I finally got my Convoys in the mail!! I picked up the s4, and s6 from Simon, and I'm waiting on the s7 from another seller. First impression was really good, they seem to be pretty decent quality lights. They don't have the 'feel of cheapness' like the 2000 lumen ultrafire zoomies I bought and gave away for Christmas... Aside from the brittle glow in the dark o-rings that will probably give out soon but they will be nice while they last.
Anyway to to make a long story shorter, I ordered the lights xml2-U2-1a 7135*8, and also got the smooth reflectors. The smooth reflectors definitely help. They make a defined hot spot in the beam. I swapped the s4 out for the SMO reflector and tested them side by side. Then I got out my "monster light" which is 1000 lumen and what is referred to as a p60 drop in with an older bin t6 emitter.
The monster light has a better throw, I was expecting that. But only by about 100'. It throws good light out to 5-600ft, whereas the s4 with smooth reflector goes 4-500'. The s6 with op reflector is lucky to get discernible light out to 400' but 2-300 is where I would put the 'good' light range.
When I say good light I mean it lights up the target to a degree that I can make out what is in front of me, I think you call that luminance but I don't want to get technical and end up with an ambiguous thread, just keeping it simple.
I expected these lights to not throw as far, and I'm very happy with my purchases. ...But I had hoped that within the range of visibility they were capable of they would light everything up better. Really wished I could have kept the s6, but a friend offered me $25 and I'm not above making a profit when I didn't need that light anyway and I have another one comming lol... This s4 will make an amazing pocket light that will certainly impress all my people that are all still used to the Walmart garden variety flashlights that barely get the job done, and I'll have a nice stainless version as a backup in case these don't stand the test of time and the harshness of my environment, which no flashlight does.
So the point of this thread is to ask advice on my next purchase based on your take on my views so far. I need a good throwing light that will illuminate the target, light it up like I'm standing right next to it. There is no budget I just need a stupid bright light any size/shape that I can carry that will light up the world. Ideally I would like to be able to make out a 200' wide x 12' tall box 1500 ft away and a person standing on top of it.