Yes, the metric used to quantify beam shape is “cd/lm”. Here’s a rough guide for what that means.
Assuming XP-L HI in each light (except D18 and D1S V2), Emisar’s products go in this order from most floody to most throwy:
light bulb: ~0.1 cd/lm
D4: ~4 cd/lm, ~4300 lm
D18: ~4 cd/lm, ~14000 lm
D4S: ~11 cd/lm, ~4500 lm
D1: ~33 cd/lm, ~1300 lm
D1S: ~100 cd/lm, ~1300 lm
D1S V2: ~600 cd/lm?, ~800 lm? (TBD)
laser: ~10000 cd/lm
For general-purpose “EDC” style use, people mostly like items in the range of roughly 3 to 30 cd/lm, with the D4S’s 11 cd/lm being a very versatile balance. The D4S is a bit large though, so I’d really like something D4-sized or smaller with a single emitter and a ~10 to ~15 cd/lm beam.
I generally use the D4 most because it’s the smallest and has a clip, but the D4S has my favorite beam of the bunch. The D1 is also handy since in 18350 form it’s small enough to forget about in my purse until I need it, and it’s throwy enough for almost anything I ever need.
With D1S and D1S V2, they’re extremely good at what they do, and are unusually compact for the amount of throw they achieve… but it’s rare that I ever need or want that much throw. For people who do need it though, it’ll basically leave almost everything else in the dust, especially for the price.
550 kcd sounds right. I have a 72mm head with a oslon black and it only does 550kcd.
But I wish he would give us a rear clicky. Side clicky are nice if it was a high output thrower. But for a pencil beam dedicated thrower, a rear switch is better imo.
Rear clickies have two disadvantages: restricted UI choice and internal switch resistance.
That 1st point is obvious.
That 2nd point is having a good enough switch to support high current is quite expensive. Well, compared to an electronic switch anyway.
There’s something less obvious though: standardization for Emisar lights.
By only using e-switches, it makes it easier for them in terms of making stuff, and less overall costs.
Well he can just price it higher. I’ll happily pay even $85 for it. The performance of that thing is crazy…slightly more throw than an XHP35 HI with over double the output.
For a light like this, regulated at ~5A or ~6A, the switch resistance is a much smaller factor than it would be in something like a D4 or D18. It may still be difficult to do well, but it’d be a lot easier than with really high-powered lights.
As far as UI goes, I added tail-clicky support two years ago. Most UI functions are on a side e-switch, and the tail provides momentary activation at the last-ramped level. It works fine, from what I’ve heard, and does exactly what people usually want the tail switch to do in a thrower.
I don’t see why the SBT90G2 is hyped that much, just because it’s a new LED ?
Everything is a matter of finding the right combination of host, driver and emitter, just like Hank does with this updated D1sV2 which should be really good according all specifications.
Well if you all are going to cream and dream…LEP with Fixed aspheric with RLT/wavien collar (wonder if Vinh can do this?) for under a $1,000.00 dollars…
Sounds like it might be a good option for a rifle-mounted shooting light, assuming it has stiff springs at both ends of the battery to prevent recoil disconnect. I’m definitely interested.