Comparison summary of some torches [Updated]

LED Flashlights – General Info
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I was out in the forest last night with the intention of trying out my favourite torches, and comparing them. It was pretty much pitch black, and not too crowded with trees to give us an idea of what the distances and beam patterns were like from the various torches. Please note, the following is in NO WAY scientific, I have no figures, it was just a comparison for my eyes.

This is what I had with me;

Fenix RC40 (6000 lumens)
Fenix TK41 (860 lumens)
Fenix PD35 (850 lumens)
Malkoff M61 MD2 Nichia 219 with hi-lo
Zebralight SC600 (Mk II)
HDS EDC Rotary (250 lumens)
Streamlight Microstream (only because this is always with me, not necessarily for direct comparison)
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My most recent purchase was the biggest daddy of them, the RC40. With it’s lowest setting of 50 lumens, it’s surprisingly very useful. Creates a very nice floody beam, handy around the forest if you don’t mind the weight and size of the thing. We were able to get it to the edge of the forest where we had access to a field, and at the second high level (4000 lumens) it shines the whole thing up. Massive hotspot, and a most useful widespread light that enables you to see your peripheral fairly easily. This thing is designed for proper search and rescue, most impressed with it’s distance capability and for lighting up everything around whatever you have in the hotspot. The settings (in lumens) are - 50, 500, 2000, 4000 and 6000. I don’t like this spacing, you can’t tell much difference between the 2 top settings, I think a more suitable layout would have been - 50, 500, 1700, 3000-3500 and then 6000.
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The TK41, believe it or not also does great with distances. And until I saw the RC40 in action last night, I thought it was a good wide pattern beam, but in comparison it is fairly focused. Not to say it’s not useful, but not as much as the RC40. It has a quite focused hotspot, which does really well out in the distances and you wouldn’t really complain if you had to use this one in a farm/field sort of setting. Though you do have to move it around a bit to get the full picture lit up. Whereas with the RC40, you sort of shine it in one direction and a whole lot left and right of it lights up also. In the forest setting, I found it’s not as useful due to the focused pattern, but then it’s designed for that anyway. The spacing for the settings are spot on, each level gives out a perception of getting noticeably brighter. One of main major advantages of this torch is that it uses AA batteries, for those that may need to get some in an emergency from your local shop, very handy indeed. In the 2 lowest settings, it is more than adequate for your daily around the house/forest sort of jobs. And a helluva lot lighter/smaller than the RC40.
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Both of the above, really only suited for long distance, but you probably already knew that anyway. I know for a fact that these will be assigned to the back of the car and will be left there, only taken out if specifically needed. Let’s face it, the RC40 will be taken out for fun :smiley:
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Now the next 2 that are similar in design, battery useage and output: Fenix PD35 and Zebralight SC600 II. Although the SC600 is smaller in physical dimension, it’s more impressive in it’s output (relative to it’s size).
The PD35 (only when compared to the SC600) has a more defined hotspot, and so throws further. Now let me clarify, the hotspot is fairly large and the spill is also large, so as a work light and around a camp setting it’s mega useful. It fits in the hand beautifully well, I love the tactically positioned forward clicky to switch it on/off and then the side switch to switch between the modes. Lovely design in that regard, IMO. Really, I have nothing bad to say about it. It’s lowest is around 10 lumens IIRC, which is fine in the dark. A lower setting (sort of around 1-2lumen) would be better but really can’t complain. And the highest of 850 is kinda overkill in the forest setting, obviously, but it’s useful for throw when needed. Nice beam, nice throw, nice settings, nice runtimes, nice torch!
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The SC600, was disappointing for me. I always regarded this highly, and it does a really good job of lighting up every friggin thing in the way. It has the most useful modes, 6 that are readily available. A really low low for those night adjusted eyes, and a hugely massive high for creating a lightbulb-like effect right in front of you - that actually goes a decent enough distance (at least in the woods environment).Where it was disappointing was I found the PD35 more useful. Because of the hotspot in the PD35, you can have it pointing downwards and it lights your way and whilst keeping it at the same setting you can move it upwards straight ahead and it will show you in the distance. With the SC600 I found to have it light the way at your feet you generally have it a lower setting, but to see ahead in the distance, you had to bump it up a notch. Now I’m nitpicking here obviously, but I didn’t expect that.
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One flaw I found with the SC600 last night, when I clicked once to get to high, it would go down to medium. I tried it a good few times and it did the same each time. I checked the battery levels and it flashed twice showing at least 50% battery level available, so it shouldn’t have done that. I switched the battery from my Malkoff to the SC600, it showed 3 flashes of battery available and then it was able to use the highest mode. Not happy with that. Overall, I was going for the SC600 less than I thought I would. I really wanted this one to come out near the top.
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The HDS EDC Rotary, with around 250lumens highest and I have no idea what at the lowest, shows it’s not all about the lumens. A whole bunch of factors come into play. The reflector depth, width and it’s OP quality/design. This was the most fun light to play with, with a single hand you can ramp it up to the highest and then down to the lowest using the dial, SUPER handy and useful. The lowest seems ridiculously low when you see it at home during daylight. But out when it’s really dark, that lowest low is actually useful for close up work (when we were making a fire and didn’t wanna lose our night vision). In your head, you have this concept of “what the hell is 250 lumens going to do”, a whole lot really if it’s used to it’s fullest potential. If it was up to me, I think I would have wanted only another 50-100 lumens at max output, and that’s being greedy. From the lowest, to the highest, each increment is noticeable to the ere and each time it goes up, it’s a useful increase. Not too low an increase, not too high an increase, just perfect. I think it has 24 stages? The light this puts out is bloody useful!! Great throw, great spread, evenly done from the center to the edge, lights up everything and you could want no more!! This light showed me last night it’s not all about the lumens, and also what an expensive light can do. I LOVE this one!!! Definitely one of my favourites!
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Now the Malkoff MD2, the winner of the night! This was my only warm/neutral tint light, and each one of us loved it for that reason. I’m not saying that’s why it wins, but this was the first thing we all noticed. How the tint makes a massive difference. It allows everything to be seen the way it should appear to your eyes. Perfection as far as tint is concerned. The output, a low (I think it’s 10-20, I forget), and the high I think is around 250-300. With night adjusted eyes, the low is perfect, for around the camp, and when walking also. Twist the head, get it to max and wowza! Lumens wise it may not have the highest figure, but with the eyes, it really is plenty bright enough. MASSIVE spread of beam, flawlessly done from edge to edge, no discernible artefacts, no visible hotspots, no noticeable dark rings/spots in the beam and this thing lights up all that is around you!! What a beautiful beam indeed! And the quality of the construction is easily top notch!! The head is silky smooth to twist from high to low and that clickly, with a joy to click! This is my absolutely most favouritest torch of them all!!!
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And the biggest surprise of the night, the Microstream. I thought it would be put to such shame, so badly in the company of the bigger torches, that it would be laughable. Not so, has a great throw with a very useable wide beam on it. Muchos impressed, don’t underestimate this one guys. Should definitely be in your collection if you like single AAA lights!!
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Thank you for reading, and sorry for rambling. Like I said before, it’s not meant for any scientific purposes, only for me to convey how these lights were when compared to each other. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

Some random images from last night

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Thx Dr Forinor, interesting read.

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Thanks JamesB.

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Nice read Doc - sorry for not responding sooner, been off t’grid…… Could you stick a pic up of all the torches together?

Paul

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All good Paul.
Sure, will do that later on this week :slight_smile:

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Nice comparison! :+1:

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Thank you firedome.

Sorry I forgot to include the Microstream in the original picture so here it is for size comparison against the 18650

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Last night we went out on a beach and some cave exploring, some of this may be repetition from the original, but these are my observations from last night.
Reason for an update is last night was using these in a massively open space, so different surroundings altogether. All of the following, and everything from the first post were observed in near pitch blackness. If you have an area that has light leakage from elsewhere then obviously you need more light from your torch to compensate.

Torches I took with me last night;

Fenix RC40
Fenix TK41
Fenix PD35
Malkoff M61
HDS Rotary
Olight S10 (replaced the Zebralight SC600 which I left at home)
Streamlight Microstream

The RC40, could throw further than what our eyes could see without magnification. Huge hotspot with a really soft transition onto the spill area and a very wide spill, most useful beam indeed. In the 50 lumens it throws a great deal and really lights up everything for general purpose use. The next setting of 500 is the maximum you would ever need (unless you really are using it for search and rescue). The 500 level literally shows you everything in front of you. I really enjoy this one, on the lowest it’s extremely utilitarian in it’s output, up a level and you have your low/high that you require. It’s rechargeable, has battery indicators, special modes, and also has a USB output to charge your devices (from it’s 7400mAh battery). Lovely piece of kit!
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The TK41, same as before, very defined hotspot, too defined really. I used to think the spill on this was actually useful but last night demonstrated it wasn’t as useful as I once thought. Perhaps following the RC40 distorted my perception, I’m not sure. It does great with distances, but anything outwith the relatively small hotspot, there is a chance you may miss something. You really do have to scan the area to find what you are looking for. For your oddbod it’s perfectly capable, I’m just being extremely picky. In terms of the output levels, I still maintain they are beautifully spaced out.
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One thing I noticed last night when I was placing the torches on rocks to light up areas (to get pictures), the TK41 is fully cylindrical, and it’s more liable to roll - doesn’t have large enough flat spots. The RC40 has many flat spots along the head and body and this helps in placing it so it doesn’t roll anywhere. Not that this changes the true functionality of it being a torch, but if you have to put it down for any reason, that may be a factor.
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The PD35 was actually a favourite in this setting. The smooth reflector allows for better throw and even at the lower settings (10 and 45 lumens were more than capable in lighting up the area and up ahead). I found I was using this torch the most when we were searching for driftwood for the fire. It does a decent job when around the camp itself, but the defined hotspot sort of “spoils” (for want of a better word) it slightly, but then that hotspot is what comes into play when looking up ahead. Out of the 5 mode settings (10, 45, 170, 450 & 850), we found the lowest 3 were ample! The top 2 were great for a bit of fun, but in real world use, they don’t really apply.
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Here I found the Malkoff disappointing. Sorry, not disappointing (I knew it’s limitations), more that I found the limitations were more apparent here. Around the camp, on the low settings it’s great. In fact this is a torch that you would constantly use for setting up site, looking around you and general close distance stuff. When we were searching for the fire fuel, even on high I found the distinct lack of hotspot was it’s downfall. Don’t get me wrong, the light is still amazing, for what it does. What it doesn’t do is distances. The PD35 on it’s 170 setting far out threw the M61 on it’s highest setting of 300ish lumens. Of course the beam on the PD35 was nowhere near as nice, but then that’s not when you need in this situation necessarily. On the walk back along the coast and up the small cliff, I found I was reaching for the Malkoff again, due to close distances and the “deliciously joyful” beam pattern, it’s a clear winner!!
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The HDS Rotary is a surprise here. Not only is it great in the woods, but it’s actually quite the thing out in open space also. Lower settings, great for in the dark and in caves, widespread beam ensures you don’t miss anything. Dial it up a few stages and the high output gives you a decent throw whilst still maintaining a most useful spill. Not much more to be said really. I can see why this is so expensive. Not justifying the price, but if a torch can do it’s job in 2 wildly different enviroments, it’s a keeper for sure! I just regret purchasing the cool white tint, but that’s neither here nor there.
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Now, the Olight S10 Baton, this tiny munchkin of a toy, wow! I’m glad I took this instead of the SC600. If in the woods the SC600 was disappointing, I would have surely chucked it in the North Sea had I taken it out last night.The Olight is far more useful in this setting than the SC600 would ever have been. The moonlight mode is bloody useful around the camp. More than enough for night eyes, and if you need more simply step it up and you have a decent light for around you. For such a dinky thing, this thing throws a fair distance, and also has a decent enough spill to allow you to see enough of whats around you. I have this in my “just in case” bag in the boot of my car, and I think I made the right choice. Has an electronic lockout feature, has that tailcap magnet, reversible clip, really nicely spaced out mode levels and extremely small/lightweight that is capable for night eyes but can light up the beach. It does everything and then some! For the price that Olight were selling this for, and what they actually give you, it’s a friggin steal! Highly recommended!!
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And finally the Streamlight Microstream continued to surprise here again. Great throw, great spread, tiny size (its only a single AAA light) and has that clip that can be used 2 ways - whats not to love. This is another one that is a confirmed favourite in all settings except for when you need a really low. Shove it in your glove box or your jacket pocket, you won’t regret it.

Summary: (Most if not all of the following we probably already knew in theory, but seeing it in practice just sort of reinforces it all and makes it clearer to understand. I feel I am in a much better position now to make an informed decision on what to buy in the future in relation to which situation I need it for & what I can expect if I was to look at the different factors that make up a light.)

- Multi emitters are just so much better for lighting up the whole area. Even though the emitter in the TK41 is the XML, and when they first came out I remember everyone saying “it’s a large emitter so great wide spill” etc etc, on it’s own it’s still very limited and in distances it just about lights up a small cottage in terms of size (not light output). If you need mainly just distance a single emitter is fine. If you want to light up a whole area without having to wave the torch around, you have to get a multi emitter torch

- The smoothness (or lack thereof, ie having Orange Peel - and of course the depth of the reflector) makes the biggest difference to the throw capability of a torch.

  • SC600 OP wide shallow reflector, massive wide beam, not as good for lighting up something in a distance
  • Malkoff OP narrow slightly deep reflector, nice beam size and diffused apperance, better than the SC600 at throwing but still not great
  • HDS OP narrow but fairly deep refelctor, lovely beam size, more of a hotspot than in the Malkoff but also better at throwing
  • Olight S10 smooth very shallow reflector, very defined hotspot but throws a decent distance compared to how shallow the reflector is
  • PD35 smooth reflector with decent depth, nice sized spill and good enough throw - hence capable in most enviroments
  • Microstream smooth narrow reflector but relatively deep hence defined hotspot and throws more than you would expect for it’s size

- The reflector makes more of a difference to throw than the emitter does. My understanding of the theory behind emitter size and throw capability is that the smaller emitter is better at throwing and larger emitter is better at spill (or at least that’s what it was a couple of years ago at least - don’t know if it’s changed). I would say the reflector design is a bigger factor than the emitter.

  • Malkoff, 219b is a fairly small emitter so should throw a decent amount (which it does), but is coupled with a relatively small OP reflector
  • Olight S10 has the XML emitter which is suited for spill, which is does but coupled with a smooth reflector (even though its shallower than the one in the Malkoff) easily out throws the Malkoff
  • Reiterating what I already said earlier, “PD35 on it’s 170 setting far out threw the M61 on it’s highest setting of 300ish lumens” [PD35 large emitter smooth reflector, M61 small emitter OP reflector]

If I was to go back in time again, would I buy;

  • Fenix RC40, most probably. I will never use it to it’s fullest capability, but in the 50, 500 & 2000 settings it covers a whole lot of different settings that you are likely to be in
  • Fenix TK41, no. I initially purchased this with it in mind that it takes AA batteries which is handy - and obviously it is, but I have found for me it’s too limiting with such a defined hotspot. It does have a nice spill but the spill is not as well lit when compared to the hotspot and that in a ways impairs your vision into seeing only what’s in the hotspot
  • Fenix PD35, definitely. It’s very useful in a whole bunch of situations. I have now just purchased the Thrunite TN12 (their version of the PD35 but in Neutral white). These together cover most enviroments.
  • Zebralight SC600, no. I don’t find it as useful in enough situations. The only time I can see this being bloody brilliant is in a large room, or lighting up an average sized back garden. Anything outwith that and you’re struggling. And if you really want to take a torch outdoors on your typical camping trip, this alone will not do the job, IMO.
  • Malkoff M61 no, ONLY if I were to purchase the HDS. If I couldn’t afford the expense of the HDS then yes to the Malkoff. Don’t get me wrong, the Malkoff is a sure favourite of mine, I really do love it, but the HDS is very similar in terms of the beam pattern (which is why I love the Malkoff in the first place) but it improves on that by throwing better, being smaller and having more mode levels. If I could have the HDS Rotary in neutral white with a maximum level of 350-400 lumens, that right there would probably be the ONLY torch you would ever need for the vast majority of situations you are likely to ever be in (when talking about your average Joe, not law enforcement etc etc).
  • Olight S10 Baton, definitely, for the price it far exceeds expectations, brilliant little thing
  • Streamlight Microstream, definitely. For the fact that it takes a readily available AAA, and slips into your pocket and you don’t even realise it’s there, the sort of light this gives you, it’s a no brainer

Hopefully this helped some guys, if not at least I hope was a nice read. Here are some random pictures from last night, thanks for reading :slight_smile: