4AA vs 3AA? I don't really see why, as far as power (longevity yes, but power no). The only way 4AA would produce more lumens, was if the driver was optimized for 4AA. If the driver was like an 8x7135, the 4th AA would just create more heat. Direct Drive 4AA would cook an XM-L. It works great on some of the higher vf leds like a P7, but not on XM-L. AA eneloops have been proven to take 10 amps and will regularly do 5 amps. If the led is not seeing (let's say 3 amps) off 3AA NiMHs, then it's the driver or some other bottleneck in the light.
Yes? or No?
As far as the square 4AA style, I like it, it has a certain appeal. I would like to see a 4AA round body flashlight (budget), that has a driver optimized for 4AA.
Yeah, I wouldn't want a 4Aa if the driver was just wasting the 4th AA as heat instead of more runtime. The driver would need to be optimized to get more runtime out of the 4th cell. But I do believe the 4th AA would help a lot with trying to run on alkalines, am I right? Isn't this really why the Fenix & Jetbeam & other's with 4AA use them?
The Sunwayman M40A XM-L is the brightest (600 lumens) and likely of highest quality 4xAA light available now
The only other light that could beat it is the (planned) Zebralight Q50 which is not released yet.
About the shape personally I don't see anything awkward about it at all - a very common flashlight design. I would say awkward to plenty of toilet plungers around with almost half a meter long battery tube and a clicky at the end!
BTW, much above ~350 lumens I don’t think the quest for higher lumens is noticeable for general purpose flashlights (IMO). I have a hard time telling the difference. Now, for “spot lights”, where you want to see far away (shoot a “laser beam” of light), it does make a difference.
I started reading this forum because CPF is offline Uhgain and I’m put off at the thread closing mods there.
I finally signed up because I wanted to comment on the earlier reference to the Fenix 4XAA LD41.
It was worth waiting for. The 500 lumens are real like most Fenix lights. You get all the benifits of the LD40 plus the 500 lumen turbo availability. The color is nice white from the XML-U2 in contrast to the angry greenish tint the XML-T6 led that other Fenix lights like the TK41 and TK60 put out.
Anyway , I like this light for what it is and even though I am really a 18650 fan I wanted more primary battery options. It is a little larger than what would fit comfortably in your pocket and has enough meat to run at full power as long as the batteries last without a break. It has a nice soft hot spot with plenty of flood too.
I’m shooting from the hip so this is just a suggestion for consideration rather than trying to write a review.
While many scoff at the lumen output don’t overlook the Fenix E40 for a simple thrower. It will outthrow the LD41 if you are looking for more concentrated output. Nothing fancy about it but not a bad light so far.
I have not seen anything more pocket friendly in 4XAA than the LD4X or the PA40 style.
It seems that the limits for pocket lights are going to be 2AA or cr123.
