Brightest AAA or AA Penlight?

klrman · 2018-10-02T04:03:58.000Z

Lightbringer:

Sofirn SF13? 2×AA. I got a couple to burn off an assload of AAs. Once my TK4A is done with them (and hopefully before any cells start taking a dump inside it), I’ll pull them and “pair” the cells to go into the '13 (and oddballs go into my SP10). Once I pretty much get a 1-mode light (ie, all modes are about the same measly brightness), then the cells take turns going onto Bobofett II in nightlight-mode until even that doesn’t light up. But, with new alkaleaks, and especially eneloops, the '13 is nice’n’bright.

Ordered two SF13's on Sep-9 but still not here yet. Specs show 420lms which seems bright enough for that type of light. I got many lonely AA eneloops waiting to be used.

klrman · 2018-10-02T04:04:50.000Z

Danglerb:

Any smaller light with high output is going to get hot fast, that said Olight isx in my pocket and any one of many 18650 lights when I need big output for more than a minute or two.

I heard the acebeam pt10 gets real hot. Did not arrive at my door yet, but for the money, I'm thinking sofirn's SF02 may be the best all around penlight for the money. I really like my thorfire pf04 but many have said Sofirns SF02 is brighter and for just $9.00 it may be my number one Christmas gift choice for friends and family.

Lightbringer · 2018-10-02T04:05:25.000Z

Yeah, with new cells it’s pretty bright. Burns down alkies nicely, ’til it’s essentially a 1-mode light, then starts acting weird (flickering, slow-blink, etc.) which means it’s about time for real to ditch the cells. Then into Bobofett II they go.

I’m too busy burning down those alkies to try eneloops or the like.

Anyway, you should be happy with ’em. I am.

klrman · 2018-10-02T04:09:32.000Z

I still have a boatload of slightly used costco kirkland AA"s so I'll let the sf13 abuse them all before replacing them with my shiny new eneloops.

Enderman · 2018-10-02T04:22:04.000Z

I just bought a 2xAAA coast P4 and am also waiting for the 2xAAA led lenser i4 to get in stock soon.

klrman · 2018-10-02T04:31:43.000Z

Enderman:

I just bought a 2xAAA coast P4 and am also waiting for the 2xAAA led lenser i4 to get in stock soon.

Is this coast website? Couldn't find a P4 anywhere there.

Enderman · 2018-10-02T05:59:22.000Z

klrman:

Enderman:

I just bought a 2xAAA coast P4 and am also waiting for the 2xAAA led lenser i4 to get in stock soon.

Is this coast website? Couldn’t find a P4 anywhere there.

Older model:
https://www.amazon.ca/Coast-Lenser-HP8404-Focusing-Flashlight/dp/B003V1WGQG/

Danglerb · 2018-10-02T06:17:31.000Z

As a general rule I don’t gift lithium lights, usually for the “normal” user its alkalines, and then none have much of a heat issue.

klrman · 2018-10-02T07:15:36.000Z

Enderman:

klrman:

Enderman:

I just bought a 2xAAA coast P4 and am also waiting for the 2xAAA led lenser i4 to get in stock soon.

Is this coast website? Couldn't find a P4 anywhere there.

Older model: Amazon.ca

Title says 20 lumens. Must be a very focused 20 lumens as the reviews are positive.

wstrachan · 2018-10-02T08:00:08.000Z

Okay, not quite a penlight but is technically half of one. The Utorch UT01 puts out 800 lumen with a 14500 Li-Ion and 400+ from a AA.
Its steps are programmable, quality is good and it’s offered in both CW and NW tints. I have several and the quality is very good

Jerommel · 2018-10-02T11:30:52.000Z

wstrachan:

Okay, not quite a penlight but is technically half of one. The Utorch UT01 puts out 800 lumen with a 14500 Li-Ion and 400+ from a AA.
Its steps are programmable, quality is good and it’s offered in both CW and NW tints. I have several and the quality is very good

Yeah, when you’re lucky…

vit55 · 2018-10-02T12:36:46.000Z

Brightest AAA penlight is Ultratac A3 with 380 lumens.

Adam706 · 2018-10-02T13:08:32.000Z

Prometheus Lights will be releasing new Preon P2s soon.

Henk4U2 · 2018-10-02T13:20:26.000Z

vit55:

Brightest AAA penlight is Ultratac A3 with 380 lumens.

Mind you it is a 2*AAA penlight. Just sayin’.

vit55 · 2018-10-02T17:03:45.000Z

and then?, he asks for the brightest penlight and this really is!

Henk4U2 · 2018-10-02T17:37:05.000Z

vit55:

and then?, he asks for the brightest penlight and this really is!

Indeed, you are right. Glad someone is clever enough to point that out.

Fact is that I hate penlights. I associate them with white coats. At my age I have seen enough of them.
The idea that they make me live longer is incorrect. They take away so much fun that it just seems longer.

klrman · 2018-10-02T17:57:27.000Z

vit55:

Brightest AAA penlight is Ultratac A3 with 380 lumens.

Couldn't find any good review on the Ultratac A3 except some on amazon. I wonder if those 380 lumens are real or not?

Enderman · 2018-10-02T18:22:51.000Z

klrman:

Title says 20 lumens. Must be a very focused 20 lumens as the reviews are positive.

It’s just an inspection light, to look at things up close.
It makes a near perfect circle of uniform brightness.
Probably not usable for more than 5-10m but I like the host and might mod it in the future, or just use it as is since it has long battery life.

The i4 that I plan to buy soon is more modern, with 120 lumens max and a focusable beam, but also with a low mode for long runtime.

klrman · 2018-10-02T20:02:55.000Z

Enderman:

klrman:

Title says 20 lumens. Must be a very focused 20 lumens as the reviews are positive.

It’s just an inspection light, to look at things up close. It makes a near perfect circle of uniform brightness. Probably not usable for more than 5-10m but I like the host and might mod it in the future, or just use it as is since it has long battery life. The i4 that I plan to buy soon is more modern, with 120 lumens max and a focusable beam, but also with a low mode for long runtime.

i4 may be good for me too. Never thought about anything with such a focused beam before but can see the benefits of something like that for detailed work.

Enderman · 2018-10-03T00:59:45.000Z

klrman:

i4 may be good for me too. Never thought about anything with such a focused beam before but can see the benefits of something like that for detailed work.

It’s nice because you can get brighter flood or longer range than a similar lumen output flashlight, just not both at the same time.
You can think of it as having 240 lumens instead of 120, since a reflector 240 lumen flashlight would have both spot and flood at the same time.

I personally use the tight beam more for long range rather than detailed work.
The super uniform flood is better for up close.