RS_Matt

My Nitecore Tip is failing. the two screws at the lower left side arent keeping the torch front and back tight enough together. The plastic (gasket?) in the middle has cracked.

Having a bit of a bad run now

ven

Did not want to hurt your feelings on the nitecore, but imo they are bellow average, certainly on the cheaper/smaller type lights. Their ano chips/marks easy, electronic switches can go bad or out of the box dead, Fenix is a better quality chinese brand by a good way. Although i have only owned 5 nitecore lights(not including the 5 tubes, 2 of which are TUBEvn's............the vn's still work OK, rest dead as cheap junk. The p25 was not a bad light, the tm15 went bad even though no hard use. Nitecore was good there though, not as bad as they have been a few years back. Took a couple of weeks to get China which is far from ideal, same to get a new one back. If Thrunite are an 8/10, then nitecore imho are a 6. Would put fenix near 8.5, rc40 and tk75 near a 9/10. Acebeam around same as thrunite imo, bout an 8/10. By this i mean decent quality, dont feel hard done by and getting a nice bit of innovative illumination.............

I wont buy another NC light, feel they rush their products out and have poor QC. Whilst i am at it, Klarus as well, they are useless and real poor customer service from experience. Once bitten................done for life!

Cheap and decent for keys, look at the cooyoo quantum in stainless steel(keps like new and has more threads on the body than the titanium version).
Nut shell time, so rough n ready!
Chinese brands, fenix, olight and acebeam are decent. Thrunite are also pretty good and produce decent quality products.

Buy once cry once, then HDS, malkoff, older surefires that are p60 compatible are lights for life!

After that going fully custom.

Ok brands, sunwayman, manker seem to be coming on for a budget-ish brand thats quite new .

Lots more , but its just in a nut shell , so short n sweet examples.

What ever brand though, if cheap end like comparing an AA fed to a multi cell 18650, there is always better components in the higher end models from the same brand.

All subjective, can all get bums, many swear by brands i wont touch and maybe visa versa...............All what matters is your experience, but i will say the NC cheaper key ring type lights are of average build on a good day and really best avoided. Its all a learning curve though, i am still learning every day which keeps the interest.

The mini1vn is a nice key chain light in DHT(dark heat treated )
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/...-Pendant-Light

Ideally a nichia 219C or xpl HI 4000k due to being a close up use type light...........might as well get some easy eye nice colours than faded ghostly ones!

ven

If you ever need any advice for any specific type of use, let me know and will try my best. Lot is subjective, but have a little experience in pretty much most lights/LED/drivers and can get close to what you might want.


For now i will tell you the acebeam x65vn in neutral white would be a great light for you

ven

Once the lumen chase has been done and realisation of lumens are not everything and colour rendition and pleasant beams mean more due to daily requirement/uses. Dont get me wrong, throwing a 1.5km beam is fun, but for finding a key hole..............not so much!

So the downloads pocket rocket ti was sent off to Canada for a driver and LED swap, 900lm of not so nice xm-l2 cool. Back today, to now 400lm max of hi cri 4000k nichia 219B diffused , so not hot spot(ideal for close up work without blinding reflections from tight bright hot spots!)

Programmable driver with for now 2 mode groups, 3 mode and 2 mode.

Dannymot

Is there any ware non internet based where the 18650 batteries can be bought ?
Edit just found a vape place

ven

Yes vape shops are a good option, be warned thought hey dont always know that much.

Samsung and LG are 2 decent brands to look into that are usually stocked. Efest brand are a little hit/miss and often exaggerate their specs on the cells wraps

RS_Matt

I need Olight to come up with something sturdier than the Tip with a finish that doesn't come off in a week. They are certainly leading the way in large and medium flooders.

The flood and output of the Tip was sensational, there's a MecArmy dedicated keychain light that's rated at 550 lumens (knowing MecArmy probably 350) but it's a bit big and MecArmy are ****e anyway. I have the CRI Tip but it's not really bright enough for outdoor walks etc. So 360+ lumens is essential.

RS_Matt

I tried using the Olight S1R as a keychain light but the magnet was making other keys and coins stick to it and it was wiping the info off parking tickets lol.

ven

Tough for a small key chain light as so much going against them(cell size/run time and heat issues as even 100lm in a 10180 cell gets toasty quick).

350lm , even 16340 size lights wont give much past 30-45m of use due to 600mah cells. Compact 18650 size will help there, also with the heat better.

I like the SWM v11r, infinite control ring UI, not the smallest but still compact and offers a happy medium. You get an AA/14500 body extension to for extra flexibility. Unless off vinh, your going to get an xml u3 cold white tint..........not best for walks at night.

Not cheap, but simply one of the best EDC lights on the planet, the HDS rotary. Not a hot rod, nor is it meant to be, but a light for life and solid. No cheap chinese crap here, many years of development and innovation . Mine is the hi cri 200lm and find enough(usually around 140lm is enough for me on walks). Down the the throwy reflector(quite deep and smooth), it puts out a useful amount of reach and spill.


Maybe check eagtac's offerings, the d25c ti are nice and compact, come in a nice variety of tints as well, to suit most. 5000k will about give you a perfect happy medium on colours at night. I prefer 4000k for a little warmer on the eye, makes colours pop a bit more and less strain.All subjective of course............

PK's little pocket rocket is impressive, 16340 fed(or cr123) but the former will give 550+ lumens out


Very compact, 3 mode and starts in high as the design is more for the LEO or soldier, than the guy walking a dog! But it provides a punchy beam with quite a lot of usable spill................

ven

Can you not remove the magnet? thought you could on the light............could be wrong though as dont have one.

ven

For a small power house EDC(too big for keys though), the little e14 is pretty amazing with drivervn4! Cant compare build to a HDS in anyway, but it is decent enough quality.


Wall of light, not sure on lumens but its crazy bright off an 18350 cell. With the 18650 body its still fairly compact for EDC , but with a bonus of a lot more mah in the tank.......18350's 600ish mah jumps to the 18650's potential of 3000-3500mah !

RS_Matt

Ven do you have any lights with an healthy dose of patina on them?

Dannymot

I've just been trying to find santa with my son and a fenix tk75 2015 version we didn't see him maybe need a bigger torch next year

ven

Yep you need the tk75vnQ70 version with 4x xhp70's and 16,000lm

Or a rc40vnT or F or even an rc40vn40 for only $1500.


The acebeam k60 (vinh form with shaved dome for more throw is better)makes an excellent light ,little brighter and further throwing than the tk75
On slightly more serious note , the tk75's are great lights

ven

Time to time yes ,copper cryos and PrinceCvn have ,but cleaned up with ketchup a month or so back. I don't mind the patina, but I like the shiny cu as well.

Slight patina


Polished

RS_Matt

Thrunite TN42 to see 900m further!

jameswrx

iTrader: (4)

It's funny how the flashaholic path goes.. usually starts out from researching an LED Lenser where you quickly realise they're not much better than a maglite. Then you find the forums, questions get asked (usually about the brightest you can get) you get a crash course on these batteries you'd never heard of. Then you end up watching endless going gear videos while waiting for your average Fenix light to arrive. You then get hooked and want the brightest light you can get, a floody light, a thrower and once you've been through all this you end up wanting a high cri light with a super low mode, user interface becomes a major concern and you start wondering why noobs on the forum put up with a blue tinted light just because it puts out the most lumens possible.

Does anyone know anything about exposure six pack bike lights? My mate I shoot with is always waxing lyrical about his 4500 lumen light he brings. Don't get me wrong it's bright but way too floody for my liking (great for biking I guess) but the amazing thing is it's £399 retail the anodising looks really poor on it too, like a shiner black and the light has the TIR lenses on each emitter. Seems a huge amount of money for what it is. Almost makes you want to get into the bike light market. There's a cat eye one for £550! When you consider an olight X7 is like half that money it makes you wonder how they can be quite so dear.

RS_Matt

The 'Prepared Mind 101' youtube review of the Thrunite TN36UT got me hooked instantly on lights, I never knew LED torches could light up a whole field, let alone in a pop can size light, the tint blew me away too, my cheap 10 lumen led lights in the past had always been horribly blue tinted lol. I then started watching Chinature and Going Gear and was hooked on all types of lights. You do want the brightest or furthest reaching in all classes. It's bitter sweet losing 10% lumens for nw over cw at times.

I got this for crimbo,

£40ish Tritium pendant.

wrx300scooby

Looking to get banned already tubby?

jameswrx

iTrader: (4)

Nice trit Matt, wish the blue was as bright as green though! It's a cool thing to show people though.

Surprising how much light they give off when I'm out in th field. Have one on my gun and helps me locate my mag

RS_Matt

Not sure why the MecArmy ones have to be 200% more expensive than ebay ones but I suppose it adds exclusivity.

Wife got me this:



Cheers KG Tuning! ...just need more big torches!

jameswrx

iTrader: (4)

Nice pressie.


I just pulled my Armytek predator out, I can't program the bloody thing! Talk about difficult UI, I've read the instructions about 20 times and still have no idea

RS_Matt

Sounds expensive!

ven

Great pic ,

yes I gave up on the predator pro too(presume v2.5 as v3 is not programable iirc ).

Just been tweaking the pocket rocket ti, pretty easy and works great this driver. Basically 2 mode groups, pick how many modes(or lack of) in each group via it ramping up. Memory or not etc .
Looks complicated but 8 quick presses to options, then press X amount for sub menu. To switch groups simply 8 preses then 2 (presses as in taps not clicks).
http://www.mtnelectronics.com/openca...&product_id=57

jameswrx

iTrader: (4)

Made the mistake of going on watchuseek forum last night.. I now have a new Tritium Dive watch on the way!

But incidentally if anyone is looking for a cheap auto diver then Aragon have a sale on, ends in a few hours and also the 20% off forum code (WUST100) works on top of the sale! You can get their divemaster for £70 delivered. Jap auto movt, screw down crown.

I bought a tritium one and just paid £128 delivered which is a bargain when you think what rubbish we get on the high street (and how much tritium is) ! Lucky to get a quartz seiko for £250 over here lol

I searched watchuseek and everyone loves them and can't believe the quality for price anyway, so I'm chuffed with the sale prices for a well regarded watch. I might have to get one of the regular divemasters as £70 is crazy really.

All their sale stuff https://www.aragonwatch.com/48_HOUR_SALE_s/374.htm

ven

That is some ridiculous savings if they are original prices............i would not be happy paying $1000 then now $500 for sure .

Look nice watches, not sure what my next will be, maxed out a little on dive style for now. Kind of going through the bracelet stages and await another to arrive(22mm size for a seiko )

I have a jubilee on the 7002 so did not want it on the 009(if i would have known i would have got a 009 a month later i would have saved £45 on the bracelet).
Going to get a curved 22mm, probably similar to the citizen's but 22mm(this is a straight on the citizen)


Look forward to pics of the trit watch,

ven

I keep looking at that case and think tn42vn, no x65vn as it comes in a case(all be it posh cardboard!) . I see some EDC titanium lights in there as well................

Once you get the lumens out of the way and happy for 100-200 ish of every day uses, a gizmo ............but not for the case as wasted, for EDC uses.

Defo need a couple of hosts KG for in there, some nice triple/quad drop ins to swap about.

Think you need a bigger case now

ven

Must not click on james links.........must not click on...........

I can resist...............i think

Done for watches but been back twice watching the countdown


These have been with me for the last few days, checking on animals(not the kids !) and helping Madison feed them, so hi cri flood= very useful. Fist mode group is just 1 mode, so every time i know exactly the output and a guess would be 200lm of flood.
p60 triple nichia

Took the plastic polarity protection off(white ring )

Snip and off

Now use flat tops


Single mode sportac triple nichia 4500k

njkmrs

She says it the best Xmas prezzy she has ever had....
OK maybe she didn't, but its a great little torch which does exactly what she needs in the dark mornings down the steps...
Think my daughter wants one now...

RS_Matt

Bought an S2R last night, UK seller advertising for £60 or best offer accepted £45.99, won't fill the box though.

A TN42vn or just the low fat TN42 is tempting, just so I have a throw king. I still need a 10,000+ Lumen pop can flooder, wonder if Vinh has any TN36 ready to ship.

X65 is just too damn big with a fugly white beam, the TN40vn (which fits in my coat pocket lol) looked so much better on the comparison vid.

Been looking at a XHP70 USB pocket thrower too, can't decide between EC50II, Klarus G20 or R50Pro.