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Far throwing AA Light?
- Thread starter nc527
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2006
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- 5,213
Of the new generation of LED's, you're going to want a XP-E, not an XP-G. If you are looking at the LED's of the past few years, and slightly lower efficiency and beam profile are not as important as throw, then the XR-E (last generation) is still the throw king. The size of the die (yellow area in the LED) determines the amount of relative throw you get from an emitter. After the die size, you get into viewing angle (which still favors the XR-E), then you have reflector size which can technically tighten any beam if you are willing to deal with a giant flashlight head.
Reflector size is an exponentially decreasing function. A strait tube light (Quark 2xAA) (they are out of the more throwy R2 version in AA) is going to be able to throw a decent distance, while a double diameter head (Quark Turbo 2xAA) will throw better, but not twice as far. A HUGE head (Dereelight DBS) will give you great throw, but at the cost of something that will never fit in your pocket and most all of them run off of CR123's. The big headed lights usually get into cool reflector technologies such as aspherical lenses. A smooth reflector will give you better throw at the cost of artifacts in your beam profile.
I'd reccomend trying to find a 4Sevens Quark AAx2 R2 Edition if you can. I have one and I really like it. It actually appears brighter than my Quark 2x123 R5 edition because the hotspot is so much brighter. If you run across any charts, make sure you compare the Lux rating (brightness at a point in the center of the beam) instead of Lumens (total output including side-spill)
Reflector size is an exponentially decreasing function. A strait tube light (Quark 2xAA) (they are out of the more throwy R2 version in AA) is going to be able to throw a decent distance, while a double diameter head (Quark Turbo 2xAA) will throw better, but not twice as far. A HUGE head (Dereelight DBS) will give you great throw, but at the cost of something that will never fit in your pocket and most all of them run off of CR123's. The big headed lights usually get into cool reflector technologies such as aspherical lenses. A smooth reflector will give you better throw at the cost of artifacts in your beam profile.
I'd reccomend trying to find a 4Sevens Quark AAx2 R2 Edition if you can. I have one and I really like it. It actually appears brighter than my Quark 2x123 R5 edition because the hotspot is so much brighter. If you run across any charts, make sure you compare the Lux rating (brightness at a point in the center of the beam) instead of Lumens (total output including side-spill)
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2006
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- 5,213
Not to completely knock you off your course, but have you looked at the current options out there?
If you are willing to switch to CR123's or 18650's, SST-50 LED lights are starting to enter the budget end of the market and are making an impressive showing! These things are able to be driven many times harder than the standard Cree LED's you see in most lights and are amazingly impressive. If the new Cree LED's are like Corvettes, then the SST-50/90's are like those huge dump trucks you see in Kentucky strip mines! I currently have a MG P-Rocket in the mail and can't wait to try it out. These will easily put 3 times the lumens of a Quark 2xAA, and rechargeable RCR123's and 18650's (Especial AW brand) are becoming an amazingly refined product that allows years of rechargeable use if used safely.
Two lights to maybe have a look at are:
>The "sun in your pocket" (won't throw exceptionally well per-say, but putting out 600 lumens allows a lot of throw by shear power): MG P-Rocket
Just above your budget and will fit in a pocket. Simple UI, uses CR123's or an 18650.
>Amazing throw in a package that smaller than a Mag Lite: ThruNite Catapult V2
This is double your budget, but is very customizable and is "THROW" personified. Simple UI, uses CR123's, or RCR123's, or 18650's
If you are willing to switch to CR123's or 18650's, SST-50 LED lights are starting to enter the budget end of the market and are making an impressive showing! These things are able to be driven many times harder than the standard Cree LED's you see in most lights and are amazingly impressive. If the new Cree LED's are like Corvettes, then the SST-50/90's are like those huge dump trucks you see in Kentucky strip mines! I currently have a MG P-Rocket in the mail and can't wait to try it out. These will easily put 3 times the lumens of a Quark 2xAA, and rechargeable RCR123's and 18650's (Especial AW brand) are becoming an amazingly refined product that allows years of rechargeable use if used safely.
Two lights to maybe have a look at are:
>The "sun in your pocket" (won't throw exceptionally well per-say, but putting out 600 lumens allows a lot of throw by shear power): MG P-Rocket
Just above your budget and will fit in a pocket. Simple UI, uses CR123's or an 18650.
>Amazing throw in a package that smaller than a Mag Lite: ThruNite Catapult V2
This is double your budget, but is very customizable and is "THROW" personified. Simple UI, uses CR123's, or RCR123's, or 18650's
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2007
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- 3,018
The original Inova X-1 had a cool optical lens instead of a reflector. Gave it a far throw narrow spot light for what would otherwise look like a pretty weenie light. They sold them in Target. they're up to a third generation now - more lumens, reflector, much worse run-time. do a search for Inova X1 Gen1.
powernoodle
Power Member
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- Jul 21, 2004
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- 11,974
I'll second the Quark 2xAA. Multiple levels, very bright if needed, nice belt holster. Consider feeding it rechargeable Eneloop (low self discharge) AAs. This and the smaller 1xCR123 Quark are my primary EDC light rotation.
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- Apr 17, 2007
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That's not a bad light, or a bad choice. Very simple, reliable, and nice and grippy with the rubber grip, which is definitely uncommon on premium lights these days.
- Joined
- May 20, 2010
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- 10
Sorry to post something so far out of the price range, but the LensLight Model 03 is probably the best turnkey thrower in the 2 x AA form factor. It has an aspheric lens, thus it doesn't suffer from the giant-head syndrome of other good throwers.
http://www.lens-light.com/store/pages.php?pageid=6?product=0
http://www.lens-light.com/store/pages.php?pageid=6?product=0
It will ship monday from battery junction, with 2-3 day priority, I will have it in time for my week long camping trip on saturday. Sorry I didnt think about ordering from you storl, forget you carryed fenix. Plus battery junction has a deal right now, $52 for the tk20, and as a bonus you get an EO1 for free.
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2007
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- 1,607
No problem, I'll still be in business for your next order.
Drop me a line the next time you need a light. I spend all day every day hearing questions and recommending lights, so I can help point you in the right direction, whether it be from me or someone else.
HELP
I got a call late yesterday that my chosen light,(fenix tk20) was backordered in my chosen color. They have the other color (yellow grip), but I have read alot of reviews that say the tk20 has NO spill and looks like a AA mag lite in terms of tint. Does anyone have any experience with this? They said I could change my light if I wanted, but Im not sure. Im thinking of changing it to the ld20, but I cant decide!!!!
Here is my uses, and please answer asap:
Camping, Ie walking at night, biking at night, taking the dog out at night to pee, stuff like that
Hunting, going in at 5 am, and coming back around 7pm after dark.
What do you guys think?
I got a call late yesterday that my chosen light,(fenix tk20) was backordered in my chosen color. They have the other color (yellow grip), but I have read alot of reviews that say the tk20 has NO spill and looks like a AA mag lite in terms of tint. Does anyone have any experience with this? They said I could change my light if I wanted, but Im not sure. Im thinking of changing it to the ld20, but I cant decide!!!!
Here is my uses, and please answer asap:
Camping, Ie walking at night, biking at night, taking the dog out at night to pee, stuff like that
Hunting, going in at 5 am, and coming back around 7pm after dark.
What do you guys think?
- Joined
- May 24, 2006
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- 2,212
Hey storl, not to throw this off topic but how does that MG-P Rocket compare to the Lumapower D-Mini VX Ultra which is supposed to put out 550 Lumens on 1 x 18650? I like the D-Mini but I thought it would be brighter than it is so I was a little disappointed.
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2007
- Messages
- 671
I see you've already chosen one, but in that price range: Eagletac P100A2 would have been an excellent choice, or, for a bit more, a Dereelight Javelin.