I did a visual “shootout” of my 5 Osram throwers tonight. It was eye opening! It helped me appreciate some of them more, seeing them compared to other lights instead of just by themself.
Do you have a category of your lights you’ve compared recently? Throwers? Keychain? Post it here if ya’d like!
What light surprised you? Impressed you? Let you down? Made you want to sell one? Buy another? You know, the things we do…
Here’s mine (Left to right) -
Convoy L21a - CULPM1 (8amp driver), Convoy M21a - CSLPM1 (6amp driver), Astrolux C8 - CULPM1, Emisar D1s - CSLNM1 (5amp driver), Noctigon KR1 - CSLPM1 (5amp driver)
OK, first off - the D1s won the visual throw/brightness contest. AMAZING. this is a recent purchase, the badass Gchart here on BLF modded this himself with the setup I noted and it is unbelievable. it beat (or tied) the L21a CULPM1.
The second most surprising thing - the KR1 W2 really stood out! I have never given this light, with this emitter, enough credit. When compared to the rest of these it had the best combo of throw and spill, and its throw is so good for its size. it beat the M21a and its smaller. I just ordered a second KR1 and am REALLY regretting not getting the W2 or even W1… Ohwell, maybe ill get a third 
EDIT: ok, I thought something may have been wrong, and I was correct. the batteries in my L21a and M21a were at 3.0 volts! So I threw in fresh 40t’s and they did significantly better. The L21a was the winner, and the M21a outshines the KR1, but it is still pretty close.
Whenever I add a new light to my collection, I compare it with others in its lumens class, by doing a small white room ceiling bounce subjective comparative check. Also, I always do a real world subjective comparative throw check.
I am always impressed with any and all new lights that I add to my collection. MT90 and MF05 significantly out throw predecessors which in turn significantly out throw their predecessors.
BLF GT90 out power throws its predecessors, which in turn, out power throw their predecessors.
The latest pocket rocket does what it is supposed to do.
After a few dozen latest and greatest lights, I am able to get a general idea what the beam profile and beam performance will look like from factory specs and head diameter and type of emitters and reflector well configuration, before I order.
No light has ever let me down in the excitement factor out of the box. None have not impressed me. MMU-X3 surprised me in October, 2014, and same with the next 47 lights after that. That's why I keep buying lights. They ad zest, elan, pizzazz, panache and verve to my life.
My lights: https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/9150/287
Well, I guess your’e right. I mean, yea… That is true. I guess I just had a moment. out there testing some lights against each other and having a realization. Made me wonder what others do or think about their collection. Im kind’ve new to this, i’m not at the point where I am knowledgeable enough to breakdown the aspects of a light before I buy it to know I won’t be disappointed, although I wish I was. I used the EC03 XHP50 and loved it, so much I thought the EC03 SST40 would be a sure bet. it wasn’t. it disappointed (thats just the most recent one), it didn’t match up to the wow of the xhp50 version, but of course that wasn’t available in the configuration I wanted. I like sst40’s, but not in that light. Same with the GT mini xpl hi - thought id love it based on specs… nope. sold it. I guess I need to do more research. or buy some vinh lights like you have. hard not to be impressed with those it seems.