richbuff
Flashlight Enthusiast
I mention this topic briefly with lots of people several times per week.
I like to use the rifle scope analogy. One rifle scope has lots of magnification. Another rifle scope has lots of field of view. The first rifle scope is analogous to a throw light with lots of throw and a narrow beam and less total lumens.
The second rifle scope is analogous to a power flooder that does not throw as far, but has lots of lumens and lots of beam width.
Next, the person who is looking at the two rifle scopes wants a rifle scope with both lots of magnification and lots of field of view. He will need to select a larger rifle scope.
The person looking at the flashlight that has great throw specs is also looking at another flashlight that has great power/lumen specs. He wants a flashlight that has both, lots of throw and lots of power/lumens. He will need to select a larger flashlight.
Why are some flashlights larger than small, easily carried cute little lights? Because the larger lights have more power/lumens and/or throw than the little flashlights.
A dedicated thrower will be all throw and very low total power/lumens.
A flooder will have very little throw, but all of its performance will be in short range flood.
Next, some flashlights have a mixture of flood and throw. A flashlight may have only one emitter to favor throw, but it may be a large emitter, to provide power. Or, several small emitters for some throw, but several of them to provide power.
A review of the business end of the flashlight provides a peek at beam power and beam profile. Head diameter, size of emitters and number of emitters tell the story.
Runtime is based on battery capacity to power level ratio. Eight 21700 cells and one XP-L emitter equal tons of runtime.
One 18650 cell powering nine XHP70 emitters equals microscopic runtime.
Look at the size and the weight of the flashlight and the reflector/emitter configuration and head diameter, and then pick the light you like.
I like very small, small, lower midsize, medium size, upper midsize, large and very large flashlights in dedicated throw, power throw and pure flood configurations, that is why I have more than 21 flashlights.
