$500 for a pocket LED light? ..

smknman · May 26, 2007

I'm not a surefire fan but I'll spend $250 for an HDS any day of the week, better quality and customer service that blows surefire's out of the water.

WadeF · May 27, 2007

Seems like a lot of money for only 65 lumens. You'd think for that price it would be using the latest and greatest CREE LED, or whatever, and be pushing out something more in the 140+ lumen range. I'm sure it's a quality piece, and the full control of the output is kinda cool. I'll just stick with my Fenix PD1-CE, with it's 135 Lumens on max output, for now.

parnass · May 27, 2007

WadeF said:
Seems like a lot of money for only 65 lumens. ...

Quality to me is more than just lumens. Some of the Fenix flashlights don't even have reverse polarity protection. Put the battery in backwards and *poof*.

Snow · May 28, 2007

parnass said:
Quality to me is more than just lumens. Some of the Fenix flashlights don't even have reverse polarity protection. Put the battery in backwards and *poof*.

I've never really understood why self-professed "flashaholics" need reverse polarity protection. Surely out of all the people who use flashlights, they are the most qualified to insert a battery the correct way, no? Even in the dark, I can replace a battery by touch. And most of these guys wouldn't have to do it in the dark, because they'd use their 2nd, 3rd, or 4th backup light to see while they did it.

tyr_shadowblade · May 28, 2007

I recently upgraded from a Mini-Maglite to an Inova T1 and an Inova X5 -- very inexpensive LED flashlights ($25 & $45) that use the CR123 and work far better than what I was accustomed to.

To me, $500 for a flashlight seems insane.

Grey Area · May 28, 2007

Snow said:
I've never really understood why self-professed "flashaholics" need reverse polarity protection. Surely out of all the people who use flashlights, they are the most qualified to insert a battery the correct way, no? Even in the dark, I can replace a battery by touch. And most of these guys wouldn't have to do it in the dark, because they'd use their 2nd, 3rd, or 4th backup light to see while they did it.

I'm not a flashaholic, but I would guess that a reason could be a striving for perfectionism similar to the one often found in knife-enthusiasts (and many other fields as well): we of all people could probably handle most cutting tasks with a wobbly slipjoint (like generations before us did and many still do), but no, we want locks that can withstand more force than the hand holding the knife, and no bladeplay whatsoever, and the finest latest blade steel available, and why is that clip made of steel when it could be made of titanium for just three times the cost?

parnass · May 28, 2007

Snow said:
I've never really understood why self-professed "flashaholics" need reverse polarity protection. ...

I will explain:

1) Ever lend a flashlight to a "layman?" They can't be relied upon to never make a mistake.

2) Different flashlights require batteries to be inserted differently and it is easy for an owner of several lights to insert a battery backwards by accident. Some Inova lights, for example, require the positive terminal to be pointed towards the rear of the flashlight.

Even the most basic flashlights will not be damaged if you put a battery in backwards, so it is a disappointment that Fenix models cannot withstand the same treatment.

carrot · May 29, 2007

I don't think a $500 light is gonna be loaned to anybody...

SIFU1A · May 30, 2007

i have put batts in my fenix the wrong way with no probs other than it doesnt work, P1D-CE and the 1 'aa' std model, forgot the mod #.

and how did i do that?? simple, want paying attention.

Snow · May 31, 2007

parnass said:
I will explain:

1) Ever lend a flashlight to a "layman?" They can't be relied upon to never make a mistake.

2) Different flashlights require batteries to be inserted differently and it is easy for an owner of several lights to insert a battery backwards by accident. Some Inova lights, for example, require the positive terminal to be pointed towards the rear of the flashlight.

Even the most basic flashlights will not be damaged if you put a battery in backwards, so it is a disappointment that Fenix models cannot withstand the same treatment.

1) Not one that costs more than $20.

2) Actually you're right on this point. I actually own an X5T and now that you mention it I remember that the batteries go in "backwards" compared to all of my other lights. You've definitely got me there.