Bryan-ba
Newly Enlightened
Hello, I'm new here although I've been lurking a bit. I'm no connoisseur, but I'm learning a lot. I've a handful of lights, but oddly I gravitated to a Fenix LD09 that I carried daily for nearly a decade. For those that don't know, it's a discontinued 14500 with claimed 220 Lumens/3600cd and 120m throw. It's a forward clicky tail switch with a Cree XP-E2 (R3) LED. No idea of color temp or anything else. I understand not everyone likes the UI, but I didn't mind it other than having SOS in the rotation. It's size was important as it lived in my front pocket - 3.7"(94mm) x .75"(19mm). Anyway, the switch in mine died. The Fenix distributor I purchased from was great, though they had no parts. They ended up sending me an E12 despite the age of my light and them not owing me anything. However, I just don't love the E12 so I am on the hunt. I am currently carrying a Nitecore EA11 that I had (also discontinued now). I like the extra power (claimed 900 lumens/9000cd and 190m throw), but I don't care for the 1"(25.4mm) diameter. UI is ok to me. It's got a Cree XM-L2 U2, for what it's worth.
I've been around and around and considered the Lumintop Tool, Convoy T2/T3, Manker e05, a Jetbeam, Acebeam Pokelit, Reylight LANapple, Sofirn SP10 Pro, Skilhunt E2A and M150, and many others. I keep coming back to the EagTac D25A MKII and D3A. They aren't perfect, but nothing is, and I like the slim dimensions (3.4 in (87mm) x .65" (17mm) body and .7" (17.5mm) head) and think I can live with the UI. As with most people, I think, I wish it didn't have all of the blinking options and/or that they were isolated with Turbo, but I think I could live with it. I know they are "venerable" lights and have been around a while. That part doesn't bother me. Some reviews about failures and shotty quality do, however. Anyone want to talk me out of the EagTacs and in to something else? Whatcha got?
IF I go with a D25A or D3A, there are severeal LED options available. I have been reading and asking questions, but what would you all recommend and why? This will be a daily carry light for a variety of uses, and potentially (though hopefully not) used in a defensive situation where all the power I could get would be welcomed. No necessity for high CRI, though it would be nice! It is a little frustrating that all of the specs aren't available, that I can find anyway, for all of the options:
-Luminus SFT-40 5000K - "newest" and 405 Lumens - I can't find any other specs, but from what have ready this out to be a decent option for a powerhouse? Not high CRI of course but maybe a decent all arounder? Pretty sure I would go 5000k over 6500.
-Luminus SFT-40 Cool (6500k maybe?) - "newest" and 405 Lumens - I can't find any other specs. I think I would lean toward 5000K IF everything else is equal, but is it?
-Cree XM-L2 Cool (D3A only at the moment) - LED Lumen: 405/232/16/2, OTF Lumen: 286/167/11/2, Center LUX: 1,200 (original max output). Don't think I would go this route.
-OSRAM CSLPM1 Cool - 310 Lumens, approx 3,000 LUX The best throw of all options. I wish there were more specs available. Low CRI and very cool I assume. Would still consider this one though.
-OSRAM CSLNM1 - (D3A only at the moment) - No info at all on this one that I can find.
-Cree XP-L HI Domeless Neutral - LED Lumen: 353/199/15/2, ANSI Lumen: 260/145/11/2, Center LUX: 2,050, 91m beam distance (orginial max throw) I would probably choose this one over the other Cree, but I thinks it is still middle of the pacl for me.
-Nichia 519A CRI-92 4500k Neutral (D3A only at the moment) (219C used to be offered instead?) (originial best color output) I can't find any specs at all. I know this emitter is liked by folks in other lights, but how does it compare to the SST-20 here? CRI lower than the SST-20 but pretty close. Does it have more output?
-Luminus SST-20 R9 CRI-95 4000k Neutral - LED Lumen: 275/149/13/2, OTF Lumen: 195/109/9/2, Center LUX: 1,250 Specs are interesting here to compare to others. Lowest lumins but LUX basically the same as the XM-L2. I understand why everyone likes High CRI but just not sure I really need it... Contemplating.
Any thoughts or recommendations? After the LED recommendation, what light should I choose instead?
And after ALL of that, I find the Emisar D3AA to be very impressive. I just wish it didn't have a 24mm (.94") head, but it is quite a bit shorter than the rest and the body is only 19mm (.75"). . . I will likely end up getting one of these at some point and have it split time with the super slim light I end up with. I would probably have chosen the SST-20 5000k just for the crazy output (2075lm OTF / 765lm OTF) or maybe the SST-20 4000k 95 CRI for the the CRI and output (1455lm OTF / 530lm OTF), but I have seen so many recomendations for the 519A 5700k dedomed that I think I would lean that way, if I were ordering today.
Thanks in advance to all. Please go easy on me - I've still got a lot to learn!
I've been around and around and considered the Lumintop Tool, Convoy T2/T3, Manker e05, a Jetbeam, Acebeam Pokelit, Reylight LANapple, Sofirn SP10 Pro, Skilhunt E2A and M150, and many others. I keep coming back to the EagTac D25A MKII and D3A. They aren't perfect, but nothing is, and I like the slim dimensions (3.4 in (87mm) x .65" (17mm) body and .7" (17.5mm) head) and think I can live with the UI. As with most people, I think, I wish it didn't have all of the blinking options and/or that they were isolated with Turbo, but I think I could live with it. I know they are "venerable" lights and have been around a while. That part doesn't bother me. Some reviews about failures and shotty quality do, however. Anyone want to talk me out of the EagTacs and in to something else? Whatcha got?
IF I go with a D25A or D3A, there are severeal LED options available. I have been reading and asking questions, but what would you all recommend and why? This will be a daily carry light for a variety of uses, and potentially (though hopefully not) used in a defensive situation where all the power I could get would be welcomed. No necessity for high CRI, though it would be nice! It is a little frustrating that all of the specs aren't available, that I can find anyway, for all of the options:
-Luminus SFT-40 5000K - "newest" and 405 Lumens - I can't find any other specs, but from what have ready this out to be a decent option for a powerhouse? Not high CRI of course but maybe a decent all arounder? Pretty sure I would go 5000k over 6500.
-Luminus SFT-40 Cool (6500k maybe?) - "newest" and 405 Lumens - I can't find any other specs. I think I would lean toward 5000K IF everything else is equal, but is it?
-Cree XM-L2 Cool (D3A only at the moment) - LED Lumen: 405/232/16/2, OTF Lumen: 286/167/11/2, Center LUX: 1,200 (original max output). Don't think I would go this route.
-OSRAM CSLPM1 Cool - 310 Lumens, approx 3,000 LUX The best throw of all options. I wish there were more specs available. Low CRI and very cool I assume. Would still consider this one though.
-OSRAM CSLNM1 - (D3A only at the moment) - No info at all on this one that I can find.
-Cree XP-L HI Domeless Neutral - LED Lumen: 353/199/15/2, ANSI Lumen: 260/145/11/2, Center LUX: 2,050, 91m beam distance (orginial max throw) I would probably choose this one over the other Cree, but I thinks it is still middle of the pacl for me.
-Nichia 519A CRI-92 4500k Neutral (D3A only at the moment) (219C used to be offered instead?) (originial best color output) I can't find any specs at all. I know this emitter is liked by folks in other lights, but how does it compare to the SST-20 here? CRI lower than the SST-20 but pretty close. Does it have more output?
-Luminus SST-20 R9 CRI-95 4000k Neutral - LED Lumen: 275/149/13/2, OTF Lumen: 195/109/9/2, Center LUX: 1,250 Specs are interesting here to compare to others. Lowest lumins but LUX basically the same as the XM-L2. I understand why everyone likes High CRI but just not sure I really need it... Contemplating.
Any thoughts or recommendations? After the LED recommendation, what light should I choose instead?
And after ALL of that, I find the Emisar D3AA to be very impressive. I just wish it didn't have a 24mm (.94") head, but it is quite a bit shorter than the rest and the body is only 19mm (.75"). . . I will likely end up getting one of these at some point and have it split time with the super slim light I end up with. I would probably have chosen the SST-20 5000k just for the crazy output (2075lm OTF / 765lm OTF) or maybe the SST-20 4000k 95 CRI for the the CRI and output (1455lm OTF / 530lm OTF), but I have seen so many recomendations for the 519A 5700k dedomed that I think I would lean that way, if I were ordering today.
Thanks in advance to all. Please go easy on me - I've still got a lot to learn!