That is where I was looking at them from. Will arrive nice and fast too although they also sell the Fenix EO1 which is in second place.
Here's a highly simplified flowchart that might help you to choose the correct one:
The flowchart is based on my own experience, except that I wasn't able to select one, but decided to buy them all.. ;)
Oh man that flow chart must win post of the week! Nice one.
Impressive chart, but it is missing too many options/flashlights. Clip needed or not eg. ... A3, PD03A, LD01 and more missing. You had already picked out those specific 8 lights before you made the chart, didn't you?
For sure :D I like those flow chars, very useful ;)
But... I will add Lumintop Worm II or ITP A3/Olight I3 for "$20 or less". Thrunite is quite bright at the beginning, but has NO regulation at all.
Right. I investigated many weeks, read multiple reviews, selected (based on my own needs), hand picked and bought those lights before making the chart. :)
I agree that I missed many lights, but those were not good for me for some reasons. For example I don't need or even want a clip in a keychain light.
Here some photos / white wall beamshots of the lights mentioned in the chart.
From left to right: DQG Tiny II, Thrunite Ti, Thrunite Ti Firefly, Klarus Mi X6 SS, CQG S1, Ultrafire SA-R2
These white wall beamshots are all taken with the following settings: 1/30s f/8 ISO200 White Balance: Daylight (5500K)
Some lows were "too low" for these settings, resulting to black frame => longer exposures of them are included in the next section.
DQG Tiny II (High):
Thrunite Ti (High, Low)
Thrunite Ti Firefly (High)
Klarus Mi X6 (High, Med)
CQG S1 (High)
Ultrafire SA-R2 (High, Med, Low)
Low modes with longer exposure (1/2s f/8 ISO200 WB: Daylight)
DQG Tiny II (Low)
Thrunite Ti (Low)
Thrunite Ti Firefly (Low)
Klarus Mi X6 (Low)
Wow _The_ you really have gone above an beyond on those two posts.
I kept coming to the Thrunite Ti when I followed your flowchart so it has affirmed my thoughts.
Firefly or not?
IMHO the firefly mode is too low for EDC, but then again, for some reason, my Thrunite Ti Firefly has nicer tint.. (see above white wall shots)
The one with the 3 Lumen low I think
Awesome flow chart. Now make one for each form factor =P
Yeah the base idea behind that is great. Is there something like Google Docs for flow charts so we could do this with the whole BLF as a community effort ? Google Drawings might be suitable.
Are you aware that tha that is like the Flow Chart we invented at Harvard?
The Ti's from flashaholics are the type with the 3 lumens low. The first ones has a very very very low of 0.003 lumens or something. Only any good for map reading with night adjusted eyes, otherwise far to low. But then some people in the field (or desert) would find that low low low useful.
I have to say the above graph showing the piss poor regulation has put me right off the light! Dam those graphs!!!!
One that I didnt see mentioned was the more expensive but powerful Illumina Ti. 125 lumens from 1xAAA.
http://www.batteryjunction.com/titanium-innovations-ca1-ti-s2.html
Another fascinating light is the MBI Torpedo which a dude at CPF is building himself! Claims 500 lumens with Li Ion and 200 with NiMh using an XM-L emitter. Pretty cool!
500 Lumen in a AAA format... my god that is insane... in a bad way... runtime like 1 minute on high... not to mention the generated heat
Wow, really impressed with those Ultrafire SA-R2 shots :O What batt did you use? NiMh or 10440?
+2!
My personal EDC as well and I really like it. Awesome quality hand-made little light.
It has also has 3 other modes: 1,10,100 lumens, uses LiMn IMR batteries, overheat protection (& boy its really going to that). $65 estimated price.
Sounds insane good to me! Only needs a built in micro usb charger & I might go for it. A couple tritium slots (empty) would be sweet. $65 isn't budget but compared to the prices od other custom lights its cheap.
10440 @3.93V, TC currents 1.10A, 0.49A & 0.13A