From the ridiculous to the sublime:
Compare and Contrast HDS Rotary w 3500k Nichia 219b, to Folomov EDC C1 with 3000k Nichia E21a
I recently received two new lights with Warm White LEDs, in totally different battery size, one 10440, one 16340. There are vast differences in the UI, size, materials, and ergonomics. This is not a which is better, it is more of a what is similar, what is different, exploration. (note Folomov in these pics has had the paint removed)
commonality
LiIion
Warm Color Temperature
Strobe, SOS, Beacon
Tailswitch
direct access to Maximum
direct access to Minimum
hat clip option
light gets dimmer when battery goes below 50%
light will turn off if LiIon battery goes below 3v
EMP Proof!
differences
HDS is a Rotary
HDS can also use Lithium Primary, Folomov cannot.
HDS has more mode steps, 24 possible levels, half of which are below 2 lumens, the other half go up to 200 lumens, in High CRI models. The lumens can be reached by rotating a dial, after a single button click. Below 200, HDS steps down to 134-90-60-40-27-18 lumens (iow 6 modes available above 18 lumens, and 17 levels below 18 lumens)
Folomov only has 5 total brightness levels, 2.2-20-50-140-280 lumens, plus blinkies, and requires clicking a switch multiple times to change modes… no rotary option. Folomov only has 3 levels above 20 lumens, and only 1 level below 20 lumens. Note that the Folomov 140 lumen mode is almost the same as the HDS level 23, and the Folomov 20 lumen level approximately corresponds to HDS level 18.
HDS has 12 brightness levels below 2 lumens, Folomov Zero.
HDS battery is 650mAh, Folomov is 350mAh
HDS low of 0.08 lumens, is much lower than Folomov low of 2.2 lumens
Folomov maximum of 280 lumens is higher than HDS 200 lumen max.
IF both lights are set to near identical lumen levels, 20 lm on Folomov, and 18 lm on HDS (level 18), and IF their LEDs and circuits consume approximately similar amounts of power, since the HDS battery has double the capacity, it should run about 2x as long, ceteris paribus.
Weight, Folomov 38gm, the HDS 106gm (almost 3 Folomov)
Material, Folomov Painted Brass, HDS Anodised Aluminium.
Price: Folomov less than $40, HDS less than $400
Beam, HDS beam has a ring in the spill, and hole in the hotspot at less than 3” away.
HDS hotspot is less than half as large as Folomov hotspot.
Which is better?
Both