Candlepowers, lumens & lightvalue

Meanwhile i do not believe these candlepower ratings. And i cant figure out how bright a 60 lumen beam is and how far the beam goes.
Couldn't we build a list of flashlights with both (or more) classifications ? I know that the scorpion has 6500 CandlePowers and the E2 has 60 Lumen ? But how many Lumen has the scorpion and how many CandlePowers has the E2?

I found a list of flashlights which brightnes is rated and classified by a experimental arrangement. Are the values and differences realistic ?

You can find the List under :
web page


here is the table (scroll down please, maybe the ubb-software cant handle tables?):

<table BORDER=0 CELLSPACING=3 CELLPADDING=5>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">Art. Nr.</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">Bezeichnung</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">Batterien</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">Lichtwert 1</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">Brenndauer 2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">PN.01.021</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">Princt. VorTec - Halogen</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">4 AA</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">60</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">4 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1"> </td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">- Krypton</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1"> </td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">25</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">9 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">PN.01.001</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">Princt. Solo - Halogen</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">2 AA</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">25</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">4 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1"> </td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">- Krypton</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1"> </td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">17</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">7 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">PN.01.011</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">Princt. Quest</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">2 AA</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">17</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">7 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">PN.01.11E</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">Princt. Rage</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">4 AAA</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">60</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">2 bis 3 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">PN.01.10E</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">Princt. Blas</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">2 AAA</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">20</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">2 bis 3 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">PN.01.12E</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">Princt. Tec20</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">2 AA</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">25</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">4 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">PN.01.13E</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">Princt. Tec40</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">4 AA</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">70</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">4 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">UK.01.002</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">UK Mini Pocket Light</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">2 AAA</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">15</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">3 Std. </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">UK.01.011</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">UK Q40</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">4 AA</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">70</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">5 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">UK.01.022</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">UK SL4</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">4 C</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">130</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">6 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">TW.01.401</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">Peli Prod. KingLite</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">8 D</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">350</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">10 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">TW.01.422</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">Peli Prod. VersaBrite II</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">2 AA</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">20</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">5 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">HM.01.052</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">Mag-Lite Solitare</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">1 AAA</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">5</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">5 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">HM.01.101</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">Mag-Lite AAA</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">2 AAA</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">9</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">7 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">HM.01.001</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">Mag-Lite AA</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">2 AA</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">20</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">7 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">HM.01.056</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">Mag-Lite 2 C</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">2 C</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">35</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">8 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">HM.01.057</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">Mag-Lite 3 C</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">3 C</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">65</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">8 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">HM.01.051</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">Mag-Lite 2 D</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">2 D</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">35</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">16 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">HM.01.052</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">Mag-Lite 3 D</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">3 D</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">65</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">16 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">HM.01.053</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">Mag-Lite 4 D</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">4 D</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">85</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">16 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">HM.01.054</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">Mag-Lite 5 D</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">5 D</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">130</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">16 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">HM.01.055</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">Mag-Lite 6 D</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">6 D</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">150</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">16 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">KB.01.001</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">Petzl Zoom - Halogen</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">1 Flachbatt.</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">75</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">5 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1"> </td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">- Standard</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1"> </td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">20</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">17 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">KB.01.002</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">Petzl Micro - Halogen</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">2 AA</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">30</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">3 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1"> </td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">- Standard</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1"> </td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">12</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">8 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">KB.01.005</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">Petzl Mega - Halogen</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">3 C/AA</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">75</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">7 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1"> </td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">- Standard</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1"> </td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">20</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">26 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">KB.01.004</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">Petzl Duo - Halogen</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">4 AA</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">60</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">4 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1"> </td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">- Standard</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1"> </td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">20</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">11 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">RD.01.001</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">Kobold Stirnlampe</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">4 AA</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">12</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">8 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">RD.01.035</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">DiVlash Stirnlampe</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">2 AA</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">20</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">6 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">HM.01.201</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">Mag-Lite Charger</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">(Akku)</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">150</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">1,5 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">TB.01.011</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">Streamlite Scorpion</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">2 DL123A (Lith.)</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">130</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">1 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">TB.01.001</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">Streamlite Stinger</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">(Akku)</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">150</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">1 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">FT.01.161</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">Globetrotter</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">2 AA</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">20</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">6 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">FT.01.151</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">Globetrotter Stretch</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">2 AA</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">25</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">4 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">RD.01.011</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">Solar-Lampe</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">(Akku)</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">15</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">0,6 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">RD.01.013</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">2 in 1 - Neon</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">4 AA</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">50</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">5 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1"> </td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">- Strahler</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1"> </td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">35</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">7 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">IN.01.111</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">Phorm Light Voyager</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">4 AA</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">20</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">10 Std.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">OJ.01.001</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">Osram Dulox</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">4 AA</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">35</td>
<td VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#dfceae" ID="text1">2,5 Std.</td>
</table>

We have to discuss some way of allowing for comparisons of different lights.

But there are also things like beam colour and quality, length of the beam throw, and probably many other things that I can't think of. I have just recently seen a Sure-Fire beam, and was mightily impressed with the sheer quality of the white light. So that's a new consideration for me, personally.

We have real experts on this board - what do we do about some setting of a standard or standards ?

papasan, I challenge you to come up with an idea ...

KenB, do you have any thoughts on this ?

Al, would Sure-Fires still beat all the rest ?

Lite-lover

I just got a light meter from E-bay that has a 0-10, 0-50 and 0-100 foot candles rating. In any case I should be able to take measurements from all the lights and compare them that way. I figure even if the meter is off a bit all the readings should be relative to one another.

But yes, beam color, smootheness and size all play in to the light output also. Not to mention the size, shape and weight of the light itself, and then the batteries, the list goes on and on.

Oh I have to thank Busbar (it was Busbar right?) for the scale. I am going to add the weight of each flashlight to my list for comparative sake.

Brock

hmmmmm...

I find that the shear brilliant white light from a SureFire (and from what I can read, other Lithium DL123A flashlights) greatly helps you see more quickly. This is one of the reasons apart from the flawless beam that I find I need to use only short bursts of light from my SureFires to take in more information.

Colour Temperature is very important.
So is Beam Angle (of both central spot and total beam)

I agree that a standard measurement system should be created.

Brock's photo comparisons are the best I've found to date...

Well, hmmm...useing lightmeters, while not perfect, is the only thing I can see...perhaps adding a cone or cup to it to insure the surround beam is included in the total measurment...but people did not seem to interested in that before...so I guess just light meters alone will have to do. At least it would tell us how they compare at the center beam...and by taking measurments at differant distances we might get some idea of beam spread...or the lights ability to focus down...

Well if as standards, we adopt say the Mag 3D, and from what I've read on LED stuff the Photon (3 ?), then what do people think of that ?

The Mag range is also probably still the standard that most non-flashlight aware can relate to.

Not suggesting that these are the best, but they seem the most widely distributed.

I really like the SF beam spread, and am surprised at how much sense the distribution of the light makes, certainly at the closer ranges, but I really, ideally, want to have a centre spot on my lights too.

KenB, the light collector idea is a good thing I think, especially for focusable torches, but for it to make real sense, would you meter from outside the cone adjacent to the source, or at the point, on the inside ?

Are we at the point where our leaders can agree a stars out of ten system, even if not *scientifically* objective ?

Certainly, you couldn't rate Audio equipment on measurements alone, if at all.

Lite-lover, very seriously

Well there is one thing I just don`t know at this point...will different brands...types of lightmeters register the same? If not they would need to be adjust so they are...if it can be done...my thought are...well, lets say we determine all GE 60 watt standard lights are the same in brightness...so using that as a referance point we adjust them all to read the same at 1 foot...lets say Brock says his shows mmm 60 lumens at one foot...we would have to adjust ours at home to give the same reading...either by turning a screw...or moving our lightmeter closer/farther from the meter and marking it...if this can be done then you could say my light puts out x candle power and I could say mine is not as bright it only reads Y...but at this point I just don`t have a clue whether this is fesable...one thing that may help is if we all agree on a standard inexpensive light meter...hmmm, anyone else have any thoughts

There already IS a standard: one lumen (of luminous flux) = 1.464 x 10-3 W at 555 nm.

Go HERE for a good discussion about lumen, lux, candelas, candle power, and the conversion factors.

Walt

Surely there must be a company that can perform tests and give us output characteristics for the flashlight beams...

Would Universities have such equipment? The Physics Departments would be a good place to start asking.

Are there research establishments that have interests in this?

Where/how do Flashlight Companies measure the output of their products?

Al

OK, so there is easy comparability between Sure-Fire products, because they are all lumen rated.
It makes still more sense when you consider that (as far as I know) all S-F's have the same beam characteristics, that is 70% in the centre, and the rest evenly distributed.

Walt, can that be applied to a focusable light, a Mag-Charger or 3D ? I mean, even if we rate it in lumens, at what focus setting would we rate it ?

Is a lumen rating applicable to an area light, like a flourescent for example ?

KenB, I'm thinking that any reasonably accurate lightmeter would do. Would it not be the case that the measured differences between two of the same light would be in a greater range than the *tolerances* of a meter ? Especially if calibrated as you suggest.

Umm, ghost, was ist "Lichtwert" und "Brenndauer", and what units are they measured in ?

Lite-Lover

Is a lumen rating applicable to an area light, like a flourescent for example ?



Yep. Lumens is a measure of the Total light output of a light source in all directions- every last photon of light that leaves it- that is what lumens are a measure of.

Something like Beam Candelas refers to the peak spot brightness of a focussed source of light like a flashlight beam or LED- that is how bright it is at a given point from a given distance away. A tightly focussed beam will be brighter at a given point than a wider beam, with the exact same light source, however they will both still emit the same total amount of light.

Now I don`t really pretend to understand measurement of light beam characteristics any further (you could probably do a whole 4-year university degree on the subject!!), but I do know that you ideally need to describe a number of things to describe a beam. A reasonably good measure could be total light output, and beam half-angle, ie the angle from the centre of the beam to the point where it is 50% of the brightness in the centre. This could work for round Sure-Fire like beams but not for odd beams full of rings and holes- so something else would be needed.
And of course it`s been said many times before, but the definitive way to know what a particular light is like is to see it for yourself- we all have slightly different ideas of what makes a good beam for a particular application, which is the big disadvantage of buying online- even if things like total lumen output, beam candelas, half angle, colour temperature, etc, are given. Beam profile photos are a good help (though GlowBug is the only commercial site that comes close to showing that- and they only have diagrams) but you really won`t be 100% certain how good it is until you get it in your hand and shine it about.

Confusing subject, isn`t it?!

Go back and really READ the reference I give above. You will see that you are trying to quantify a non isotropic light. Worse, the beam angle of the lights is not specified. This makes comparison between flashlights based upon the manufacturer's data impossible.

No simple testing methodology will rigorously define light beam characteristics.

Walt

ChrisM.: you said...

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Yep. Lumens is a measure of the Total light output of a light source in all directions- every last photon of light that leaves it- that is what lumens are a measure of.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

This is not true. You are describing IRRADIANCE, or total radiometric flux per unit area, or flux density. Lumens refer to ILLUMINANCE, or photometric flux per unit area, or visible flux density.

Irradiance refers to all the light being irradiated, illuminance is all the light you can see.

Walt

Walt- thanks for pointing that out, it`s all quite new to me so I wasn`t aware of that before.