The Pro has slightly lower lumens output at 226, a bit longer run time (2:30) and only one mode like a normal Maglite vs 245 lumens, 2:15 run time and two modes for the Pro+.
Thanks
That's the first light from Maglite that raised my interest in a decade or so.
Any sentimental flashaholic above a certain age will have to have one of these, IMHO. I, for sure, will be acquiring one (at least). Now if I can only find my Brian Adams cassette...
This seems like a fantastic light. I mean, where else can you get 245 ANSI lumens out the front for 30 bucks with 2 AAs?
Maybe Romisen and some DealExtreme lights come close, but if you look at Jetbeam, NiteCore, Olight, 4Sevens, Fenix, they all have about the same light output, minus the adjustable beam, for 50+ bucks. Sure they have more modes, but even so... the Maglite appears to be very competitive.
I'd really like to see some beamshots/video of its flood to throw mode. Obviously not a real flood2throw, but at least you can mess with the beam profile a bit.
Good review, thanks.
Well, while I like that they brought out a new light, it is still a light with plastic reflector and lens, no current regulation, no clicky and the max output isn't available the whole runtime, so comparing the Mag with a Jetbeam BA20/Klarus P2A for example isn't exactly fair. If this light hadn't the Maglite name and looks... I guess people would not so generously overlook these downsides. It is still a good price point for a Mag. It is more like a "factory modded Mag", than a brilliant new design. But I understand the sentimental attachment to the host body... even if I would probably not buy it.
Nice writeup! Thanks for taking the time as this is one I'm sure a lot of people are interested in, including me. Having a light that will run off 2 AA batteries is great since AA batteries are always available and I'm glad to see this kind of output on a Minimag. Usually people measure amps at the tail instead of volts. How much difference is there in focus? Maybe you could post a picture of it zoomed in and out?
The "Low" mode is almost as bright as the previous generation Mini Maglite LED (some of which were multimode) and way, way brighter than the old incans.
Nice review! I'm looking forward to picking up one or two of these when I can get them on sale.
As an aside, having two modes is not a first for the LED Mini Maglites. The previous generation of LED Minis actually had 4 modes: High (100%) > Low (25%) > Strobe > SOS. The modes are activated by a quick off and on.
They were a huge improvement over the old incan models in output but they still only put out 69 lumens on High. Laughable now but at the time it was a major jump from 17 to 69 - a four-fold increase in output. Come to think of it with the old LED models the 25% low was the same as the high on the incans. On the new LED Pro models the low (25%) is the same as the high on the previous LED model. Hmmm... coincidence? LOL! It's possible that we won't see another improvement on these until they can safely produce one that runs at 1000 lumen so that 25% low is the same as the Pro output on high. ;)
@ brted and JohnnyMac:
I never had a Mini LED before this, so I was unaware that they offered multi-mode. Thanks for the correction - I will have to adjust my wording in the review to reflect that fact. And I'm sure I just wasn't thinking when I posted the tail cap measurement as volts, I will correct and when I get a chance measure with Primaries, nimh and Eneloops.
@ joe1512 and brted:
Sorry, photography is not my strong suit (but I'm getting better). I'll work on posting some better beam shots to illustrate the focus/zoom and show with different battery types. I'll have to get my son to help, as he has actually had photography training. Maybe he can help me do some outdoor shots as well. If I can describe it better, the beam is a little ringy when first turned on, as you adjust out, it smooths out the rings and makes a smoother beam with a more gradual transition between the hot spot and flood.
thanks for the review!
So the regulation isnt very good? No constant brightness? Chin*se lights have constant brightness regulation! :O
Please remember that this light is designed to run on Alkaleaks.
maybe maglite has some sort of contract with Duracell corp. just wondering why they would force to support Alkaleaks although Eneloops are already so popular.
you cant recharge Duracells. so more duracells are sold. good for Duracell!
The average American doesn't know what an Eneloop is, but Copper Tops and bunny cells are everywhere. Sad but true.
a buddy of mine just mentioned he had some junk rechargeable batteries with a stupid name. when i told him they were probably the best out there he seemed happy, but i'm not sure he believed me. he probably went to the store to get some duracells.
The light is actually regulated. Just in a weird way in which it deliberately drops off in output to help keep the load on the batteries down. This may not be what most of us would choose, but does mean a quick off then on again will take it back to full output at any given time.
Updated review to include additional Low/High mode shots with twist from turn on to fully extended. Hard to explain, brted, but it doesn't really focus like the old incan Mags, more like 'fine tuning'. I also tried different shots with Duracells, nimh and Eneloops: absolutely no detectable difference in beam shots. Timed regulation seems to take care of that.
Next up, outdoor beam shots when I can.
Thanks for the new pics. Yeah, it doesn't look like that much of a difference. That's probably good because the old incan minimags had pretty ugly beams. All of these look pretty decent.
I'm not sure if it's ok to do this, but here is a link to an excellent review done by CPF user Robin24k on both the Pro and Pro+.
Actually, the review is more than just excellent - very professional.
http://www.led-resource.com/2012/02/mini-maglite-pro-and-proplus-led-flashlight-review/
Now I wish I had the Pro instead of the normal LED..^^