after a period of use. Not very noticable though. This light is not really suitable for EDC but it fits nicely into a jacket pocket. And, there is a slight movement/sound when you hit the head of the light against your palm. So the lamp assembly and batteries are not really tight and secure. Hence it cannot, in my opinion, withstand the vibration and shock of a firing gun. (i.e. : not a tactical light)
Everyone's favourite part - pictures:
SL 4AA PP package (front):
SL package (back):
30cm beamshot (Note the 2 spillbeams and a hotspot):
30cm beamshot (close up on 2 spillbeams):
1m beamshot of SL, 1 with broom for size:
2m beamshot of SL, one with broom for size:
Testing of ceiling bounce:
Before:
After:
And saving the best for the last, the shots of the SL up close:
SL beside my Nokia 6610i (the SL looks huge but it isnt):
SL tail switch:
SL light head on:
SL light from side-top. See how bright it is!
:
Measurements of beam:
At 30cm - diameter of hotspot = 5cm
At 1m, radius of spillbeam = 52cm
diameter of hotspot = 20cm
At 2m, radius of spilbeam = 130cm
diameter of hotspot = 50cm
And btw for those who are wondering, DON'T DON'T ever look into the SL's beam. I tried shining it into a mirror and lost my clearness of vision for about 5 mins.
Hope you enjoyed this mini-review
. Hope that also all the newbies will be enlighted by this post and for those sitting on the fence, this light is certainly worth the buy! I was intially deciding between the Inova T3 and the SL, but eventually traded off the inova's better build, larger hotspot for the SL's further throw and better sidespill. And I sure am glad I did. 
Hi all! Just received my SL on fri, a big thank you to icebeng for helping me ship it in!
First impressions: Man! Don't let the packaging fool you! After cutting the sides of the package to get it out, I loaded it with the batteries provided and checked it out. Hmm. Not bad, smaller than I expected, and despite what all the others have been saying, this torch fits my hand perfectly, is not too heavy and I can easily and comfortably carry it for extended periods of time. I ordered the black version by the way and its very nice and has the tactical look despite the plastic body.
Light quality: Wow! Nice light. The brightest one I have ever seen. Mine has a slight purplish tint like cheap LEDs. Beam output is in the form of a very, very, very tight hotspot. (Measurements below). Although many people have said that the SL has a lousy spillbeam, I find it very decent and bright enough to light up trees 10m high when the spillbeam reaches it (not the hotspot). Needless to say, it is good for trail walking. In fact, the sidespill is better/or rivals than the beam of my previous (now spoilt) Princeton Tec Rage which was classified as a flood light.
Throw: This light as many have mentioned has excellent throw for its size. I am able to see my light on buildings at about 100m, though it is not very clear. But at least I can see where my light reaches.
Other noticable things: I realised that the head of the torch would become slightly warm after a period of use. Not very noticable though. This light is not really suitable for EDC but it fits nicely into a jacket pocket. And, there is a slight movement/sound when you hit the head of the light against your palm. So the lamp assembly and batteries are not really tight and secure. Hence it cannot, in my opinion, withstand the vibration and shock of a firing gun. (i.e. : not a tactical light)
Everyone's favourite part - pictures:
SL 4AA PP package (front):
SL package (back):
30cm beamshot (Note the 2 spillbeams and a hotspot):
30cm beamshot (close up on 2 spillbeams):
1m beamshot of SL, 1 with broom for size:
2m beamshot of SL, one with broom for size:
Testing of ceiling bounce:
Before:
After:
And saving the best for the last, the shots of the SL up close:
SL beside my Nokia 6610i (the SL looks huge but it isnt):
SL tail switch:
SL light head on:
SL light from side-top. See how bright it is!
Measurements of beam:
At 30cm - diameter of hotspot = 5cm
At 1m, radius of spillbeam = 52cm
diameter of hotspot = 20cm
At 2m, radius of spilbeam = 130cm
diameter of hotspot = 50cm
And btw for those who are wondering, DON'T DON'T ever look into the SL's beam. I tried shining it into a mirror and lost my clearness of vision for about 5 mins.
Hope you enjoyed this mini-review
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