AMONDO OR COSTCO/HARBOR

VegasSteve777

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Dec 6, 2006
Messages
58
Location
Las Vegas, Nevada
DOES ANYONE IN HERE REALLY KNOW THE DIFFERENCE (LUMEN, C.P., THROW, COLOR AND SIZE/WEIGHT) DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE TWO HID SPOTLIGHTS?? I'VE READ THAT THE AMONDO IS A BIT MORE FAVORABLE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME GREAT RAVES ON THE COSTCO/HARBOR FOR THE PRICE, WITH EXCEPTION TO THE REFLECTOR??

I CAN'T SEEM TO FIND THE DIMENSIONS OF THE AMONDO AND HOW MUCH SMALLER IT REALLY IS COMPARED TO THE OLD COSTCO,(NOW HARBOR) HID SPOTLIGHT!!

LOOKING TO BUY A GOOD SPOTLIGHT FOR CRUISING THE FOREST AND CAVES/CAVERNS AT THE CABIN IN UTAH AND WANT THE ULTIMATE FOR THE POOR MAN THAT I AM.... SEEMS TO BE VERY CLOSE IN PRICE.

ANYONE KNOW WHERE THE BEST DEALS ARE ON THE TWO?

THANKS FOR ANY HELP:help: TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS!!

~STEVE~
 

mtbkndad

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Jan 1, 2005
Messages
1,295
VegasSteve777.
The bulbs have the same lumen ratings from the manufacturer 3200. The 4200K bulbs do a better job of lighting up natural objects.

Here is a link to my original Amondotech Illuminator announcement thread.
You will see the Costco/Harbor Freight is much heavier and much larger.
The photos on the first page are with the original prototype that had a 6,000K bulb.
The photos in the second link have a comparison with the Polarion P1 and the Illuminators with 4200K and 6000K bulbs.
The third link compares the 4200K Illuminator with an X990.
The fourth link shows the different overall illumating capacities of the Helios, Costco HID, and the Amondotech Illuminator in what I consider to be a more realistic setting then the park and the tree in terms of actual use. Pay particularly close attention to the spill photos in this link. They will show how even the transition from spill to corona to hotspot with the Illuminator as opposed to the Costco/Harbor Freight.

http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=104545&page=1&pp=30

http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=104545&page=3&pp=30

http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=104545&page=4&pp=30

https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/134293

Take Care,
mtbkndad :wave:
 

BVH

Flashaholic
Joined
Sep 25, 2004
Messages
7,023
Location
CentCalCoast
Take a look at my pic here:

http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=144346

Post #4

Two Costco/Harbor Freights on the outside and an Amondotech in the back.

HF is 13 lbs - charcoal color with black ends and stand
AT is 9 lbs - very dark blue-green with black ends and stand

HF - 15 3/5 L, 11" W (reflector end) 9" W (at stand handles) 13" H

AT - 11 1/2" L, 8" W (reflector end) 5" W (at body) 9 1/2" H

I wouldn't want to do a lot of walking around with the Costco/HF. It really is heavy. Both lights use the same ballast and bulb and are 35 watt. The beam from the AT is much nicer and the color temp of the AT is 4200 vrs the HF at 5000. 4200 is a far superior color temp in my opinion. To me, there is no contest - get the AT. The advantage of the HF is it will throw a bit further but at the sacrifice of a little wider hotspot from the AT.

You can only get the AT with the 4200K lamp at Amondotech. Other sell the light with a 6000K lamp - it way too purple for my tastes.

Mtbkndad, I don't see AT on the CPF discount thread. Does he give CPF members a discount?
 
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mtbkndad

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Jan 1, 2005
Messages
1,295
BVH,

I believe, if there is still a CPF discount, the buyer would need to click on the original link in the announcement thread that was posted after all early buyers got a chance to get one.
I will have to ask about that.
I forgot about the CPF discount thread and do not believe I ever mentioned it to Wayne.

Take Care,
mtbkndad :wave:
 
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