For those of you who were interested in the first preview of this light, this update should help answer some of your questions, and perhaps inspire new ones.
As mentioned before, this light will be offered in several versions; 5W/3W reflector/lens combinations. This preview will concentrait on one of those versions, the 3W Luxeon with a new redesigned custom reflector. Redesigning and tailoring the design of the reflector for the 3 watt Luxeon allows the maximum performance to be extracted from this new 3 watt LED. By maximum performance, we are talking peak beam power, or light throwing capability. While different users have different expectations and desires from their illumination tools, most share a common desire for a flashlight that can project a briliant even spot of light on distant scenes. By all measures, this light approaches the utopia of compact super brightness in solid state lighting.
First, let's take a look at the physical appearance and features of the light.
The overall demensions and design remain basically the same, with a few changes:
Yes, that is type III hard anodize (HA) for the toughest surface with the highest level of resistance to scratches and other environmental hazards. Also note the addition of a clickie tailcap switch with button guard to prevent accidental operation, and which also retains the ability to stand the light on end in 'candle' mode. New also is the diamond knurl which replaces the spiral knurl on the prototype previewed last time.
Overall fit and finish is excellent as usual, being superbly crafted by Chris at TnC. The threads are tight and precise, providing for very smooth operation. No flaws, scratches or other cosmetic defects are visible even on very close inspection using 2.5X magnification.
The ballance and feel of the flashlight in the hand is great, insuring comfortable long term use without fatigue. A 1.5 mm thick glass front lens and o-ring seals provide water tight operation to 100 ft depth.
Inside, a redesigned DC/DC power converter/regulator controls power from 2 CR123 lithium cells to the Luxeon, while maintaining in excess of 90% efficiency for maximum battery life. A no epoxy, all mechanical fastener construction internally allows for ease of upgrade in the future as LED technologies improve over time. This light won't become obsolete as newer, brighter LEDs are produced, as it can be easily upgraded to remain state of the art.
Performance wise, there is no comparable flashlight available. The redesigned DC/DC regulator and reflector squeezes every possible photon out of the 3 watt Luxeon, and directs them all out the business end in one mean beam. Etreme brightness and super collimation give this flashlight unrivaled performance for it's size and weight.
Sorry, no beam shots or lightmeter measurements at this time. Some details will remian unpublished until the final design tweeks are finished, and formal introduction of this flashlight early next year. But initial field test indicate performance beyond anything seen to date, with a useful working distance out beyond several hundred meters; and that's no exageration.
MJ has done a superb job on the design of this flashlight, finding a perfect ballance between size, weight, and performance. This will certainly be one of the best flashlights available in 2004 and will set a new benchmark in performance for portable hand held illumination.
While no final price is available at this time, you can express your interest here to help determine the size of the initial production, and therefore help keep that price as low as possible for this custom built light.
- Preveiwed by Lambda 16 Dec 2003
As mentioned before, this light will be offered in several versions; 5W/3W reflector/lens combinations. This preview will concentrait on one of those versions, the 3W Luxeon with a new redesigned custom reflector. Redesigning and tailoring the design of the reflector for the 3 watt Luxeon allows the maximum performance to be extracted from this new 3 watt LED. By maximum performance, we are talking peak beam power, or light throwing capability. While different users have different expectations and desires from their illumination tools, most share a common desire for a flashlight that can project a briliant even spot of light on distant scenes. By all measures, this light approaches the utopia of compact super brightness in solid state lighting.
First, let's take a look at the physical appearance and features of the light.
The overall demensions and design remain basically the same, with a few changes:
Yes, that is type III hard anodize (HA) for the toughest surface with the highest level of resistance to scratches and other environmental hazards. Also note the addition of a clickie tailcap switch with button guard to prevent accidental operation, and which also retains the ability to stand the light on end in 'candle' mode. New also is the diamond knurl which replaces the spiral knurl on the prototype previewed last time.
Overall fit and finish is excellent as usual, being superbly crafted by Chris at TnC. The threads are tight and precise, providing for very smooth operation. No flaws, scratches or other cosmetic defects are visible even on very close inspection using 2.5X magnification.
The ballance and feel of the flashlight in the hand is great, insuring comfortable long term use without fatigue. A 1.5 mm thick glass front lens and o-ring seals provide water tight operation to 100 ft depth.
Inside, a redesigned DC/DC power converter/regulator controls power from 2 CR123 lithium cells to the Luxeon, while maintaining in excess of 90% efficiency for maximum battery life. A no epoxy, all mechanical fastener construction internally allows for ease of upgrade in the future as LED technologies improve over time. This light won't become obsolete as newer, brighter LEDs are produced, as it can be easily upgraded to remain state of the art.
Performance wise, there is no comparable flashlight available. The redesigned DC/DC regulator and reflector squeezes every possible photon out of the 3 watt Luxeon, and directs them all out the business end in one mean beam. Etreme brightness and super collimation give this flashlight unrivaled performance for it's size and weight.
Sorry, no beam shots or lightmeter measurements at this time. Some details will remian unpublished until the final design tweeks are finished, and formal introduction of this flashlight early next year. But initial field test indicate performance beyond anything seen to date, with a useful working distance out beyond several hundred meters; and that's no exageration.
MJ has done a superb job on the design of this flashlight, finding a perfect ballance between size, weight, and performance. This will certainly be one of the best flashlights available in 2004 and will set a new benchmark in performance for portable hand held illumination.
While no final price is available at this time, you can express your interest here to help determine the size of the initial production, and therefore help keep that price as low as possible for this custom built light.
- Preveiwed by Lambda 16 Dec 2003
