Just got my second SLS--orange-red HD--and it's *bright*.
It's #863. My old early SLS is white (pea green and lumpy) is #090.
I have to say, Peter, things have improved imensely in the time between them. I was (and still am) very happy with my #090, but I'm also very happy with #863.
Differences:
The front ring of the head unit now matches the body of the head unit.
All battery packs now match the head (all of it) in tint.
The head no longer has a raised section which is groves, but has the crosshatching inlaid--like the tubes always have.
The pitch of the crosshatching on the tubes is finer than before.
The 1AA pack has been slimmed down so that it looks more like the 2AA pack. (I can't decide if I like this. Makes it lighter, but I liked the 'bull barrel' look of the old 1AA pack)
Better chemcote
Thin foam battery retainer
Properly spiraled threads (at the end, so no more sharp corners)
New NX-05 optics
The 1AA and 2AA pack seem to be about .5 mm shorter per cell. It didn't come from the thread area as that's identical.
One question, so, is this darker color the 'proper' look for 'natural HA3'? Because my early ARC-AAA-LE matches the lighter parts and it's supposed to be natural HA3, right?
I, personally, like the look of the darker 'dung' colored HA3 vs the lighter 'tan' HA3. The darker color just looks more like a tool.
Now, to go put a 123 in it and blind the neighbors...
Oh, Peter, have you considered putting a sticker over the lens that says 'caution, avoid looking into lens when on' or something? Might be good for when this light goes mainstream and less 'clued' (crazy) people get their hands on them. Don't want grandma to blow a hole through her cataract when she stares down the barrel of one--with a fresh 123 in it--on christmas morning.