Osprey_Guy
Enlightened
\"Newbie\" to the world of flashlights, and the CPF!
I only just recently got "sucked in" to the world flashlights (it's been all of three weeks). Read about you guys in one of my knife forums (I'm a part-time maker).
Shortly before learning about the CPF, I had stopped into the nearby Target, and on a whim bought one of the Dorcy 1 watt Luxeons. Not too shabby...not too shabby at all! Puts out a surprising amount of good-looking, white light for $25! (from what I've read here, sounds like I'm one of the lucky ones as my light is nice and white!). /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
That was followed soon after by another Luxeon purchase...This time a 3 watt. I thought I was being real clever having found what seemed to be a pretty good buy (The fact that I hadn't seen this light, or the dealer, mentioned anywhere in the CPF should have been my first clue):
http://www.quality-items-flashlights.com/product_info.php?products_id=100
Boy was I dissapointed! I wanted something fairly small to carry in my shoulder bag...and not yet knowing any better, I figured that N cells would be a good way to go. I knew that the three N cells with this light would of course put out less juice than the 3 AAA's in the Dorcy, but in my naivite, I had assumed the 3 watt would at least be as bright. I was wrong!!
It did get a little better after I replaced the batteries with fresh ones, but it's a rather yellowish light,...One which I thought seemed surprisingly soft for what's supposed to be a narrow, 10 degree beam (you're given a choice when ordering). It also has an odd, very distinctive "line" coming out from the center of the beam,..not quite a straight line as it goes out in both directions from the center at about a 160 degree angle (I don't know what causes that...perhaps one of you can tell me). I've since learned that the N cells were not exactly the best choice for a Luxeon...not by a long shot! I was naive and actually believed the <font color="red">following warning </font> (found on the right-hand side of the page linked above, as well as all the other Luxeon light pages-See "brightest lights" for their other Luxeon offerings):
<font color="red">"Watch out for Chinese flashlights that use CR123 Lithium batteries as they only last 2 hours & cost $10! You can use regular N batteries & even rechargeable's! CR123's are also hard to find in the U.S., let alone internationally."</font>
Since none of their "private label" Luxeons use 123's, this was obviously a very self-serving piece of propoganda!
I can't believe I would fall for that without checking it out first (I usually thoroughly check out everything before buying). I've since read through a lot of the threads here at the CPF, and have come to know better about the CR123's.
Oh well, the light doesn't totally suck, just not what I had expected, especially from a 3 watt. I thought I'd try and get NiMh N cells. (I tried NiMh AAA's in my Dorcy 1 watt...definite improvement over what is an already OK light).
Yesterday I placed an order for a Nuwai Q-III...This time I read the reviews first (LedMuseum and FlashlightReviews). It's very much the size I had in mind for an EDC, and it sounds like I'll get a lot of bang for the buck coming right out of the package (I'm not yet at all ready to start trying any mods). I'm looking forward to receiving that one! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
All-in-all it's been fun so far...although one thing I didn't need just now was yet another addictive hobby (and the Forums to help enable the addiction)! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I only just recently got "sucked in" to the world flashlights (it's been all of three weeks). Read about you guys in one of my knife forums (I'm a part-time maker).
Shortly before learning about the CPF, I had stopped into the nearby Target, and on a whim bought one of the Dorcy 1 watt Luxeons. Not too shabby...not too shabby at all! Puts out a surprising amount of good-looking, white light for $25! (from what I've read here, sounds like I'm one of the lucky ones as my light is nice and white!). /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
That was followed soon after by another Luxeon purchase...This time a 3 watt. I thought I was being real clever having found what seemed to be a pretty good buy (The fact that I hadn't seen this light, or the dealer, mentioned anywhere in the CPF should have been my first clue):
http://www.quality-items-flashlights.com/product_info.php?products_id=100
Boy was I dissapointed! I wanted something fairly small to carry in my shoulder bag...and not yet knowing any better, I figured that N cells would be a good way to go. I knew that the three N cells with this light would of course put out less juice than the 3 AAA's in the Dorcy, but in my naivite, I had assumed the 3 watt would at least be as bright. I was wrong!!
It did get a little better after I replaced the batteries with fresh ones, but it's a rather yellowish light,...One which I thought seemed surprisingly soft for what's supposed to be a narrow, 10 degree beam (you're given a choice when ordering). It also has an odd, very distinctive "line" coming out from the center of the beam,..not quite a straight line as it goes out in both directions from the center at about a 160 degree angle (I don't know what causes that...perhaps one of you can tell me). I've since learned that the N cells were not exactly the best choice for a Luxeon...not by a long shot! I was naive and actually believed the <font color="red">following warning </font> (found on the right-hand side of the page linked above, as well as all the other Luxeon light pages-See "brightest lights" for their other Luxeon offerings):
<font color="red">"Watch out for Chinese flashlights that use CR123 Lithium batteries as they only last 2 hours & cost $10! You can use regular N batteries & even rechargeable's! CR123's are also hard to find in the U.S., let alone internationally."</font>
Since none of their "private label" Luxeons use 123's, this was obviously a very self-serving piece of propoganda!
I can't believe I would fall for that without checking it out first (I usually thoroughly check out everything before buying). I've since read through a lot of the threads here at the CPF, and have come to know better about the CR123's.
Oh well, the light doesn't totally suck, just not what I had expected, especially from a 3 watt. I thought I'd try and get NiMh N cells. (I tried NiMh AAA's in my Dorcy 1 watt...definite improvement over what is an already OK light).
Yesterday I placed an order for a Nuwai Q-III...This time I read the reviews first (LedMuseum and FlashlightReviews). It's very much the size I had in mind for an EDC, and it sounds like I'll get a lot of bang for the buck coming right out of the package (I'm not yet at all ready to start trying any mods). I'm looking forward to receiving that one! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
All-in-all it's been fun so far...although one thing I didn't need just now was yet another addictive hobby (and the Forums to help enable the addiction)! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
