- Joined
- Nov 18, 2006
- Messages
- 2,011
Just got mine in today, and MAN is it BRIGHT, especially for such a little package. The mode-switching seems like a non-issue, which was a pleasant surprise with a few of the bad reviews I've read.
However, the six modes are set up in kind of an odd fashion. To select the 'Turbo' full-on bright mode, you twist the bezel tight as it will go. A second light tap on the clicky-switch gets you to super-crazy Pokemon seizure-inducing mode.
To get to the other four modes, you loosen the bezel slightly. Lightly tapping the switch takes you from a level suitable for map reading. Another tap takes you to a brighter close-range mode--Brighter than my X5-- a third tap gets you a plenty bright general-use beam. Finally, a fourth tap begins looping an S.O.S. signal in Morse Code.
The casing felt a little 'cheap' at first compared to my Inova X5, until I realized it's much lighter by comparison. And that, being solid aluminum, there's really more 'wasted' metal on the Inova than there is 'too much removed' from the P3D.
I got the one with the orange peel reflector, which does seem to get rid of reflector-rings nicely, a minor annoyance on the LED maglite I have.
A few minor gripes with the P3D CE:
• Belt case has a d-ring but no belt loop. What gives?
• Lanyard attachments are two tiny pinholes for attaching a camera-style lanyard. It was actually somewhat difficult to thread the lanyard through. I would have preferred full-size lanyard holes like on my X5. But I knew about it before I ordered the light, and if camera lanyards are good enough for cameras, it should be fine.
• The anodizing on the "natural" models is ugly as sin. Of course, this may just be because I don't like gold-tone or 'champagne' colored anything. I'm still unclear on the whole 'natural color' thing, especially since the un-anodized threading on the mainbody is silver. I'm sending it back to Lighthound to exchange for a Black model.
All in all, very excited about the light, but a little depressed I'll be without it again for a few days for the exchange because it's just too ugly to look at.
However, the six modes are set up in kind of an odd fashion. To select the 'Turbo' full-on bright mode, you twist the bezel tight as it will go. A second light tap on the clicky-switch gets you to super-crazy Pokemon seizure-inducing mode.
To get to the other four modes, you loosen the bezel slightly. Lightly tapping the switch takes you from a level suitable for map reading. Another tap takes you to a brighter close-range mode--Brighter than my X5-- a third tap gets you a plenty bright general-use beam. Finally, a fourth tap begins looping an S.O.S. signal in Morse Code.
The casing felt a little 'cheap' at first compared to my Inova X5, until I realized it's much lighter by comparison. And that, being solid aluminum, there's really more 'wasted' metal on the Inova than there is 'too much removed' from the P3D.
I got the one with the orange peel reflector, which does seem to get rid of reflector-rings nicely, a minor annoyance on the LED maglite I have.
A few minor gripes with the P3D CE:
• Belt case has a d-ring but no belt loop. What gives?
• Lanyard attachments are two tiny pinholes for attaching a camera-style lanyard. It was actually somewhat difficult to thread the lanyard through. I would have preferred full-size lanyard holes like on my X5. But I knew about it before I ordered the light, and if camera lanyards are good enough for cameras, it should be fine.
• The anodizing on the "natural" models is ugly as sin. Of course, this may just be because I don't like gold-tone or 'champagne' colored anything. I'm still unclear on the whole 'natural color' thing, especially since the un-anodized threading on the mainbody is silver. I'm sending it back to Lighthound to exchange for a Black model.
All in all, very excited about the light, but a little depressed I'll be without it again for a few days for the exchange because it's just too ugly to look at.
Super bright. Love the number of different settings. Mine is the black color. That reminds me. I need to order a box of 123 batteries. 
