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Photon Micro-Lights
- Thread starter King of Groove
- Start date
I just picked up the new narrow beam white Photon. This thing is so bright that it's almost as bright as a Mini Mag. It's absolutely amazing. And the color is much cleaner than the mini-mag's. I had a blue one and that thing is also very bright. However, blue light causes your eyes to focus beyond the object, so it's not useful for providing object definition. It is, however, the most visible color at night. Give your kids one to take when they are out at night so motorists can see them.
- Joined
- May 22, 1999
- Messages
- 1,474
Check this out. I posted the main link in Ralf's thread. It is the *Flame* LED Keychain light by Eternalight. Here are the specs:
http://www.americaworks.net/lighting/flame.html
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"A knifeless man is a lifeless man"
-Nordic proverb
- White light visible over 1 mile!
- 10 to 12 hours of continuous BURN TIME!
- Water resistant to 100 feet!
- Casts a beam that will illuminate objects over 20 feet away!
- 10 year shelf life, thanks to its integral lithium batteries
- Impact resistant (in fact, it may even bounce when dropped) rubberized over-molded casing makes it nearly impervious to almost any substance.
- And, best of all, unlike other white LED flashlights of this size and power, it's very inexpensive.
http://www.americaworks.net/lighting/flame.html
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"A knifeless man is a lifeless man"
-Nordic proverb
- Joined
- Feb 11, 1999
- Messages
- 652
I'd have to say, if they are offered in the BF Store, I will probably have to pick one up. I have one of the original Phonton's (not II), and love it. I actually think I like it better than the Photon II, because it has just the push-button. That prevents you from using it more than you really need. Mine is in yellow, and works great. However, if I had it to do over, and only one light, I'd probably get white. As a second, I personally would probably opt for blue or green.
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It's just a ****ing staple!
Outlaw_Dogboy
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It's just a ****ing staple!
Outlaw_Dogboy
SDouglas,
Here's an old (but long) thread on the Photon vs. Saphire debate:
http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/003213.html
Personally, I really need that constant on function so Photon wins automatically. With the Saphire you also need to send it back to the company to get the batteries replaced. (Who comes up with these ideas anyway?)
Dogboy,
You say you like the Photon 1's better than the 2's? I guess there's no accounting for taste. I despised the Photon 1's because of the lack of the constant on function. What do you do if both your hands are occupied?
Also, does anyone know how to tell the difference between the new and old white Photon 2 lights? I've seen some white Photons at a retail location but how do I who which era it came from? Can you visually tell from switching it on?
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ET
[This message has been edited by ET (edited 08 November 1999).]
Here's an old (but long) thread on the Photon vs. Saphire debate:
http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/003213.html
Personally, I really need that constant on function so Photon wins automatically. With the Saphire you also need to send it back to the company to get the batteries replaced. (Who comes up with these ideas anyway?)
Dogboy,
You say you like the Photon 1's better than the 2's? I guess there's no accounting for taste. I despised the Photon 1's because of the lack of the constant on function. What do you do if both your hands are occupied?
Also, does anyone know how to tell the difference between the new and old white Photon 2 lights? I've seen some white Photons at a retail location but how do I who which era it came from? Can you visually tell from switching it on?
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ET
[This message has been edited by ET (edited 08 November 1999).]
I really like em! I carry a blue on my Leatherman Wave lanyard, and a orange on my key ring. Eighter one is bright enough to light my way at night when going from house to garage. Had a turquise, but my wife took it. The blue is brighter with 10+ hour battery life. The orange is not as bright but has a battery life of about 100 hours, if I'm not mistaken.
- Joined
- Oct 7, 1998
- Messages
- 1,838
You guys are great! I just ran across this thread and have only a little to contribute.
ET; you cannot tell the difference between the new and old white Photon II unless you turn them on. The old type has a noticable blue ring around the periphery, and dark rings inside the light pattern itself. The packaging is identical. Best way to make sure you get a new one is to get one from Tim Flanagan at noreastknives@bigfoot.com
He sell bunches of the things, and his stock is always fresh. He is also a good source for Krill and Sure-Fire lights as well.
Check out my post on the Photon web site discussion board for instructions on making your Photon water resistant. http://www.photonlight.com/
Tips on color selection:
Women love turquoise. Period.
Short wavelengths best for marking people (trick or treaters, bicyclists); i.e. blue or turquoise. Red or orange also good for this.
Newer white light is much more full spectrum, and there is no longer significant chromatic aberration, although red remains the best for detail resolution beyond 5 or 6 feet.
Green is all around best compromise, and has longest burn time. One tester found that there was over 3 weeks' actual burn time, constant on.
A waterproof Photon II is on the horizon.
Hope this helps, Walt
ET; you cannot tell the difference between the new and old white Photon II unless you turn them on. The old type has a noticable blue ring around the periphery, and dark rings inside the light pattern itself. The packaging is identical. Best way to make sure you get a new one is to get one from Tim Flanagan at noreastknives@bigfoot.com
He sell bunches of the things, and his stock is always fresh. He is also a good source for Krill and Sure-Fire lights as well.
Check out my post on the Photon web site discussion board for instructions on making your Photon water resistant. http://www.photonlight.com/
Tips on color selection:
Women love turquoise. Period.
Short wavelengths best for marking people (trick or treaters, bicyclists); i.e. blue or turquoise. Red or orange also good for this.
Newer white light is much more full spectrum, and there is no longer significant chromatic aberration, although red remains the best for detail resolution beyond 5 or 6 feet.
Green is all around best compromise, and has longest burn time. One tester found that there was over 3 weeks' actual burn time, constant on.
A waterproof Photon II is on the horizon.
Hope this helps, Walt
Wow Walt. Answering my techical questions on the other flashlight thread and on Photons. You should be some kind of senior member. What's the story there? Is UBB broken? You've got well over 500 posts. Don't tell me they've upped it to 1000. I'm just a couple away from 100.
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ET
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ET
- Joined
- May 22, 1999
- Messages
- 1,474
ET,
I asked Spark that very question:
http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum5/HTML/000248.html
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"A knifeless man is a lifeless man"
-Nordic proverb
I asked Spark that very question:
http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum5/HTML/000248.html
------------------
"A knifeless man is a lifeless man"
-Nordic proverb
Jim March
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Oct 7, 1998
- Messages
- 3,022
My green Photon2 is my constant companion. GREAT all arounder and lotsa battery life. I can't count the number of times I've poked around in the back of a PC under a desk with that sucker dangling from my keychain in my teeth. It can throw a green spot on the ceiling of a dark theater, you can navigate in pitch black, what it lacks in power is made up for in smallness so you can get it in close to something like a circuitboard jumper block and read the switch positions.
I cannot imagine NOT having it on me 24/7, literally. Anything else that lacks constant-on would be relatively useless; as is I can throw it's keyring over a finger and get it right inside the job, guiding it with a pinkie while still using the rest of that hand...or doing a tooth-dangle.
MAJOR 2 thumbs up.
Jim
I cannot imagine NOT having it on me 24/7, literally. Anything else that lacks constant-on would be relatively useless; as is I can throw it's keyring over a finger and get it right inside the job, guiding it with a pinkie while still using the rest of that hand...or doing a tooth-dangle.
MAJOR 2 thumbs up.
Jim
Got to agree w/ Walt about the Turquoise. It's the specific color my girlfriend asked for.
I've given a few as gifts, I own the Orange model and may get another or even a white.
If they make a long lasting white, I'd snatch it.
My friend is getting a Red, his girlfriend has the Green that accompanies her Gerber MicroLST (my gift to her last Xmas). Swan (my girl) has both blue and turquoise.
I've given a few as gifts, I own the Orange model and may get another or even a white.
If they make a long lasting white, I'd snatch it.
My friend is getting a Red, his girlfriend has the Green that accompanies her Gerber MicroLST (my gift to her last Xmas). Swan (my girl) has both blue and turquoise.
One more thing about these Photons. Is red definitely better for night vision? I guess it doesn't even have to refer to Photons but coloured light in general. I've tried different colourd Photons and can't really say that the red is the best for night vision. The green seems ok also. Tell me I need to eat more carrots and red is the best.
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ET
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ET
- Joined
- Feb 11, 1999
- Messages
- 652
ET, just never had the need to have constant on with just my photon on me. And it's simpler.
Also, regarding red light best for night vision... it depends, I think, on how you define best. Seriously. If you are looking for the least impact on your night vision, absent the light, then you want red. If you are looking for best visual acuity in the presence of the light, then green allows you to see better, for a given intensity, I think. I'm sure there are people on the forums that know better than i, if they read this thread.
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It's just a ****ing staple!
Outlaw_Dogboy
Also, regarding red light best for night vision... it depends, I think, on how you define best. Seriously. If you are looking for the least impact on your night vision, absent the light, then you want red. If you are looking for best visual acuity in the presence of the light, then green allows you to see better, for a given intensity, I think. I'm sure there are people on the forums that know better than i, if they read this thread.
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It's just a ****ing staple!
Outlaw_Dogboy
- Joined
- Oct 2, 1998
- Messages
- 15,230
We just got some wholesale pricing information on the Photon and Krill lamps, and they will be going into the store in the near future.
Since you guys seem so darn insistent, that is...
Spark
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Kevin Jon Schlossberg
SysOp and Administrator for BladeForums.com
Insert witty quip here
Since you guys seem so darn insistent, that is...
Spark
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Kevin Jon Schlossberg
SysOp and Administrator for BladeForums.com
Insert witty quip here
Photons are must haves. I have a bunch on hand at all times. Since I carry a Surefire 6P religiously, I chose a red and a white for my keychain. The white would be for general use since it allows for a full spectrum and less distortion. The red is universally recognized as a distress signal. A must have in case of emergencies, especially when travelling. It also does a good job of preserving night vision.
The greens ("Y2K") have the longest burn time and preserves nite vision as well. Good to have if the lights ever go out for an extended time.
The turquoise is really bright and does a fantastic job of lighting up a wide area. The oranges were great for trick or treating! My neice and nephew thinks so!
The ASP lites are available in blue only and has a momentary switch. It looks hi tech but I don' t prefer them. In fact their blue is too bright/ intense. I' ve tried them in pitch black and it is a bit of a strain for the eyes.
Waterproof Photon soon? WOW.
L8r,
Nakano
PS- LRI are tops in customer service.
The greens ("Y2K") have the longest burn time and preserves nite vision as well. Good to have if the lights ever go out for an extended time.
The turquoise is really bright and does a fantastic job of lighting up a wide area. The oranges were great for trick or treating! My neice and nephew thinks so!
The ASP lites are available in blue only and has a momentary switch. It looks hi tech but I don' t prefer them. In fact their blue is too bright/ intense. I' ve tried them in pitch black and it is a bit of a strain for the eyes.
Waterproof Photon soon? WOW.
L8r,
Nakano
PS- LRI are tops in customer service.
- Joined
- May 22, 1999
- Messages
- 1,474
Spark,
I think that announcement deserves its very own thread
Krill lights too? Great.
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"A knifeless man is a lifeless man"
-Nordic proverb
I think that announcement deserves its very own thread
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"A knifeless man is a lifeless man"
-Nordic proverb
I have found the red one to be perfect for navigating theaters and such as it doesn't seem to interfere with anyone's night vision per se.
I do like the white one. It may have less of a burn time as the others but it works very well for what I need.
Thanks for the info on changing batteries, I know that I will have to eventually and I like to know what I am in for.
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I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how a man could look up into the heavens and say there is no God.
*Abraham Lincoln
Romans 1:20-22
I do like the white one. It may have less of a burn time as the others but it works very well for what I need.
Thanks for the info on changing batteries, I know that I will have to eventually and I like to know what I am in for.
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I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how a man could look up into the heavens and say there is no God.
*Abraham Lincoln
Romans 1:20-22
- Joined
- Oct 7, 1998
- Messages
- 1,838
Ah! It occurs to me that I forgot to give credit to the person who introduced me to Photon lights. It was the estimable Jim March, fighter for justice and the American Way (to carry guns). Thanks, Jim; for a biker, you are not a bad guy!
Night vision; nearly as controversial as hard chrome, G-10, and tang notches
Here is the best discussion about it that I have found, very readable, but comprehensive: http://www.corvus.com/kniffen.htm
For those of you who want fast answers, here goes: ALL colors of Photons are several magnitudes of brightness above the level needed to preserve night vision.
Traditionally, red was the color thought to preserve night vision best. This has been questioned, however, as some people think that the absolute level of the light is more important. Under mesopic and scotopic (low light and REALLY low light) conditions, the retina is most sensitive to green light. Night vision, these people think, is best preserved by a green light so dim that NO color is preceived. Things are in black and gray. I think these people are probably right, but my neighbor is an amateur astronomer, and engineer, and he uses a red LED on a rheostat, so that he can turn it way down. Works for him.
I welcome any ophthalmologists or optometrists, astronomers, or others with first hand knowledge in this field; feel free to comment, question, or criticise my post.
I will reiterate that Tim Flanagan is the best source for all these goodies. His e-mail is: noreastknives@bigfoot.com I have, over the past year and a half, bought about 500 Photons from him. I give them away to waiters/waitresses, mechanics, neighbors, kids (mine and others)and friends, I even tossed some in with the KNIFEGNUGEN shirts I sent to foreign countries. Tim also has turned me on to the latest Krill light color, purple. I can't wait to try it on my 7 yo.! Tim also has the best prices on Li batteries, both for Photons and Sure-Fires.
Regarding my member status, ET (and others). This is not an oversight. You see, when this forum started, I was here at the first. I requested that instead of a member, I be called, 'Whacko.' Mike and Spark were amused enough to grant my wish, but there were soon a flood of others who wanted their own designations, which M&S had to, for reasons of simplicity, had to deny. At some point, during one of Spark's rebuildings of the Forum, I got changed to member, and never upgraded. I have not protested this, as I suspect Mike will in the future, start charging people for being here, and will start with senior members first!
<--joke
Just to set the record straignt, I did NOT send Mike a Photon light. I sent him a KNIFEGNUGEN '99 t-shirt. I sent his wife and daughter, Lori and Jenna, KN'99 t-shirts AND orange Photon II's for Haloween. Further, I did NOT recommend Mike dress up as a speed bump for Haloween. I just said he could if he wanted to.
BTW; Mike: how about a family pic of you, Lori and Jenna dressed in your KNIFEGNUGEN '99 t-shirts? This should go a long way to showing your total impartiality regarding Mad Dog knives! Heck, I even sent Spark one as well. If you can get him in the pic, go for it! Just no nasty grimaces or derogatory signs, OK??
Hoping this helps (chortle), Walt
Night vision; nearly as controversial as hard chrome, G-10, and tang notches
Here is the best discussion about it that I have found, very readable, but comprehensive: http://www.corvus.com/kniffen.htm
For those of you who want fast answers, here goes: ALL colors of Photons are several magnitudes of brightness above the level needed to preserve night vision.
Traditionally, red was the color thought to preserve night vision best. This has been questioned, however, as some people think that the absolute level of the light is more important. Under mesopic and scotopic (low light and REALLY low light) conditions, the retina is most sensitive to green light. Night vision, these people think, is best preserved by a green light so dim that NO color is preceived. Things are in black and gray. I think these people are probably right, but my neighbor is an amateur astronomer, and engineer, and he uses a red LED on a rheostat, so that he can turn it way down. Works for him.
I welcome any ophthalmologists or optometrists, astronomers, or others with first hand knowledge in this field; feel free to comment, question, or criticise my post.
I will reiterate that Tim Flanagan is the best source for all these goodies. His e-mail is: noreastknives@bigfoot.com I have, over the past year and a half, bought about 500 Photons from him. I give them away to waiters/waitresses, mechanics, neighbors, kids (mine and others)and friends, I even tossed some in with the KNIFEGNUGEN shirts I sent to foreign countries. Tim also has turned me on to the latest Krill light color, purple. I can't wait to try it on my 7 yo.! Tim also has the best prices on Li batteries, both for Photons and Sure-Fires.
Regarding my member status, ET (and others). This is not an oversight. You see, when this forum started, I was here at the first. I requested that instead of a member, I be called, 'Whacko.' Mike and Spark were amused enough to grant my wish, but there were soon a flood of others who wanted their own designations, which M&S had to, for reasons of simplicity, had to deny. At some point, during one of Spark's rebuildings of the Forum, I got changed to member, and never upgraded. I have not protested this, as I suspect Mike will in the future, start charging people for being here, and will start with senior members first!
Just to set the record straignt, I did NOT send Mike a Photon light. I sent him a KNIFEGNUGEN '99 t-shirt. I sent his wife and daughter, Lori and Jenna, KN'99 t-shirts AND orange Photon II's for Haloween. Further, I did NOT recommend Mike dress up as a speed bump for Haloween. I just said he could if he wanted to.
BTW; Mike: how about a family pic of you, Lori and Jenna dressed in your KNIFEGNUGEN '99 t-shirts? This should go a long way to showing your total impartiality regarding Mad Dog knives! Heck, I even sent Spark one as well. If you can get him in the pic, go for it! Just no nasty grimaces or derogatory signs, OK??
Hoping this helps (chortle), Walt
- Joined
- Oct 7, 1998
- Messages
- 1,838
Curse you, Turber. You changed me to Senior Member when I wasn't looking. There is no justice!
Senior Member (gritting teeth) Walt
Senior Member (gritting teeth) Walt