Is Photon still the best?

[DavidW]

I plan to buy some replacement Photons. But in turquoise and green this time instead of white and red. (These buggers are hard to keep around.)

Has anything new come out worth while? I was eyeing the Pocketbright but Brock's review kinda nixed that idea.

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"A knifeless man is a lifeless man"
-Nordic proverb

 

[Joe Talmadge]

Turquoise and green are my faves. Definitely remove the 2032 and replace it with 2 2016s in the green.

I've read 6 or 7 PocketBright reviews so far, every single one of them bad. It's a much bigger light that's dimmer than the photon, so it doesn't appeal to me.

I still think the Photon wins over the ASP.

Streamlight's Stylus is supposed to be very bright, especially the slightly-bigger model. Noticeably brighter than the photons. But the Stylus definitely isn't for keychain carry, and keychain carry is what makes the Photon so useful to me.

Of the Photon clones, I've only read one review where the reviewer felt the light was as strong as a photon, but in that case, I'd just as soon get the original.

I'm actually surprised Photon still wins here. They haven't really come out with any brighter lights since the Photon IIs came out, what, 2 years ago? There were hints that they were working on a bigger, brighter LED light, looking forward to seeing what they come up with.

Joe

 

[Brock]

I really like the Streamlight Stylus. It is an awkward light but you get used to it. It is brighter than the photon, but also larger in size. Doctors seem to love it, it is way brighter than a pen light they are used to and since it is so skinny it is good for looking in mouths. My wife is a Nurse and gave one away, and now I have re-sold out 4 more to other Docs that have sen them. But I still like Photons.

Brock - http://www.uwgb.edu/nevermab/led.htm

 

[K Horn]

I really like the photon's. I've got at least one of every color except the yellow. However with Christmas coming up I'm thinking seriously about looking at the LASERLYTE MiniBrite as a gift idea.

( http://www.laserlyte.com )

They look to be similar in performance, features, and size at half the cost. It might be worth ordering one to evaluate.

PERSONALLY I prefer the longer burn time with a 2032 in
my green (200 hours vs. 14)

 

[Brock]

Well I just ordered one of the mini laserlyte's. So I will let you know how it is when I get it.

Brock

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

yeah well it seems to me Photon does most of the bad-mouthing of the Pocketbright..keep in mind the Pocketbright is current-regulated, unlike the Photon, which is why intitially the Photon is brighter for the first few minutes - but after the initial current surge the brighteness of the Photon drops off quickly and you've got a no-light in 9 to 12 hours - at which point the Pocketlight is still shining merrily away, and will continue to provide light bright enough to read by for at least another 24 hours! Plus Pocketbright's gasket-sealed battery hatch opens with a twist - as opposed to Photon's 4 teentsy screws (goodluck changing the Photon battery in the darK)
I did send my first Pocketbright in for a replacement, but no switch problem since - and the battery hasn't run out yet either..

 

[DavidW]

The Stylus sounds nice but would be an impulse buy for me. Ted, that makes sense. I guess I'll have to try at least one Pocketbright to see what they're like.

One thing I forgot to say is I'm going to try a PAL Gold in white. This is adding up fast.

I look forward to your review Brock.

------------------
"A knifeless man is a lifeless man"
-Nordic proverb

 

[Brock]

I hate to say it but I have turned on a photon and a pocketbright at the same time, and at no point over a 24-hour period was the pocket bright any brighter. Initially (first 6 hours) the photon is about twice as bright. Then they slowly get closer in brightness, and at about 1 day they are the same, then the pocketbright is brighter, although at that point the pocket bright isn't bright enough to do much with.

David if you want to see my pocketbright you are welcome to it. I also have a bunch of spare batteries for it. Just send me your snail mail address.

Don't get me wrong, I think the pocketbright is a GREAT idea, and if the light did all it said it would, it would be one of the best lights out there, but it needs more refinement before it is at that point. I hope more companies try to beat the photon because then there will be more and better lights available.

Brock

 

[DavidW]

Brock, check you private message (PM).

------------------
"A knifeless man is a lifeless man"
-Nordic proverb

 

[YeeDude]

FWIW, my $0.02:

I still like my Photon II's the best overall for an "always" light. I still haven't seen anything that beats it's size/brightness/price factor.

The only real upgrade that I'd like to see is enhanced waterproofing. I haven't had any problems with mine, but that's because they've never been soaked. I looked at the PocketBrite and was immediately turned off by it's significantly bigger size.

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Brock,
are you comparing the Pocketbright to the white-light Photon? I am puzzled that you have the Photon still burning after 12 hours or so.. Can there be an amp hour of current in those thin lithiums to power it (at 35ma I assume) for that long with no current regulation??
( ..yes the Pocketbright is larger, but it has fatter batteries too...)

 

[Brock]

Hi Ted

You are correct there is no way the little lithium have that much power in them, but what happens is the ma draw drops as the battery weakens. I haven't measured it but I would bet it is near 5 to 10 ma range after about 6 hours on the Photon. I would also guess about 2 to 5 ma after 18 hours. I know the Pocketbright does the same sort of thing.

The Pocket bright will run at that dim level (after 24 hours of use) for a long time after that, but again it is dimmer than a Photon at 24 hours at that point.

Hey Ted do you want some of those Pocketbright batteries? I will send them back with the Turbo if you want them, if not I will send them all to David.

Brock

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

ho ho! trying to buy my silence with the "coin of the realm" heh Brock? ;>)
...ok, I'll accept the loot, and I'll shut up about those inadequate Photons... for an hour. maybe ;>)

 

[Brock]

Well I got my http://www.laserlyte.com
today. It is the same output as the Photon white. It uses the same 2 batteries, and even uses 4 tiny screws to hold it together. It has a wide slide switch to turn it on and off, it is much easier to move than the tiny Photon II switches. It doesn't have a push to light mode however. It is a cheaper looking light than a photon, the case isn't tight, it just feels sort of loose, and some of the light illuminates the insides. The LED is about have in, half out of the case, so you still get a lot of side spill. But it is cheaper than the Photon.

Brock

 

[DavidW]

I received the White Pocketbright today. Thanks Brock. It's a neat light. It is much larger than the Photon. The switch is a much better solution. But I can see it wearing out. Changing batteries is easier. The LED is almost as bright. But poor quality. I give it an 8 if the Photon is a 10. Too soon to comment on battery run time.

It won't replace my Photon. But I think my wife wants it. If not, I'll see what happens If I replace the two 2032's with four 2016's

fzzzztttt.....

------------------
"A knifeless man is a lifeless man"
-Nordic proverb

 

[K Horn]

Hey Brock
THANKS for the quick evaluation of the minibrite. Looks like I've found a great stocking stuffer for the kids and some relatives that I don't like as much<g>.

I really enjoy your web site too!!! It was the one that turned me on to the enernaLight.

I'm glad to know that I'm not the only flashlight nut.

 

[Craig720]

DavidW, what do mean by "hard to keep around," as in:

I plan to buy some replacement Photons. But in turquoise and green this time instead of white and red. (These buggers are hard to keep around.)

 

[DavidW]

As in I loan them and they don't get returned.

------------------
"A knifeless man is a lifeless man"
-Nordic proverb

 

[Craig720]

Ohhhh. The fog clears. I thought you meant they were breaking. Thanks for replying.

I never lend the Photon II's out, I merely give them to family members. I demonstrate one or two and, after the onlooker's eyes stop bugging out, I say, here you go, and hand it over. It's simpler that way.

 

[DavidW]

Live and learn.

I'm stingy by nature. I've tried to break out of that mold but keep reverting back. Maybe I should just get it over with and buy a few dozen.

------------------
"A knifeless man is a lifeless man"
-Nordic proverb