Hey guys, I’m very tempted to get a Fenix LD41 but I’m hesitant because of the XM-L, I’m afraid its going to be too floody and not throw that well. I can’t seem to find any outdoor shots of it so if anyone can tell me how it performs in comparison to say a Nitecore EA4 that would be great.
Also if anyone could recommend a multiple AA light with good throw but WITHOUT an electronic switch (hated the one on the EA4), I don’t want to mess those anymore I’d prefer the normal clicky style.
Thanks.
Good throw compared to a gasoline lantern or the Thrunite TN31?
The TN31 is XM-L/XM-L2 and I don't see any XP-G2 lights out-throwing it.
The LD-41 would have a much smaller diameter reflector compared the the EA4. Can tell by just comparing battery configuration. Smaller reflector -> less throw.
Looking at wrong light from pictures. Same head diameter. Relatively identical throw. Some people say the LD41 throws rings compared to the EA4. I have no idea.
Personally that LD41 form factor would be a real PITA. But different flavours for different people.
Any reason you're not going lithium? You get more power and longer runtime.
ummmm, xp-g2 will easily outthrow an xm-l in the same reflector driven at the same current. oh, check out which emitter the deft x uses, I’ll give you a clue, its one of the above and not an xm-l2 :bigsmile:
as for how the fenix performs, I honestly have no idea, but if it is a well driven xp-g2, I would expect the throw to be respectable tbh, its my go to thrower emitter tbh.
XM-L lights can throw pretty well, or flood pretty well depending on the reflector design. XM-L is a jack of all trades chip, but is bested in throw by a xp-g2, and flood by the MC-E.
But you can't drive an XP-G2 at 5A on a copper board. Yes, you have a 10 degree advantage with an XP-G2 over XM-L2, but with the right reflector and aspheric, you could potentially get more light on target.
Finding those is much harder though, I have to admit. 
Just because something's currently the best, doesn't mean it can't be bettered. 
its not about drive current so much as surface brightness, I’ve got an xp-g2 running at 3a on alu without issue at the moment, when I change to copper I’ll be pushing drive current up to 4 - 5 amps.
As I say, look at what saabluster is using in the deft x, I figure if xm-l would have done the job, he would have saved himself the cost of buying xp-g2’s to de dome……
And if your thinking overall lumens is the key, why is the mt-g2 not turning out to be the ultimate thrower emitter? its almost double the lumen output of an xm-l but struggles to match the lux readings.
Have a look at the edc plus torchlite thread, a few of us put both xm-ls then mt-g2’s in the same light to get a feel gor the build, the xm-l is the thrower of that set up, the mt-g2 throws through brute force but not in the same way.
Interesting replies, I was aware that the XP-G2 is a better thrower I was just curious about the LD41 because it has a form factor and ui that works for me, and of course only comes with the XM-L.
As far as lithium I’m just not ready to go with lithium, I know they’re superior in performance, but that would mean also getting a multi-meter, cells and constantly checking voltages every time I need to use the light (which this category of light I use pretty infrequently) and that’s just hassle I don’t want to deal with atm. Someday though I will finally pick up a nice Lithium powered edc light and undoubtedly love the hell out it.
Also looked at that DEFT-X by saabuster, very impressive, but WAY more than I could spend on a light (I would rather get a TK75 anyways tbh, or you know 3 of em’ :P).
Don’t know about MCE being more floody, but nobody uses them anymore. They’re old, outdated and inefficient.
TK41 Very good thrower. AA light and doesn’t have electronic switch.
I was going to get the ld41 but went with the e40, more throw, less modes, and cheaper.
It has a beautiful, tight beam.
Yeah the E40 is nice, less lumens though but I might consider going with it since it is better throw.
Four Eneloops in series can EASILY outpower an ICR 18650. So a 1x18650 light won’t inherently have more power than a 4AA light running on NiMH (all other factors being equal, that is, and alkaline is another story). And depending on what kind of batteries you use, it may or may not have more runtime. The only real advantage a 1x18650 light gives you is a smaller form factor vs 4AA (which, depending on your wants and needs, can range from unimportant to vitally important).
Eneloop 2450mAh - 3.0Wh @ 1A
Panasonic Protected NCR18650 - 11.25Wh @ 1A
7% or 2.4kJ difference. Okay.
Granted that the equivalent of four NiMH batteries would mean that the Pana would be at about 1.3A instead of just 1A, but come on.
18896.8mm2, 48.7gms (Pana Protected NCR18650B) vs
32185.4mm2, 119.6gms (4xEneloop AA)
IMR cells for very high discharge capabilities.
xFire cells for the adrenaline rush of not knowing when they'll explode.
7% may not be much. But when I was referring to power, I meant straight watts. Four Eneloops will both have more voltage and be able to produce more amps than a single ICR 18650. Not to mention that you can beat the crap out of them and neglect the hell out of them and they will keep going without any excitement.
My point here (as always when it comes to NiMH vs Li-Ion) is that the only real advantage of Li-Ion is the ability to store more energy in a smaller package. Contrary to what some may believe, it’s not capable of actually running a brighter light. It’s just that the light doesn’t have to be as big. As I said, this may or may not be an issue, depending on your wants and needs.
Ohhhh so you mean Eneloops can discharge more power at a given time?
Eneloops drain at more than 20amps? 
I’ve NEVER seen an ICR 18650 that can produce 20A. IMR can do it. IFR can do it and then some. But NOBODY seems to care about IFR. But then again, there are also ‘high discharge’ NiMH AA batteries that can do it.
So an IMR doesn't count as an 18650?
Who said anything about just ICRs?