It's been quite a long time since I took these pics and... well, time to do a review :)
(sorry for the strange tint in the center on some pics)
Crelant V31A
Official Specifications:
- CREE XM-L U2 bin LED with 50 000 hour life span.
- Maximum output: 450 lumen
- High efficient constant current circuit and output-luminance
- Microcontroller drive circuit
- Working voltage: 0.8 - 4.2 VDC
- Battery Types Supported: 1 x CR123A, 1 X 16340
- Runtime(CR123A): High output at 1A: 450 lumen max for 45 minutes.
- Mid output at 300mA: 128 lumen max for 120minutes.
- Low output at 30mA: 13 lumen max for 13 hours
- Mil. Spec. Type 2 hard anodized aircraft grade 6063-T6 aluminum alloy
- Bezel: stainless steel
- Colour: Gray
- Tactical forward tail cap switch
- High performance aluminum OP reflector with concentrated beam shot
- Waterproof: IPX-8 Standard
- Lens: Toughened ultra-clear coated and anti-abrasion glass
- Candle function with ability to stand on tail cap
- Dimensions: Length 91mm, Head Diameter 23mm
- Weight: 51g excluding battery
- Accessories: Lanyard, spare o-ring
Design / Build Quality
Overall quality is very good. Nice and flawless machining quality with no dings. Smooth and equal anodizing (HAII) on all parts, mate finish. Some difference in color though. The head is grey, but the rest of the body has slightly brownish tone if you see it under incan light, for example. On sun light it just a little bit more darker (but still grey). This could be just a batch-to-batch differences, so no prob (at least for me).
Knurling isn't aggressive but more than enough for this small light.
This light comes with a nice SS clip. A little bit too stiff for my liking though. This clip will prevent the light from rolling, by the way :) A nice add that I really appreciate, don't like to see my lights rolling all over the place :bigsmile:
Clip doesn't touch the head, so you can unscrew it without damage the anno :)
(mouse over to see 3 anti-rolling points)
Difficult to stick (too stiff) to pants but once you clip it... :)
Very good tail stand. Black rubber cap doesn't bother, but is there, huh? 0.5 mm more and... no tail standing :bigsmile:
There are some holes to attach a really nice lanyard that comes in the package (with 2 spare o-rings, here you can find a pic of the lanyard).
Interesting thing, in this model tail cap comes with the body and can not be unscrewed! Like Xeno E03, for example, but that light has the head+body combination.
It has a forward clikie switch, which is quite stiff by the way.
Nice, not crenelated, SS bezel, with slightly rounded corners (mouse over for additional pic). The reflector is OP, with perfectly centered emitter. Comes with AR coated lens (notice that blue/violet hue). Clean soldering as well. No dust or whatsoever inside. There are thin/small GITD o-ring.
That bezel doesn't have any inner marks, and looks like it's glued :| (I couldn't unscrew it even with rubber gloves)
The threads are not anodized, so you can not lock the light against accidental switching/parasitic drain. But no worries, the switch is quite stiff and there is no parasitic drain :bigsmile: Good machining here too.
The inside of the tube is anodized though (rounded edges). Nice transparent o-ring (came slightly lubed). Inside diameter: 17.05 mm.
Head has white protective piece of plastic. Nice gold spring.
Head actually has 2 parts. Don't have pics right now, but if you unscrew it, one part has the driver and the led (for candle mode), and the other one the reflector and the lens. Some sort of viscous dark oil was used on threads. Quite sticky (but will seal better than lube)
Battery Life
| Efest 16340 @ 4.13V | TF 14500 @ 3.55V | |
| Low | 0.085 A | 0.115 A |
| Med | 0.475 A | 0.550 A |
| High | 1.320 A | 1.350 A |
Ok, I've used my already discharged TF flame 14500 for low V test. This flashlight is current regulated and looks like the current at low voltages is a little bit higher, this driver tries to maintain brightness somewhat :D (will do another test later with discharged 16340)
The good thing is that the V series uses the same driver, and you can use this head with one or two NiMhs for example :) Just get another tube/body :D
Light Output
Tint: nice CW tint for hot spot and corona, but quite awful purplish spill :drunk:
Nice and useful and (almost) clean beam profile :) Almost invisible (few) common XML artifacts, no rings and no donut hole.
No PWM at all modes :P I have noticed (only sometimes) some buzzing/whining sound though. Quite unnoticeable, so it doesn't bothers me.
3 modes: HIGH - MED - LOW, with memory (which kicks in after 2.3-2.4 seconds when the light is OFF). As I said before, it's my first forward clikie changing mode light, so you need to select desirable mode before making the final click. But momentary ON is there and it's useful too sometimes :) You just need to get used to.
Modes are well spaced, but I'd prefer a little bit lower MED and LOW. So I use it on LO almost all the time.
Here are some beamshots (1 meter from the wall), with Xeno E03 on the right. Both with li-ion @ 4.13V (Xeno with TF flame 14500)
LOW
(Yeah, Xeno's LOW is much brighter here)
MED
(Xeno's Med is tad brighter too, I'd say)
HIGH
(here Crelant puts more light :) Mouse over for underexposed shot)
I have made another comparison with Klarus P1A. It has similar reflector but and comes with XP-G R5.
(this shot is underexposed, both on HI. Klarus with NiMh!)
Summary:
Nice light I'd say :D Nice machining, clean work, no disco modes, candle mode, memory works well... :) Quite happy with this one :P
Price wise - well, ~35 bucks is a good price for it. Would recommend.
(I mean I hope they will make black V31A too 
)
