yellow said:
to be correct:
they will use 3 watt LEDs, but will run AT BEST on one watt (look at the info on the mags at the linked shop),
because anything under 5 hours runtime (if regulated) will not be accepted by the prospective customers.
and, as it seems, there will be the usual "one-year-delay" as with the last 3 years. The led-models have been proposed for the shot-show, then in spring, now somewhen in june/july. They wont hit the market again this year.
Unfortunately, I believe the 5-hr runtime will be achieved, but only by using the "usable light" saw that so many mfgrs use: if you look at the runtime curve on Quickbeam's sight for the Terralux TLE-5, you'll see what I mean. But according to Mag, they will all be "true 3-watt lights", not underdriven to extend runtime. The Mag AA will produce about 1 1/2-2 hours of fairly bright light, followed by another 3 hours of declining output; at about the 5-hour point it will be only enough light to read a newspaper by. Ditto for their other lights, but with longer initial brightness. This is in sharp contrast to a light with true regulation (check runtime plot for Inova T3 or UK 4AA), where output remains virtually unchanged, then drops off suddenly to almost zero. Mag's justification: the performance of a semi-regulated circuit is superior to the runtime characteristic of an incandescent (Mag) light, but is similar in character: a period of initial brightness, followed by gradual decline. Mag feels that this is ok since it is inline with the expectation of most people who would purchase a Mag LED (primarily people who own Mag incandescents).
With respect to shipping, according to the national sales manager of Mag, who was nice enough to converse with me several times over the last few weeks, the shipping times I quoted are fairly firm.
To be fair, in my conversations with the fellow at Mag, it's fair to say that he IS NOT a flashaholic, he does not have the depth of knowledge regarding LED lights that some of us here at CPF have. But he has been really nice, patiently answering all of my questions to the best of his ability. And this IS a first step for Mag.....no doubt there will be a growth process, just as with other manufacturers.
Bottom line: be charitable, Mag is at least making a step in the right direction, And their introdusction of LED lights will help all of us, by advancing the cause in which we so strongly believe.
I guess we'll all see, won't we?:lolsign:
. I've been a viewer of this forum for a long time and never felt "enlightened" enough to join. But I'm looking forward to becoming a flashaholic
. 
