Solarforce S2200 MT-G2

When starting a video on the G1X from Canon, the settings are set based on that initial start up. In this case, the initial settings were based on the color temperature of the car headlights which are obviously a more orange tone. In real life, the S2200 tint is gorgeous, slightly warm with good color rendition it’s a very pleasing color, not blue at all. I should have used my 5DMkII with manual settings but being as how my wife is recovering from surgery, I had no one to drive the car while I juggled the camera and light so I did it quick and dirty. Sorry about that.

So why does this light have an op reflector if its meant to be a thrower?

Who said it was meant to be a thrower? Do you really think that's likely to happen, based on a comparison of the die sizes between XML & MTG2, especially with both of them in the same size reflector?

Why not use the reflector that maximizes the strengths of the particular emitter? I think that's what they did with this one. And despite that, it looks like it still throws pretty damn well, it's just not a white laser beam so of course it will get tarred with the 'flooder!' pejorative from people who.. well, anyway.

I would say this is a new category of lights (of which I like) where you use a big LED fro high lumens, in an OP lens, in a big reflector for substantial throw. Sort of a hybrid of both worlds.

The TN31 and S1100 may throw further than the S2200 but I like lights that throw a biga$$ hotspot.

In a given light an XP-G2 on copper at 3A outthrows an XM-L on copper driven at 4A. In larger size lights (>60mm bezel) I’ll take the latter 7 out of 10 times. Same idea applies with XM-L versus MT-G2. I love specialized throwers but almost every time I’ll gladly sacrifice some candela for improved general utility.

That’s good enuff for me. You answered my question fully. And I see your point. Thank you sir.

Another great answer. I’m starting to love some spill with my throw. Thanks again.

As I said somewhere, not sure if it was this thread or one of the other MTG2 threads, the big fat beam can fool you. With everything between you and the target lit up it makes the light reaching the target seem not as bright, as compared to a pencil-thin beam at the same distance. It's the most all-around useful light I have played with to date... if only it could be half the size.

Your killing me. So you like this one a lot better than the S1100? How about a TK75 if you have one of those?

I have a S1100 with a MTG2 transplant so it's using the smooth reflector. I haven't seen a comparison of how much difference the reflectors make with the MTG2, but I'm planning on asking Solarforce when they get back from vacation (3-4 days) if they'll sell just the textured S2200 reflector separate.

Well please let me know. I do know that reflectors prices seem to be crazy from the maufacturers. But it may be worth a shot. I wouldn’t mind getting more flood out of my S1100.

There is no comparison with XML lights, it's just too different in every way I can think of.

I've posted a pic similar to this somewhere else, this is the same thing but with the white balance setting that more closely matches the actual colors. Left is a de-domed cool white XPG2 in a smooth p60 reflector (on high), right is the S1100/MTG2 hybrid (on medium). So don't let anybody tell you the MTG2 can't put out a clean, tight beam. It's not as tight as the XPG2, but that's a high standard to meet for anything, much less an LED with a die area of, what, 12-15 times larger?

:)

Thanks for doing that, it looks like it didn’t mist up at all on the inside. I’m not sure how it’d fare in around 5 degrees C with airflow (often its the airflow that really makes them mist due to creating such a heat differential between reflector and lense) but your test is very promising on that front anyway. I’ll have to add this to my ‘want to buy’ list :wink: It’s still $140 though so I might have to off-load some others before justifying it to myself, and then I’d be almost able to go for a Fire-foxes FF4 (6000 lumens 500kcd!).

It looks really nice design though, the UI is fine, emitter and beam is awesome. I can’t really think of anything wrong with it tbh…

“Pencil beam throwers” have their place and I do enjoy them… but there is also something special to me about a light that just puts a crap load of light everywhere.

My go to “walking light” is the varapwer turbo 3. Luminous SBT-90 led mounted on copper. Its really meant as a thrower, but since it has a big chip led and can be pushed to 14-15 amps it ends up putting a huge hot spot down field and a modest amount of spill with it.

Looking forward to the s2200 now as its a nice neutral which should work well for outdoor night time exploring

Both great lights, TK75 throws further and is similarly floody but has artifacts due to multi emietters. Tint isn’t as nice as the S2200 either. Though if I could only pick one it’d be the Fenix.

Ah, but if we could only pick one we wouldn’t be here on the forum! :slight_smile:

I noticed that the box for the S1100 has little notification boxes stating CreeLED waterproof standards etc, and on the S1100 it states 700m throw, in this space on the S2200 box it states 2200 lumens instead. No mention anywhere from Solarforce what it should throw. So they don’t intend it to be a thrower, just an impresser! :slight_smile:

Not wanting to drop this beast, I learned how to tie paracord to make a tether. I meant for it to loop around my wrist and attach, but as it was my first paracord knot…that didn’t work. So I learned a new knot and made an attachment point ahead of the mode selector switch to make a handle out of the main knot, called Mated Snake Knot (the attachment is a basketweave)

But this was too big and bulky, so I cut it off and made a simpler tether, utilizing the basket weave at the tail and then a round ball to close off the loop. So now it slips over my wrist and doesn’t get in the way of on/off moves with my thumb or mode selections either, but it is secured to my wrist if I drop it or need to let go while remaining easily removable.

I like how the basket weave compliments the knurling on the battery tube.

Not bad for my first day of knot tying, says I. :slight_smile:

Says I too, nice work.

Mine's getting shipped tomorrow! YAY! (hopefully)

Just hope it doesn't distract me too much from handing in my thesis.

Wire up the S2200 to a shoulder harness, turn it on hi over your head, turn in your thesis glowing like a gifted child. :slight_smile:

Edit: Mark this post, 238, come back and check it…comfychair said it first and I’ll back him 100%, this light has the most awesome tint and produces so much useable light you will love it! Refer to this one, 238, let us know it ain’t so! :stuck_out_tongue:

Edit II: Tail stand it in a room, any size room, and stand amazed at the gorgeous light filling the room. Overpowering the overheads most likely and almost certainly with better color. Do it. Watch.