russelwallace
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2014
- Messages
- 5
I am trying to decide between the Black Diamond Icon (the new, 2012 or 200 lumen version, which seems to be a completely revamped version and almost a clone of the Princeton Tec Apex) and the Spark SX5 as a herping as well as general night-hiking/camping headlamp. I have settled on these two because they seem reliable, robust, more or less "waterproof" (maybe not for diving, but at least in heavy rains and a dunking or two), and have appropriate power sources (AA, rechargeable or otherwise). Looking for herps means that I need relatively decent lux -- the higher the better -- and a typical session lasts for 6-8 hours, so this output should be able to last this long.
On paper, the BD Icon seems, at first, spectacular -- 200 lumens for 80 hrs?? The Spark SX5, in contrast, reports 180 lumens for 4.2 hours.
However, on close inspection of the specs, I find that the BD Icon's 200 lumen output is the regulated "high" output which only lasts for the first 25% of the battery life. Does anyone know how long this is in terms of clock time using, e.g. alkaline or lithium AA's? And what is the light fall-off after that (e.g., am I looking at a rapid decline to a < 50 lumens, after which things just hang in there till it burns out, or is it a gradual decline)? If I decide, somewhat arbitrarily, that 100 lumens is my "useful" lighting, how can I figure how much actual time the BD Icon can give me at this level and above? I have read that driver in the BD Icon is similar if not the same as the Princeton Tec Apex, so if anyone has this data from the PT Apex that would be great.
If the BD Icon puts out 100 lumens only for, e.g., a couple of hours, then the Spark SX5 is the clear winner, if, as I suspect, its reported performance is actual regulated performance. If, on the other hand, the BD Icon takes a long enough time to fall out of regulated burn, and even then continues to kick out decent lumens for several hours, then it would have the edge, I think.
Do any of you good folk have any information that might be able to help here?
On paper, the BD Icon seems, at first, spectacular -- 200 lumens for 80 hrs?? The Spark SX5, in contrast, reports 180 lumens for 4.2 hours.
However, on close inspection of the specs, I find that the BD Icon's 200 lumen output is the regulated "high" output which only lasts for the first 25% of the battery life. Does anyone know how long this is in terms of clock time using, e.g. alkaline or lithium AA's? And what is the light fall-off after that (e.g., am I looking at a rapid decline to a < 50 lumens, after which things just hang in there till it burns out, or is it a gradual decline)? If I decide, somewhat arbitrarily, that 100 lumens is my "useful" lighting, how can I figure how much actual time the BD Icon can give me at this level and above? I have read that driver in the BD Icon is similar if not the same as the Princeton Tec Apex, so if anyone has this data from the PT Apex that would be great.
If the BD Icon puts out 100 lumens only for, e.g., a couple of hours, then the Spark SX5 is the clear winner, if, as I suspect, its reported performance is actual regulated performance. If, on the other hand, the BD Icon takes a long enough time to fall out of regulated burn, and even then continues to kick out decent lumens for several hours, then it would have the edge, I think.
Do any of you good folk have any information that might be able to help here?