The early reviews Iāve seen for the S6330 suggest it gets about 1750-2000 lumens and maybe 12000-15000cd lux in something about 80% the size/weight of the SRK (S6330 = 105mm x 57mm, 283g, 429g full). However, thereās a lot of controversy about those lumen measurements since no reviewer has had a proper integrating sphere of sufficient size to test it. Ceiling bounce estimates are all weāve got so far.
The tests and reviewās Iāve seen show the gold SRK gets about 2200-2300 lumens and ~22500cd lux, in something just a bit smaller than a soda can (133mm x 59mm, 341g, 535g full). The black U2 one supposedly gets about 2500 lumens, and probably about 25000 lux.
That works out to the S6330 being ~79% as big, ~83% as heavy, 70ā80 as many lumens, ~60% as much throw, and 300% to 500% as much money. Are the size, floodiness, and improved levels/UI worth that much of a price difference? (I didnāt mention the battery features because I really donāt careā¦ it solves problems Iāve never had)
Floody lights arenāt really appealing to me except for up-close indoor tasks, and I already have more appropriate items for those ā H51 with scotch 811 tape over the lens, SK-68 or UF-838 (optionally with the bezels removed), HD2011, or (at the S6330ās output levels) a common light bulb. If itās thousands of lumens, I mostly want to use it outside at longer distances and that means I want more throw.
The UI and extra levels would be nice though, to reduce the need for carrying a second, smaller light. However, I carry a H51 regardless due to hands-free use (and soon probably a SC52 or SC600 too for other purposes) so Iām very unlikely to use a SRK or S6330 for anything except the brightest modes. (the SRK has been particularly useful as a personal ābat signalā, sending a flashing beacon into the sky to help people find me)
It might be better to compare the S6330 against the TM11 since it has a similar price and lumen output to the S6330, but itās even bigger than the SRK and it took them multiple post-production revisions to get it to stop cooking itselfā¦ so, not a shining example of quality.
The Nitecore EA4 is an interesting comparison. It has about 73% the volume and 56% the mass of the S6330, 30% to 50% as many lumens (depending on which S6330 estimates are used), 133% to 166% as much throw, and costs 27% to 49% as much money ($70/$141 to $54/$200). Can be as low as 24% the cost if you include batteries too (4 Eneloops vs 3 ZL 18650s). It lacks the low or ultralow modes though, which get more relevant as the light gets smaller. Regardless, Iāve still been very tempted to get one as a smaller and less floody alternative to my SRK. It doesnāt really serve the same purposes as a S6330 though ā look at the beam shots above to see why.
The Lupine Betty TL (IIRC) might be a better comparison, since itās just slightly smaller than a S6330, has similar output and flood, and is a top-quality brand. However, itās also $800+, uses 7 emitters instead of three, and I think it uses a proprietary battery pack.
As far as I can tell, nothing else is quite like the S6330.