While I were just trying to get the best cheaper lights, PopLite's were expensive. But after a week I surfed among all those 4sevens, Jetbeams and Zebralights they now they seem really inexpensive. PopLite lights have something different, special designs and special optics like LedLenser's. They are usually bigger than their competition, some even use C cells. So I wondered if there is anything special with them and how the quality is. Anybody use a Pop Lite?
Something different? All models I've seen were exactly the same copy of Led Lenser
Could be the same quality, more or less, for less $$$ too. Could be an alternative.
UPDATE: If I remember well, they have the same black box as well. LOL :bigsmile:
I hear very much about Led Lenser's but they seem way too expensive. Do they give anything better than a regular flood to throw?
Regular flood-to-throw flashlights use convex/aspherical type lenses. Led lenser and pop-lite seems to use TIR lenses. A fellow BLF user has described the difference between TIR and convex lens here: http://budgetlightforum.cz.cc/node/1359?page=1#comment-22250 . Basicly, TIR lenses are more efficent.
I really like flood-to-throw flashlights, but they are pretty much useless in real life situations. I need throw and spill all together and wait for someone to invent/use lens what can zoom, but also has hotspot even in flood mode.
Picture taken from Led Lenser website: From top: reflector, convex, TIR . More info: http://www.zweibrueder.com/ENG/technologie/fokussiert.php?id=afs_fokus Pop-lite seems to be using the same system.
Thanks a lot for the links. I guess this is something to try. You are right. I only use my Flood-to-Throw light to toy around.
There is a cheaper alternative, a Romisen appeared in DX last week. I don't know if I should try a PopLite or choose the cheaper way. Romisen's have been quite respected in terms of build, but PopLite seems to have chosen the way longer time ago.
Yeah, looks like the last Romisen (1x18650 if I remember well) uses the same TIR optics. They normally use aspheric lenses. Have to wait to see some reviews and comparison.
LED lensers have throw optimised TIRs which are as the marketing suggests, a small aspheric for the flood-throw adjustability, but with the reflector type of optic to capture light that is normally lost in throw mode with aspherics, and help bring that light forwards. I dont have one of these myself, but the theory behind them is good. If its soo good, why dont we see other companies making such lights? maybe copyright/patent issues? or maybe reflectors are better for general lights... Either way, we have Poplite making us an affordable budget version of one that we hope is as good.