Gerber LX 3.0 opinions?

Hi, was wondering if anyone has this light and can comment on it's beam quality and output. I read that the throw/spill is impressive but that it's not regulated. Was curious how much runtime one would get to say 75% or 50% output?

Reviewed here. Pretty nice light.

I've seen the light in person at REI and they look quite nice (albeit very long), but I've never played with one. At a similar price, I'd also suggest looking at the Fenix L2P. Not as much output initially, but it's regulated, so it will exceed the LX 3.0's output after a while, has great regulation, and uses 1 less battery. Just another option.

Also take a look at www.flashlightreviews.com as they have a very good review on the Gerber LX 3.0, the Fenix L2P, and the Gerber TX 3.0 (similar to LX) with runtime charts and output measurements.

Smokey Mountian Knife Works has them for $39.99 #g80046.

chrome-addict said:

Hi, was wondering if anyone has this light and can comment on it's beam quality and output. I read that the throw/spill is impressive but that it's not regulated. Was curious how much runtime one would get to say 75% or 50% output?

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I received one as a gift about a year ago. The tint was greenish-yellow, and the optic wasn't centered, resulting in beam artifacts that put this light on the back burner for a possible mod. Well, the light is built like a tank and the head is epoxied on, and no one I had contacted was able to mod it - too much trouble I guess.

I decided to contact Gerber to see if I could exchange it for a better quality-controlled unit. Gerber was very accomodating, and they instructed me to send it in for a replacement. I received the replacement and although the tint was improved, the optic was, again, off-centered.

I have a lot of lights, and I knew this one wouldn't see much action, so I just gave it to a friend of mine. If it was the only light I had, I suppose I'd be happy with it, but it suffers in comparison to comparable lights such as the Fenix L2P, Elektrolumens XM-3, and the Streamlight Propolymer 4AA Luxeon.

If someone could figure out how to mod it without thrashing it, a reflector, UCL, and a TWOJ emitter could make this a pretty cool light.

Mine has been used by my wife on our evening walks (2-3 nights a week) for over a year now. Plays nicely with NiMH rechargables and she loves it for her evening walk light. She's dropped it..ummm... I would say about a half dozen times so far (usually on a concrete sidewalk) and that has caused no issues.

It gets a very strong recommendation from me.

The biggest complaint I have about mine is beamshape which is star/squarish. It would be nice if it had better regulation also.

jsr said:

I've seen the light in person at REI and they look quite nice (albeit very long), but I've never played with one. At a similar price, I'd also suggest looking at the Fenix L2P. Not as much output initially, but it's regulated, so it will exceed the LX 3.0's output after a while, has great regulation, and uses 1 less battery. Just another option.

Also take a look at www.flashlightreviews.com as they have a very good review on the Gerber LX 3.0, the Fenix L2P, and the Gerber TX 3.0 (similar to LX) with runtime charts and output measurements.

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Actually; the Fenix L2P will be dead in the water before the LX3.0 reaches 50% (at 50% the LX3.0 is still brighter than the Fenix) if standard AA alkalines are used. Also, for some reason the TX3.0 has worse battery life than the LX3.0 and less output from the same amount of batteries, very odd.


I had an LX3.0 for a while and liked it a lot. It was pretty long but was slim and EDC-able if you used a sheath. I actually like square beams so that did not bother me and it is a true screamer, one of the brightest stock LuxIII lights; very bright and very white with a good beam that is the best of both throw/spill.

I actually probably would not have sold the darn thing if I had known it would handle NiMH batteries.

spoonrobot said:

.... Also, for some reason the TX3.0 has worse battery life than the LX3.0 and less output from the same amount of batteries, very odd..

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Some of the difference may be due to the contact resistance of the TX3.0's tactical switch, a feature not shared with the LX3.0.

I think it's a good light, good quality with good combination of spot and spill light. I think it is a good light for the non-flashaholic since it is not overly expensive and runs on AA's. For my own use I prefer my 2CR123 lights, but "we" know the secrets for buying batteries.

I've got an LX3 and really like it. The beam is just a hair off center, but not bad (not nearly as bad as an infinity ultra). The square beam is a bit odd, but not a problem for general use. It bothers me when I go white wall hunting, but that's it. Tint is great.

As far as battery life, I usually get 3-4 hours of really good light, then feel like it's time for new batteries (still running, just dimmer). The batteries then get fed to the infinity ultra...

Personally it's my favorite general use light--would be nice if shorter and regulated, but no big deal. Also I'd prefer HAIII---mine is getting marked up a bit.

Actually the lack of regulation makes it easy to tell when you need new batteries...but I certainly like good regulation.

The main reason I picked this light (and still love it) is the AA battery. I often go hiking with my camera. (35mm). Since I'm carrying spare AAs for the external flash, I wanted a bright light that could share backup batteries. I usually take the infinity ultra also, just in case I need longer burntime (3+ hours a set is pretty darn good, however). Besides, if my family goes with me, I needed enough light to escort everyone home.

It's too big to carry everywhere you go, but perfect for a fannypack or something.

Personally I highly recommend it.

Note: I also really like my inova T1--but when I'm carrying all the camera stuff, I do not want any more battery types than necessary.

Anyway, pm me if you want more details. It's a fine light, will serve you for years, uses common batteries. If you want a "perfect" light, this is probably not it, but for general use it's great.

I think quite highly of the Gerber LX3.0 and have made several posts about it. I've consolidated my thoughts and wrote a REVIEW.

73
dim

chrome-addict said:

Hi, was wondering if anyone has this light and can comment on it's beam quality and output. I read that the throw/spill is impressive but that it's not regulated. Was curious how much runtime one would get to say 75% or 50% output?

Click to expand...

DIM did a very nice write up. You can also see some older notes I made in one of my infamous "Real World Field Tests" where I use the LX3.0 as a comparison light against the new (at the time) River Rock lights.

Also the first posting on the "you know you've made a convert when" thread.

Hope that helps some.

P.S. found the runtime graph I did on NiMH batts... It's post #11 on this THREAD

I have and love the TX version. The rear clickie is a nice feature. Beam is a tad square but it's way bright. I run NiHM's in it. It's built like a tank. I've added a wrist lanyard for running trails at night. I would buy it again. Great value.

GSB

I really like mine. I have brighter lights, but it is nice to have one that runs on AA's. It has the whitest beam of all my leds. I have had mine close to a year and have had no problems with it. I like that it will run with good regulation on nimh, but I bought a 18 AA pack for an emergency for $8. That would only buy 4 123A's

I recomend it highly. I wish inova would make a light with that kind of sidespill. If I could combine the LX3 with my T5, I would have the perfect light.

I don't understand why it can't run on Lithium AAs. I know Gerber doesn't endorse it, but I don't see a scientific reason why it won't work, except that possibly they're counting on the alkalines to drop source voltage during load, reducing the actual voltage the Lux3 sees to about 3.6 vs. 4.5 and Li AAs don't drop as much voltage?
I never really liked DD LED lights until I modded my TM-313X to run DD off a 14500. I think I still don't like DD lights off standard alkalines as then it's just like running a whiter beam maglite, but off NiMH or LiIon I'm starting to really like them.

From other posts and Quickbeam's review I would not recomend lithiums in the LX3. Lithium AA's are rated at 1.7 volts each instead of 1.5. Nimh will give the flattest burn in terms of brightness and it is free wattage.

If you read the faq on Gerber's site, they actually say lithiums are ok. Have not tried it, do not intend to; however, for what it's worth...

I would be concerned about the voltage issue, personally.


The link to the appropriate faq is

http://www.gerbergear.com/faq.php