Looking for lights that "out-shines" itself for its size

Yes, yes, am doing (going through the suggestions). I’m a bit overwhelmed though, so many choices :)…

JohnnyMac,

I hadn’t been too interested in the “tube” lights, until I just “accidentally” got an A8 last week (“accidentally”, because I got it for the tube, to try with a DST). Speaking of Convoy, I have one of the Convoy C8s from FT, the one with the 8*7135s. How does that do? It took FT like 5 days to ship, the first time it took them so long, but naturally, it was the order with the Convoy C8 :(!!

The FF3 is tiny. Here it is next to a 2D MagLed.

This is a white wall shot comparing the 2. 2D MagLED on tightest focus.

I’ve been interested in the WK-21, when I saw it on md-lightsource.com when I was buying a Crelant (Mark has it on sale, for like $29). I really tempted to put it into the cart, but removed it at the last minute. Do you have one? And have you done anything with the mode programming? The things I’ve read are that it’s very floody, with very little throw?

Hi,

I’ve seen the recent threads about the FF3/FF4, but didn’t really check them out, so sorry for the stupid question, but do these use bulbs?

HID capsule bulb.

Due to the size of the reflector vs. the size of the LED, it is destined to be more floody than not. At around 450-500 lumen, it still has some punch as a close- to mid-range light.

The mode programming is as simple as bridging two small contacts with anything conductive: wire glue, pencil graphite, or solder for a more permanent solution.

I have mine set as a three-speed, L-M-H.

Mag54656, 2D MagLED, FF3

The Mag64656 is said to put out 14-17,000 Lumens… but it’s huge 7 26650s. To me it’s amazingly bright and puts out enough heat to warm up people 20ft away, but due to the size the wow factor isn’t there. But that said it is awesome. I keep several unmodified Mags just so I remember what normal is. That said the FF3 is the real deal. The soon to be released FF4 will be something like 5mm larger and a larger SMO reflector but also has a low 24w, 40w, and turbo 60w. But when I’m looking for something that’s a bit more practical because of shorter runtimes of the HIDs, I’m a huge fan of the wicked MagMods at LambdaLights. I think I have about 15 or so of those and they all still have that effect you get when you get a light that put you in awe once again.

Do you happen to have an SC52 or SC600 (or MKii)? How does it compare a high? I think that the SC600 MKII is suppose to be “900 lumens”, but at least to me, on high-high, and on 18650, it seems just barely brighter than my SC52 on 14500, even outdoors, at night. I’ve heard otherwise, but I’m wondering if there’s something wrong with my eyes (night vision problems?).

I don't have either of those Zebralights, only the SC80.

The WK21 crushes it in output, but the ZL has a much lower low.

Hi,

I was just outside, checking out some of my “smaller” lights (ITP A3 “upgrade”, D25A TI clicky, SC52, and my new SC600 MKii), and something occurred to me: It seems like it’s a lot easier for a smaller light to “impress”?

I first tried the ITP. I hadn’t used it at night in awhile, and I was kind of surprised, it pretty well lit up a large part of the area in front of our house (we have about a 250-300 yard open area, line-of-sight, in front - it won’t be long though, cuz they’re building next to us).

Then I tried the D25A, and it was a bit brighter, but a lot more throw than the ITP. The SC52 was brighter yet, but lit up a wider area. Finally, the SC600 was brighter yet, but even flipping between the two highs that it has, the high-high didn’t seem that much brighter than the SC52.

I guess that that goes to show that the SC52 is still a heck of a light :)?

But, it also got me to thinking that as the light gets bigger, and the brights get brighter, it gets harder to impress? In other words, and this is just a theory and some made-up numbers, it seems like going from say, 110 to 300 lumens looks like a huge difference, but going from 500 to 900 doesn’t seem that much?

I’m going to go take out some of my “bigger” (not that big though) lights now…

Jim

Try this for less than $13

I have had my D25c clicky for 6 or 8 months now and edc it every day and it still impresses me and everyone else everytime I turn it on with an IMR cell. We did not get the 770 .lumens that Selfbuilt got but did get 650 otf lumens. Unbelievable for a light that size.

I was wondering what others who have both an SC52 and an SC600 MKii think about the comparison brightness between them?

for EDC? i don’t think i have seen anything that brighter than lightmalls C8 XM-L2 for under $20 straight out of the box.
hopefully someone can prove me wrong… because i could use brighter light than C8 XM-L2 for under $20 :smiley:

although this M10 clone come very close… it has tighter hotspot for thrower.
modify this and it will surely beat the C8 XM-L2… but it will push over $20 mark :~

No, not for EDC, not necessarily anyway. I generally carry my ITP, but once in awhile the SC52.

I have like 3 C8s already… well one is a C4-MCU or something like that, but it sure looks like a C8, and it takes a C8 pill, and 3 more coming from FT, including a Convoy C8 with the 8*7135. I like the C8s, and also have a couple of the C8 pills from FT, trying to get up the nerve to build one of them, but I’m not sure if I could do better than some of the ones like the Convoy C8 which already has the 8 7135s.

Hi,

Thanks for all the suggestions, even though my inquiry was somewhat (a lot) vague! Looks like I have my work cut out for me :).

Here’s the list that I tabulated from the suggestions (hope I didn’t miss something):

D25C
602C DIY
WK21
Mag54656
FF3/FF4
Olight i1
EC1
EA4
EC25
HD 2011
Skyray King
Quark Cr2 mini
Tank007 TK-703
Lightmalls C8 (another C8 :)??)

Thanks all. Maybe I’ll just do the BLF mantra :)??

Later,
Jim

That interests me alot :slight_smile: the sources for the parts ?

Hi,

I don’t know myself, but hopefully tivo will respond and provide the info.

Jim

There’s also the MBI torpedo