Newbie here needs a new light.. please help

I need a new LED with the following specs

1. About 100 - 150 lumens (actually if it is possible to be brighter, I'm not complaining... )
2. Regulated for about 3 hours before dropping
3. Runs preferably on AAs, but I can live with CR123As as well
4. Not too long, big or bulky, say not more than 6in in length... 7in absolute MAX..

Budget of $50 or less. :lolsign:

It can be off the shelf or modded one...

Does such a light even exist?

Please help

What about Elektrolumen's little friend?

The Elektrolumens little friend is a sweet light, but isn't it significantly more than 50USD? And the runtime on high is only 30minutes. But man, it seems to be BRIGHT! And est 200 lumens in that size is pretty awesome.

I seem to recommend the Fenix L2D to almost everybody regardless of use, but it's a very good light, on of the best, even regardless of price.

Estimated 110lumens, different modes of brightness, good UI, good runtimes (2h on max, 60hours on low!) and runs on alkaline AAs(but you should really considering using nimhs, the light are designed for that, and it's a cheap longtime solution). And if you buy from fenix-store with the cpf discount, you'll stay in budget too.
Reviewed here:
http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/fenix_l1dce-l2dce.htm

A budget offer, if you dont mind using rechargable 18650s is the U2-style light from Dealextreme:

1 U2-style Cree flashlight that has good very good reviews here(considering the price) and seems to be insanely bright.
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1285
Reviews:
http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=152932
http://www.lightreviews.info/

1 18650-charger.
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.936

1 18650-battery.
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1213

All for 37USD shipped, pretty good deal.

L2D CE

http://fenix-store.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_50&products_id=195

Runs on 2 AA batteries, in regulation for about 2.5 hours at 100+ lumens, for close to 4 hours at around 80 lumens.

Costs about $55 and I think you can get them Canada.

Here is a review:

http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/fenix_l1dce-l2dce.htm

the U2-style Cree flashlight sounds good. exactly how bright is that thing?? One more thing. it is advertised as regulated, but from the graph, it sure doesn't appear so. any thoughts??

I've encountered the Fenix before. Good light for the $$$

are there anymore out there that meets my criteria...

Along with the 2 other suggestions I agree with (L2D-CE and U2-Style Cree from DX), I'd also recommend the following:

1. Ultrafire C2 from DX (<$23 shipped), can run on primaries or rechargeables for more flexible power options

2. Huntlight FT-01 LuxIII version with SSC P4 LED - if you don't mind doing a simple mod, you can just swap the emitter and have >100 lumens for <$50.

Tessaiga said:

One more thing. it is advertised as regulated, but from the graph, it sure doesn't appear so. any thoughts??

Click to expand...

I would suspect that it's not, it's just using the natural flat output of the 18650 for regulation, but since you get an hour before it drops to 50%(before you can actually notice any difference) I wouldn't pay that much attention to that. All 18650 lights I've seen seems to be the same in this regard. Allthough the runtime on dealextreme site is on is based on the old version. It's the new 1200mAh version they claim is regulated. Would be interesting to see the runtime graph on the new version, if it actually is regulated.

And about how bright it is, there doesn't seem to any good figures, since the one on Dealextreme are based on the previous version. But someone in the above thread I posted, said "Kicks my L2D CE´s *** easily ...".
So I'm guessing it's pretty bright. However, I think the L2D is a better multipurpose allround light, and significantly easier to carry.

Tessaiga said:

the U2-style Cree flashlight sounds good. exactly how bright is that thing?? One more thing. it is advertised as regulated, but from the graph, it sure doesn't appear so. any thoughts??

I've encountered the Fenix before. Good light for the $$$

are there anymore out there that meets my criteria...

Click to expand...

I have one of these, its easily the brightest single LED light I have. It runs for about 2 hours on high with a crappy Tenergy 18650. You'd probably get closer to 3 hours with an AW cell.

Hey Benighted
Do you happen to know which version you got?

Lobo said:

Hey Benighted
Do you happen to know which version you got?

Click to expand...

I don't know but it looks to be the same brightness on 2 lithium primaries

Edit: also when I did the runtime test on the 18650 it didn't seem to dim at all before it cut out.

The Fenix L2D CE

Another vote for Fenix L2D CE.

L2D-CE