Flashlight beam comparison... pics

[jednp]

Ok, there have been several threads lately about flashlights.. one by me. I thought I'd take some pics of the beam shining on the wall with some of mine. The lights used were my Cabelas 3 watt LED light which runs off of 2 AA batteries and puts out 65 lumens. I have a Dorcy 1 watt LED light which runs off of 1 CR123a battery and I believe it was either 30 or 40 lumens.. both of those lights cost me $19 a piece. Then I did the Surefire G2 which puts out 65 lumens. I also did the Streamlight TLR-1 3 watt LED weapon light I have which puts out 80 lumens. And last.. and I'd say but not least. but it is least.. my mini mag light.

First picture is the Cabelas light.. the green one.. it's 5 1/2" long, 65 lumens, and the Dorcy light.. 30-40 lumens.. one or the other.. the order of the beam pictures will be the same too.. i just posted the pic of these two together for comparison.



cabelas 3 watt LED



Dorcy 1 watt LED



Surefire G2



Streamlight TLR-1 weapon light


Mini mag light



All of these lights have new batteries in them. It's clear which light is the dimmest and poorest beam quality.. the mini mag light. The cabelas 3 watt LED, the Surefire G2, and the Streamlight TLR-1 are all pretty close.. with the TLR-1 being slightly brighter than the others.

Outdoors, the G2 has a little more range than the cabelas light, due to it being a xenon bulb.. but I don't think it has more range than the TLR-1. Anyways, the vast majority of the use my lights will ever see, will be indoors.. any outdoor threats I need to identify will be fairly up close.. I don't need to be shining out 100 yards.. but.. if I need to.. i do have my other cabelas light that will reach about 200 yards lol. But indoors, all except the mini mag light are plenty bright enough and cast a wide enough beam to work good up close.. the Dorcy 1 watt LED is probably best within 30-40 feet indoors.. but that's good enough, and it's small and cheap.

Anyways, I just wanted to post that.. mainly to show how there are MUCH better lights out there than the mini mag light.. when you're needing a smaller light. And there are MANY lights out there thatt are just as bright as some of the surefires, but much less money.

[okxd45]

Thanks for the pics and info jednp. I just got a G2 nitrolon(sp?) for $36 with free shipping. But that LED with 2AA batteries is looking good for indoor use!

[dasanii19]

And for those that would like to just upgrade the mini maglite (non LED), you can do this by installing:
http://www.led-replacement.com/tle-5uv.html which is a great upgrade. I on the other hand think that the new maglite LED's are nice flashlights for the average user as well.

Nice beam shots by the way

[jednp]

the cabelas and the docy light are the ones I carry. If I'm going to the movie theater, the mall, or even the zoo where you may find yourself in the "kingdom of the night" basement that would be pitch black if what little light that's on down there, went out.. and emergency lights didn't come on.. or in the rainforest and the lights went out.. there's weird birds walking and flying around in there, two little monkeys that roam around, and some freakin bats that fly! I don't want to be in there in the dark.. i want to see where the hell I'm going, and get to the dang exit ASAP!

I'm not afraid of the dark.. I'm afraid of what's in the dark lol

I also have a fear of being in a place where the power goes out.. and the particular situation that's going on, causes people to panic and head toward the exit.. I have a fear of getting trampled in a situation like that.. so having a light would not only help me find my way out, but others find their way out safely too.

both of these lights serve that purpose well.. the new cabelas light even better, because it's twice as bright.. but still.. the docy light, in very dark conditions.. will put out enough light to hurt your eyes about 50 yards away. it says it will put out a 100 ft beam. but you won't notice it shining much on anything unless it's pretty dark.

[Brickboy240]

I am a huge fan of the Surefire G2. I have two: one in the doorpocket of my truck and one that sits on the nightstand in my house. great lights and well worth the money. Very durable, too.

The best batteries I have found are actually the ones you can order from the Surefire website. I bought a whole case. There are cheaper 123A betteries (on e-bay), but these last the longest and I love the little carrying case. They're not overly expensive.

The worst are the Energizer ones you get at Wal Mart for 12 dollars a a package of two. Too expensive...don't last very long, either.

- Brickboy240

[Apdl]

very nice thanks!