I'm new here and have really enjoyed reading all the reviews and posts. This site, pound for pound, has the best, most informative content around for those interested in cool, powerful flashlights without breaking the bank. So far I've gotten a Yetzl Z1X, which I really like for its compact form and a p60 http://kaidomain.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductId=11104 host with a XML dropin that I plan to mess around with with different reflector, lens and emitter combos.
What I'm looking for now is a long thrower with as little spill as possible. I've ordered a Brinyte XML-C5, but Im starting to think that this light was designed for a Cree XP-G R5 and that it might not perform as well with an XML. Read here that the Brinyte UF900 with a Q5, that has a similar deep reflector will throw 350 meters although the beam looks a bit spilly.
I'm looking at this MX Power ML-310 Cree WC-Q5 and have read Don's review of the Q3 version. Would the Q5 version have any farther throw? Might order it regardless just to check out the TIR optics.
So any suggestions for the longest thrower with the tightest beam would be greatly appreciated.
"What I'm looking for now is a long thrower with as little spill as possible."
Sounds like you want a recoil thrower to me.
There are a few already reviewed in the 18650 section and i have this one on the way (should be within 3 days in my hands) you might wait for a review.
A formidable thrower with a very tight hotspot, but also some spill. I can make out a light-painted house at 450m. Bought one more for my son and he is impressed too.
like agedbriar, I also have the HS-802 from DX, though I’ve only really tested mine out to ~150m so far.
It is a good thrower, but in my opinion for anything 50-75m or less, the spot on the HS-802 is too small to be useful.
A ceiling bounce test looks like a quite ringy floody light with a bright hotspot. Pointing it at the ground within say 10m, it does have some flood, but once that gets to ~20m, flood becomes virtually zero and it’s a very small hotspot.
I guess it depends what you want to point it at, and what you’ll be using it for :bigsmile:
ws
If the OP's requirement for the least spill is meant in terms of high long-range efficiency, the HS-802 might fit the bill.
If they want to keep their standing place dark while shining at a distant target, than a recoil or aspheric/zooming light might serve them better.
I have one of those flood-to-throw "aspheric" zoomers that project the square dye pattern when fully zoomed out. Although spill is virtually nonexistent, the spot brightness (and reach) is much less than with the HS-802 and not a pleasant beam for actual use.