Flashlights

C

cybrok

Joined
Aug 7, 2005
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Sorry if it is off-topic, but I didn't know where to ask this, and told myself that most of you probably have a flashlight.

I would like to buy one and hesitate between 2 models:

Fenix L1P
Inova X5

Your opinion?
 
Fenix L1P hands down. The X5, which I like also, BTW, uses 5 leds (5mm leds are older technology). The Fenix is smaller, and uses a Luxeon led. I have both and like both.
 
I think L:E:D:s are slowly taking over the lighting world . Everything from flash to streetlights . Big saving on energy consumption .

I,ll check out the flashes you mentioned . I have an El cheapo head lamp. THe l;e;d;s work great . Apparently the switches break easily . What do you want for free ?
 
Most folks I know who have a Fenix like it quite a bit.

I have and like the L2.

John
 
Is there a big difference between the 2? If I can get an Inova much cheaper than a Fenix, should I still wait for the Fenix?
 
I have both. The Fenix is brighter, is a much smaller light and uses readily available batteries. As another member posted, I too like both but think the Fenix is more practical.
 
It is not really for EDC, I will work on shows soon and I think I'm better have a flashlight on me. (read: mostly short range use)

I would like to get a Fenix, the thing is that right now, I could have a X5 for 10$. Should I take it? (and buy a Fenix later).

Seems like most of you have both. In the worst case I will have 2 lights.
 
cybrok said:
Is there a big difference between the 2? If I can get an Inova much cheaper than a Fenix, should I still wait for the Fenix?
Click to expand...
Yes, you should. It's worth it.

The Fenix has a reflector that focuese the beam; throws light farther than the X-5, so you can see farther. The X-5 is just a floodlight. The Fenix also uses readily-available AA batteries (and ROCKs with Energizer Lithiums, if you want to spend the money for them); the Inova uses 2 CR123A cells, which you can get for ~$1 each online (+ shipping!), but are very expensive and hard to find offline, like when you're camping and your batteries run out.
 
An X5 for ten dollars is an AWESOME deal!!!!!!!!!!!
 
On the topic of LED lights (but off the topic of the brands mentioned), my 1-watt Dorcy was my most-used LED light--but a few nights ago, I dropped it and, ever since, its function has been spotty--sometimes going out, requiring a few smacks to get it lit up again. The drop wasn't a thousand feet onto a granite shelf, either--it was about two feet onto dirt, which doesn't betoken good durability. What's everybody else's experience with LED lights, of various models, durability-wise?
 
The dorcy is a bottom of the line led, I have put a inova t1 through hell and it is still going strong. I carry a gerber infinity ultra for close work, 10.5 hours run time, and a inova t1 or t2 if I need more light. I really don't think that there is one light to do it all, I have been wanting to try one of the fenix lights though. Chris
 
Not to run this thread off topic, but I was one to the 40,000 Cailforniains that had the lights go out on them in this last week. The power went out on me Sundy afternoon and wasn't restored till Wednesday night. I have a surefire as an EDC but the one light that was used most was my eight dollar min-mag. That little sucker ran like a champ. I have four in my emergency bins and all of them were used. With daytime temps in the 100's and ice in the town wasn't to be found for 30 miles. Being that I work 80 miles from home on my drive back to town I would pick up dry ice and water ice for my family and a few of my neighbors. Whenever I would show up min-mag in hand, it would get a huge " hey, let me see that". I know other FL's give more light and brighter, but the one thing the min-mag has that people loved was the lamp feature. Other lights are great but, try making a sandwich with your light rolling around on top of a cooler. The min work geat at all the little things you need to get done when the powers out, making beds, opening cans, washing up...on and on. At 8 bucks they more than earned there place in my emergency bins. I have to buy some new one's, the neighbors haven't been quick to return the ones I lent them.

Sorry to get off topic. But with a thread on flashlights I just had to write about my min-mag's.
 
Mini mags are good . They are not particularly rurable when it comes to falls . The led can be dropped from an airplane and will still function . There is an L:E:D: upgrade for a maglite . Even Maglite has admitted L:E:Ds are the way to go .
 
Kevin the grey said:
Mini mags are good . They are not particularly rurable when it comes to falls . The led can be dropped from an airplane and will still function . There is an L:E:D: upgrade for a maglite . Even Maglite has admitted L:E:Ds are the way to go .
Click to expand...

As KtG says, the LED conversion is the way to go. Batteries last 10x as long with more light. No filament to break if dropped.

And since we discuss gear all the time here and how and why to use it when things get hairy, none of this is OT.
 
I converted my Mini Mag to LED and if you already have one it is great way to upgrade it. I still like my Inovas better though. Chris
 
Guys, I'm actually in a degree in Physics Engineering, you don't have to tell me how better a DEL is than a light bulb :) I already know that.

The solution look simple to me: GET BOTH!
 
So you are an engineer . We still respect you . L:O:L

I took most of my electronics in french . While I passed due to hard work there were a few thing I would miss out on . I would have liked to learn more about Zeiner diodes . In particular their application as current overload perotection . I really missed out on that .
 
I love LED flashlights and headlamps. Even the cheapest LED flashlight seems to be a huge improvement on the old conventional filament bulb when it comes to reliability and battery life. I use my LED headlamps a lot.

If I were going to get another one, I would be more likely to get one that takes the common AA or AAA batteries. Then I would get rechargable batteries. Even though you get phenomenal life out of batteries with these LED rigs, I find that I still chew through batteries. So rechargables have made it much cheaper for me. I have a charger that can charge a set of batteries in less than an hour.

My good lady has a Surefire... and it is solidly made and very bright. But the batteries are relatively expensive and could be hard to get hold of in some places.

I often have a small keychain LED flashlight with me. Very, very handy.

I spend a lot of time away from the national electicity grid and LED technology has changed my life. These are one of mankind's greatest technological achievements in my humble opinion.
 
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