I heard a lot of good words about its big brother 8x, but I just can't find that 8x now, so I grabbed this one as long as I can still find it rightnow. Has anyone compared the 4x and the 8x? I thing though 8x have twice as much as LEDs than the 4x, but does the 4x have a higher current to make the LEDs brighter? And how about the battery age on the 4x? Thanks!
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I just ordered a nightbuster 4x LED flashlight
- Thread starter huh
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I can't compare the 4x to the 8x, but I can describe my experiences with the 8x. I bought two of these lights about 1 1/2 years ago, one for emergency use and one for regular carry in my briefcase.
On a fresh set of Duracell batteries, the 8x will run at full brightness for about an hour. For the next hour, the light output is slightly reduced, with each LED becoming individually visible instead of blending together. There is also some flickering. For the next 5-6 hours, the dimming is gradual and moderate. After that, the light becomes much less useful. Total battery life is about 10 hours. I would guess that you will get better battery life in your 4x, but maybe someone else can confirm that. Be aware that all of the NightBuster models have a history of flickering problems. The model that I have was redesigned to reduce this problem, and except for some minor flickering in the second hour, is fine.
One other thing to be aware of is that the light is not as rugged as you might expect, based on its heft and dimensions. A few months ago, I dropped one of my lights on the concrete floor beside my furnace. This was from about 3' up, and the light landed horizontally. When I turned it back on, it did not work. Since it cannot be disassembled, I am not sure why. It may be that the way the light is built contributed to the failure. A flashlight made from thinner metal or plastic might have flexed when it hit the floor and absorbed some of the shock. I suspect that the NightBuster transmitted the shock right through to the electronics. Also, the additional mass might have increased the force with which it hit. After the failure, I switched to the second light and have had no additional problems. This accident would not be covered under warranty, but maybe I should send the light in just to see what the failure was. Probably they'll just tell me "Some klutz dropped it on concrete"...
On a fresh set of Duracell batteries, the 8x will run at full brightness for about an hour. For the next hour, the light output is slightly reduced, with each LED becoming individually visible instead of blending together. There is also some flickering. For the next 5-6 hours, the dimming is gradual and moderate. After that, the light becomes much less useful. Total battery life is about 10 hours. I would guess that you will get better battery life in your 4x, but maybe someone else can confirm that. Be aware that all of the NightBuster models have a history of flickering problems. The model that I have was redesigned to reduce this problem, and except for some minor flickering in the second hour, is fine.
One other thing to be aware of is that the light is not as rugged as you might expect, based on its heft and dimensions. A few months ago, I dropped one of my lights on the concrete floor beside my furnace. This was from about 3' up, and the light landed horizontally. When I turned it back on, it did not work. Since it cannot be disassembled, I am not sure why. It may be that the way the light is built contributed to the failure. A flashlight made from thinner metal or plastic might have flexed when it hit the floor and absorbed some of the shock. I suspect that the NightBuster transmitted the shock right through to the electronics. Also, the additional mass might have increased the force with which it hit. After the failure, I switched to the second light and have had no additional problems. This accident would not be covered under warranty, but maybe I should send the light in just to see what the failure was. Probably they'll just tell me "Some klutz dropped it on concrete"...
Too bad the construction of this flashlight is not rugged. A big reason I selected it is that it might be capable for self defence.
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It is probably still a good choice for you. My comments on the ruggedness only really apply to using it as an everyday tool. After being used as an impact weapon in a self defense situation, it wouldn't matter whether it ever worked as a flashlight again. At that point, you would have other things on your mind.
It does have some limitations as a tactical light. It does not have easy one-hand operation, a momentary on/off switch, or the high intensity beam like an incandescent Surefire has. However, it does have one advantage - because it runs on AA batteries, the diameter is much smaller than a MagLight, so it is easier to get a grip on and more convenient to conceal. At the same time, it has some real heft to it. It has a hole for a lanyard, and lends itself to a lot of possibilities, which you have probably already considered.
Good luck with your purchase.
It does have some limitations as a tactical light. It does not have easy one-hand operation, a momentary on/off switch, or the high intensity beam like an incandescent Surefire has. However, it does have one advantage - because it runs on AA batteries, the diameter is much smaller than a MagLight, so it is easier to get a grip on and more convenient to conceal. At the same time, it has some real heft to it. It has a hole for a lanyard, and lends itself to a lot of possibilities, which you have probably already considered.
Good luck with your purchase.