Curious_character
Flashlight Enthusiast
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2006
- Messages
- 1,211
My P1D CE came today, and I'm really happy with it.
First off, it's super bright. I can only measure the brightness of the main beam and not the overall light output. But the main beam width is very similar to the standard P1, so the overall output should be in about the same proportion as the peak brightness.
On the high setting, I measured an initial brightness of 2814 lux at one meter. The brightness is the same when using either a 3.0 volt primary CR123A or a 3.7 volt RCR123A cell, and unlike nearly all other lights I have, it drops very little from the initial value. At 5 minutes with the RCR it was 2760 lux, and 2749 at a half hour. It's really flat, even with the RCR cell. My light meter is of unknown accuracy, but it's good for comparing lights. Some other lights I've measured -- all one meter lux values 5 minutes after turn on:
Streamlight ProPoly 4AA Luxeon: 3185
Blimp (fifthunit) : 2487
Vinet (fifthunit) : 2094
P1 (3.7 V RCR) : 1658
P1 (3.0 V CR) : 1120
So it's brighter than the Blimp and nearly as bright as the ProPoly, and has a much broader beam than either. The brightness relative to the Blimp gets more pronounced as time elapses after turn-on, since the Blimp fades and the P1D CE doesn't. With a 3.0 V primary cell, it's more than twice as bright as my P1, in which I had modified the focus to maximize throw. At just about the end of the RCR discharge time, the ProPoly output has dropped to just about the level of the P1D CE.
When you put a 3.7 V rechargeable cell in a standard P1, it's a lot brighter than with a 3.0 V primary cell, but the output drops steadily to about 70% of the initial value by the end of the discharge time. In the P1D CE, the brightness is the same for the two cell types, and it's nearly dead flat (when on high) for the whole discharge period. I haven't done a run time test yet with a primary cell, but with a Battery Station RCR123A, it runs about 40 minutes on high and goes out abruptly. As other folks have noted, the medium and low settings don't operate normally when using a 3.7 V cell. On the medium setting it starts out nearly as bright as on high, but drops with time, reaching 50% of the 5 minute brightness at a little over an hour and a half. It continues putting out useful light for more than an additional half hour. I haven't done a run test on low with an RCR, or any run tests yet with a primary cell.
I see the dark ring people have been talking about, but in shining it around the back yard, I'm not aware of it unless I'm looking for it. If I shine the main beam just to the side of a light colored object, then slowly move the main beam farther away so the dark ring passes across the object, I don't see any perceptible darkening of the object as it goes by. So the ring isn't really as dark as it looks. I don't find it to be a distraction or other problem.
The P1D CE is a little longer than the P1, and a little larger in diameter. The rear of the body is the same diameter but the head flares out a little. It still goes easily in a pocket and weighs just an ounce and a half with battery. It comes with and fits in the same holster.
They've changed the mounting of the LED carrier slug -- it's not screwed in like in the P1, so we shouldn't have the problem with erratic contact that occurred in the P1. There's also a spring at the tail end, which accounts for some of the extra length.
I discovered that the light sometimes came on when I pushed it into the holster. Fortunately, it's obvious with the stock holster design. Pressing on the front of the light will turn it on unless the head is unscrewed a fair amount past the point where the light goes off. But you do reach a point where no amount of pressing will turn it on.
It's not the perfect light, but I wasn't expecting it to be. But in my opinion it's a great value and a true pocket rocket that I'm going to enjoy immensely.
Kudos to foursevens and Fenix-Store for their great job in getting these in and out so fast and efficiently. Also to Fenix for giving us another great light at a reasonable price. And doing it first.
c_c
First off, it's super bright. I can only measure the brightness of the main beam and not the overall light output. But the main beam width is very similar to the standard P1, so the overall output should be in about the same proportion as the peak brightness.
On the high setting, I measured an initial brightness of 2814 lux at one meter. The brightness is the same when using either a 3.0 volt primary CR123A or a 3.7 volt RCR123A cell, and unlike nearly all other lights I have, it drops very little from the initial value. At 5 minutes with the RCR it was 2760 lux, and 2749 at a half hour. It's really flat, even with the RCR cell. My light meter is of unknown accuracy, but it's good for comparing lights. Some other lights I've measured -- all one meter lux values 5 minutes after turn on:
Streamlight ProPoly 4AA Luxeon: 3185
Blimp (fifthunit) : 2487
Vinet (fifthunit) : 2094
P1 (3.7 V RCR) : 1658
P1 (3.0 V CR) : 1120
So it's brighter than the Blimp and nearly as bright as the ProPoly, and has a much broader beam than either. The brightness relative to the Blimp gets more pronounced as time elapses after turn-on, since the Blimp fades and the P1D CE doesn't. With a 3.0 V primary cell, it's more than twice as bright as my P1, in which I had modified the focus to maximize throw. At just about the end of the RCR discharge time, the ProPoly output has dropped to just about the level of the P1D CE.
When you put a 3.7 V rechargeable cell in a standard P1, it's a lot brighter than with a 3.0 V primary cell, but the output drops steadily to about 70% of the initial value by the end of the discharge time. In the P1D CE, the brightness is the same for the two cell types, and it's nearly dead flat (when on high) for the whole discharge period. I haven't done a run time test yet with a primary cell, but with a Battery Station RCR123A, it runs about 40 minutes on high and goes out abruptly. As other folks have noted, the medium and low settings don't operate normally when using a 3.7 V cell. On the medium setting it starts out nearly as bright as on high, but drops with time, reaching 50% of the 5 minute brightness at a little over an hour and a half. It continues putting out useful light for more than an additional half hour. I haven't done a run test on low with an RCR, or any run tests yet with a primary cell.
I see the dark ring people have been talking about, but in shining it around the back yard, I'm not aware of it unless I'm looking for it. If I shine the main beam just to the side of a light colored object, then slowly move the main beam farther away so the dark ring passes across the object, I don't see any perceptible darkening of the object as it goes by. So the ring isn't really as dark as it looks. I don't find it to be a distraction or other problem.
The P1D CE is a little longer than the P1, and a little larger in diameter. The rear of the body is the same diameter but the head flares out a little. It still goes easily in a pocket and weighs just an ounce and a half with battery. It comes with and fits in the same holster.
They've changed the mounting of the LED carrier slug -- it's not screwed in like in the P1, so we shouldn't have the problem with erratic contact that occurred in the P1. There's also a spring at the tail end, which accounts for some of the extra length.
I discovered that the light sometimes came on when I pushed it into the holster. Fortunately, it's obvious with the stock holster design. Pressing on the front of the light will turn it on unless the head is unscrewed a fair amount past the point where the light goes off. But you do reach a point where no amount of pressing will turn it on.
It's not the perfect light, but I wasn't expecting it to be. But in my opinion it's a great value and a true pocket rocket that I'm going to enjoy immensely.
Kudos to foursevens and Fenix-Store for their great job in getting these in and out so fast and efficiently. Also to Fenix for giving us another great light at a reasonable price. And doing it first.
c_c
