While I am waiting for my first convoy, I realized I could use some budget flashlights for general use just to have them around and not worry loosing them.
The BLF-348 is not available so I thought maybe some cheap zoomie $4-5
Main purpose is to brighten the view of a path that is lit with moonlight or some street light. I want to be able to see better if anyone is there, at a distance maybe 150-300 feet. Just to see what is that shadow a trash can, animal or a person.
I tried the great SK68 clone but I think I can use something with more power.
Going to be tough man for $5. You said you might need 300ft so that’s about 100 meters, that 348 is probably 10 meters usable light max just a heads up.
Simon’s likely the reliable source for that $5 zoomie.
You can find what looks like probably the same thing cheaper (as well as for $$$$ from scammers)
Since there are so many ways to cut corners and cheapen stuff, stay with a known honest source.
I don’t have one so I can’t compare it to
Another possibility I’ve mostly been lucky with is the Zeusray ($7.99, free shipping, sporadically available/backordered/available again, and now they have a “pre-order” button)
When it’s good it’s rather good, though some batches have been horrible (they’ve sent good lights promptly to replace bad ones, in my experience)
Better read the compiled threads there, it’s been a while since I bought mine (mine have almost all been good, though there were a couple a while back that had the chunky/speckled/coarse dots when focused). These things change. Zeusray had some batches a long while back that were outstanding examples of cheeseparing/quality fade (shims under the LEDs), but has also turned out good lights mostly, before and after the bad episodes. Blame the supplier, you know. Like I said, when I got a bad one (barely lit up once) they sent me a good one right away, with no hassle.
You know our motto here, right? “Do ya feel lucky? Well, do ya?” (grin)