i have the feeling that a 86mm lens hood and a filter will be a perfect extension mod for this reflector…
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Metall-Gegenlichtblende-Sonnenblende-Lens-Hood-86mm-/370511121967?pt=DE_Foto_Camcorder_Gegenlichtblenden&hash=item56442f0e2f
http://www.ebay.com/itm/86mm-Quality-Metal-Screw-On-lens-Hood-Shade-for-Canon-Nikon-Pentax-Sony-Olympus-/130923777022?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e7baa4bfe
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Zykkor-86mm-Standard-Metal-Lens-Hood-with-Filter-Thread-Mount-/130636659061?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e6a8d3975
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Zykkor-86mm-Telephoto-Metal-Lens-Hood-with-Filter-Thread-Mount-/110815128586?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19cd18ac0a
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Metal-Tele-Lens-Hood-86mm-front-Cap-and-Keep-NEW-DESMOND-86-Telephoto-Shade/221169250164?\_trksid=p2045573.m2042&\_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D27%26meid%3D8224690678781413514%26pid%3D100033%26prg%3D1011%26rk%3D2%26sd%3D230987639266%26
If it was after you placed the order, that’s not cool that someone back out. Sorry to hear about that. Hopefully, we can get these babies to sing and someone else will buy that extra one from you.
Thanks for the preliminary report on the MGT2 in this reflector. How would you compare what you saw to a SRK?
Has anyone tried the KD 86mm D x 90mm H SMO Reflector reflector yet? From the pics, the finish doesnt seem to have a high polish luster, but hard to tell.
Im wondering how it would do with XML and if it would throw any better than the DX SST-90 73mm.
I ordered the KD reflector a couple weeks ago. I think it shipped on the 17th. When I get it, I’ll try to take some good pictures of it and report back. I don’t that DX reflector to compare beam pattern to though.
I’m getting it to try with an MG-T2, but I will try to rig something up to see how it looks with xml.
If you decide to sell the extra reflector, you will have no problem at all. I finally tried out the reflector last night with an MG-T2 at 3.65 amps. It’s very aaaawsome! It has to be the most usable smoothest beam pattern I have ever seen. I’m looking forward to having the focus finalized and much more current flowing.
The atmosphere was bad for judging throw (It’s been raining regularly here for some time now), but it looked quite promising. Doesn’t throw like the Defiant Spot Light I modded, but it does something very special that will make it my go to light for most situations. At first glance, you get the impression that the SRK floods better. That is on account of it huge hot spot in the near field. But then, you start noticing that whole spill area is brighter, the throw is much better, the consistency of the beam is much better, color rendition is better, and just something subjective that is hard to put a finger on is better. Everything seems just a little bit more real and 3 dimensional.
The best I can describe the beam pattern is SRK on steroids with tons of throw. It lights up everything in the beam quite well. I’ve never had a flashlight displace so much dark. You really see everything clearly. I could even see all kinds of spider webs. I don’t know why, but I usually don’t see them and walk right into them most of the time. I would say overall it floods about 10 to 15% better than the SRK. Throw is going to be even more percentage wise, but I need to find a place, decent conditions, and time to compare.
The usable beam diameter is wider than the SRK. The SRK beam is just as big in diameter if you count the faint feathering area in the outer part of the spill. But that area is too faint to really count. The spill is much brighter then my the SRK (my SRK pulls over 7 amps at tail). The beam smoothly intensifies as it gets to the center. You can pan the light around and not get blinded by the hot spot hitting close objects (not counting white structures). It’s almost like the reflector is sending light out at different angles from within the reflector, because things don’t seem like they are just being lit up from a single point. Maybe that is what the interesting facets are doing. The furthest open spot I had was around 600 feet. The illuminated that area nicely.
I found the focus best when the reflector bottom rested on the MCPCB. Due to my temporary wiring being in the way, I couldn’t get the reflector lower than that.
Thanks for the favor ImA4Wheelr,
From this thread, I really like the beam profile of the DX with XML. But of course, bigger is often better.
The idea is to overdrive a single XM-L2 to around 5A to power a custom bikelight build with large remote lico pack. Id like moderate spill with a great hotspot. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with on the XML rig!
Wow, that is an interesting reflector. Thanks for bringing something to compare to. Do you have an idea how far fence is from the light?
Techjunkie reported: Outdoor shots were 60ft from light to target (fence), 72ft from camera to target. Outdoor camera settings were F/3.5, 1/3 sec, ISO-200, white balance = 5200K, focal length 24mm.
DX 73mm SST90 reflector, cool white T6, 5.0A
I just discovered that a BTU a/r lens (93mm) should fit that big KD reflector, so I hope it plays nicely for you!
I’ll do my best to replicate the above shot. I’m curious too. I have to warn you that I have had bad luck with taking beam shots, but I’m going to borrow a decent camera. Thanks for providing the camera settings. Hopefully, we will have some drier weather conditions. All the moisture in the air currently really sucks up the light. Its more like lighting up air right now, instead of objects.
Thanks again for doing this for me/us. It will be interesting to see how things turn out. The best advice I can give you is to under-expose. Make sure both the camera and flashlight are mounted to something solid and take several of the same shot. Keep only the best ones. I think my biggest worry is that the reflector might not have a high luster finish (as shown in the KD photo) and that it wont focus an XML properly. We hardly ever get high humidity in my area so Ive been very lucky in that regard.
Will do. Yeah, I’m concerned about that too after seeing your photos. I’m hoping its photo water mark artifacts we are seeing combined with lousy lighting. For the price I paid, it better be good quality.
Based on this group-buy one I have, the reflectors at Illumination Machines seem to be some of the best available. They are range from $4 to $9 not counting shipping. To bad the min order quantity is 5.
Itsnt the illumination machines reflector faceted? It looks real nice but Id like SMO for max range. I also already have a 93mm AR lens if the KD reflector works out.
Have you seen this thread ?
Yes, but with really small intricate facets. I didn’t expect it to throw like it does. I don’t think it is what you are looking for though. But if I was mountain biking at night, I would want no other. I think it would be perfect for it.
So far, the best throw I have seen is the 92mm reflector in the defiant xml spotlight. But, the beam is way too narrow to be useful for biking.
Got the KD reflector today. It’s impressively solid. Nice thick walls. Finish seems very fine, buy it did have several bad scratches, scuffs, and 3 puckers (for lack of a better word) inside the reflector cone. Appears to be spots that resisted getting coated so the rejected coating built up into a raised doughnut. Eventually the bowl created by the doughnut cause coating to fill in the spot that was rejecting. I worry the center of the doughnut will eventually delaminate. That is the best I can describe the irregularities. They don’t really show up clearly in the pictures below. Additionally, the exterior had scratches, possible burn marks, and other indicators of it being previously used. I didn’t try to capture those in the photos below.
EDIT: KD has offered a full refund. I know I will use it as is even though it doesn’t look that great. So I asked them to refund all but $5.00. The said they would send me a new one, but were now out of stock. I think that KD is being sincere and that this was just one of those things that happens. Maybe I got the last one. KD, please let us know if you ever restock this reflector.
Here it is next to the Group Buy reflector:
Here is the reflector next to a C8 and a P60 reflector.
I have an MG-T2 rig for trying out different reflectors outside. Despite the irregularities, I mounted it to get a feel for how the reflector works. Wow, nice throwy beam. Really makes the MG-T2 throw. It’s raining pretty hard here so no beam shots. The diameter of the spill is the narrowest of all my lights. Expected, given the depth of the reflector. The only down side is that the spill is pretty bright with the MG-T2. Here is the rig:
I would expect this reflector to throw extremely well with an XML. Spill should be significantly dimmer with the smaller reflector. I’m looking forward to seeing it in action with an xml(2).
Conclusion. I will contact Kaidomain about the scratches and defects. If they can replace it with a good quality reflector, I would say this reflector is well worth the money. I will work on rigging an XML host to take beam shots. Hopefully by then, the atmospheric conditions will be suitable for taking beam shots.
What host can the KD reflector fit in?
ImA4Wheelr - Thanks for the great report. That looks like one heck of a chunk of AL. I cant find it now, but I think I saw a similar reflector to the GB (with facets) in an illumination machines flashlight, or maybe it was being tested in one of the large olight sst90’s. In the olight SMO reflector comparison, the facets on that example clearly cut down on lumens, both in spill as well as throw, which is why I held off on participating in the GB.
If that KD reflector does as expected outdoors, you might really be onto something there. I really hope they can replace it with a perfect example for you. Your direct comparisons between the two should prove to be very interesting, and I cant wait to see what you come up with. While you’re at it, can you please compare both reflectors with XM-L2? Just keep in mind that ol flashpilot wants to use it for a bike light, so some spill is important. I may consider the mtg2 as well, but I already ride with an SRK driven at 38W (3A per emitter). I couldnt ask for any more flood, but throw leaves something to be desired on those long straits. The amount of wild animals that come out at night in my area is mind boggling, which is why I probably need more versatility than most riders.
My current power source is 9 x 18650’s in a saddle bag ran to a power jack on the SRK, for a total of 13 x 18650’s. As you can imagine, no sag there. Id really like to power an mtg2 with 4.2V but it doesnt seem possible at this point. I do have a high tech 12V battery, but it would add weight and complexity.
I was really upset with the results trouty came up with, and he tried so hard. All those great reflectors and not one of them played well with with the mtg2. Fingers crossed that youve got one that does.
Hurry up weather… clear up darnit! 
Not trying to be silly or ridiculous, but what do you think about these :
reflectors? They’re not made for us, but they are Parabolic. They seem to only use the flat tip of the Parabola, not the spill-catching depth you guys are discussing. That makes me wonder… But there’s no way I could afford one to test!!! So I was hoping someone here had some opinion…
Sorry to hijack the thread, unless it helps…
Dim
Those are amazing Dimbo. Too bad they are so expensive. I don’t think you are off topic. The OP created this thread searching for a large reflector.
I would like to report that KD has issued me a refund. This kind of thing happens some times and I want to give them credit for good customer service. Since this reflector does not appear to be currently available, I will lower the priority of trying it out with an xml(2). I do intend to eventually try and document it though. It seems like a promising reflector.
If you read this KD and the reflector becomes available again, please let us know. 
A “large” price tag is a definite “no-no”!
They have another problem, their “cut” (as a parabola is a cut across a cone) isn’t really suited to “OTF” operation. They all have Large Focal Lengths & therefore seem to be geared toward receiving and focusing distant light or sound. The only way I can see them helping (eyeballing pictures mode) is in “Recoil” mode, as in “Recoil Thrower”; or something like this:
The “cut” brings up a dusty, Dim old thought: A Deep Parabola Is Still A Parabola, Just Like A Shallow One Is, But Only One Is Useful. The KD one would suck as a telescope reflector or for a parabolic microphone, just as badly as these would to capture an LED’s ~120° light cone & focus it forward.
As you can see, my point is, “Large” is hard to pin down sometimes. It seems hard to find “Large Diameter, Very Small Focal Length” Parabolas, which is what we seem to need most here.
BTW, what about mounting a dense-grained hardwood block on a faceplate on a lathe & cutting out whatever Parabola you want, then drill your LED hole, spray-paint the inside high-gloss silver (or white!), and let the experimenten begin? IFF you have a lathe, of course, and the skills to cut a nice inside Parabola…
walks away staggering slightly, mumbling something about “wooden flashlight… wooden flashlight…”
LOL, love the closing comment.
Interesting info. Thank you for sharing. Not sure what would happen with an led positioned at base opening in those reflectors. Parabolic reflectors do focus a distance point of light (e.g. the sun) to a single focal point. They work great for cooking, creating steam, etc. But I would think a point of light at the base of the parabolic curve would send the light out in a different direction. I just don’t know how.