If you are in need of a flashlight
- Thread starter Monty
- Start date
Lets Clear up a couple of things
First there is no real conversion between candlepower, and lumens. The 2 are like trying to compare apples to oranges. Several people have tried to come up with this formula, and exponentially it doesn't play out. Candle power is basically the brightest spot of light at a given distance. Lumens are a rating of total output of light including sidespill. For further infor check here. Candlepowerforums.com
Second Led, and incadecent are virtually as different as candle power, and lumens. While they can both be rated using the systems they provide different types, and colors of lights. Even as LED approches, and in some case exceeds "throw" distance on incandecents, and increase battery runtimes, they sometimes fall short on the color spectrum. Take one of each into a heavily wooded area, and you will find that a wide spread led can provide a lot of light, but somehow lacks depth beyond the first few trees. Even if the distance is outrated of the incandecent bulb. Something in wave length of the incandecent will give you more depth of view.
Don't think I am putting down LED lights, they are gettin very good, and I own a few, but you will see things differently with the two.
First there is no real conversion between candlepower, and lumens. The 2 are like trying to compare apples to oranges. Several people have tried to come up with this formula, and exponentially it doesn't play out. Candle power is basically the brightest spot of light at a given distance. Lumens are a rating of total output of light including sidespill. For further infor check here. Candlepowerforums.com
Second Led, and incadecent are virtually as different as candle power, and lumens. While they can both be rated using the systems they provide different types, and colors of lights. Even as LED approches, and in some case exceeds "throw" distance on incandecents, and increase battery runtimes, they sometimes fall short on the color spectrum. Take one of each into a heavily wooded area, and you will find that a wide spread led can provide a lot of light, but somehow lacks depth beyond the first few trees. Even if the distance is outrated of the incandecent bulb. Something in wave length of the incandecent will give you more depth of view.
Don't think I am putting down LED lights, they are gettin very good, and I own a few, but you will see things differently with the two.
The 3- and 4- D Maglites are fine for crushing skulls, but the first time you drop it to the pavement accidentally and the bulb filament breaks and the light is useless except as a club, you will wish for an LED flashlight. 
I can now in good conscience recommend the Inova T2 and T3 LED flashlights (2 watt and 3.2 watt, respectively). They are not burn-your-retinas-out bright, but they are quite bright for not costing $200+, they use common batteries, they get a good amount of run time, and they are compact and light.
I got mine from the best-priced website I could find, which is defensedevices.com Click the LED flashlights link, and then the Inova link (with picture).
Their T3 was like $20 less than on other sites I found.
-blackmind
I can now in good conscience recommend the Inova T2 and T3 LED flashlights (2 watt and 3.2 watt, respectively). They are not burn-your-retinas-out bright, but they are quite bright for not costing $200+, they use common batteries, they get a good amount of run time, and they are compact and light.
I got mine from the best-priced website I could find, which is defensedevices.com Click the LED flashlights link, and then the Inova link (with picture).
Their T3 was like $20 less than on other sites I found.
-blackmind
308Enfield
New member
Photon Lights
I don't know about their bigger flashlights for tactical use but the keyring sized Photon Lights are great to keep in your pocket and have handy whenever you need a light.
The small ones are about the diameter of a quarter and I can tell you from experience that the orange and yellow photons put out almost as much light as my 2-AA cell mini-mag. Depending on color they get up to 120 hours of continuous use on one battery. I make my living as a techie so I'm predisposed to gadgets, but these really work
I don't know about their bigger flashlights for tactical use but the keyring sized Photon Lights are great to keep in your pocket and have handy whenever you need a light.
The small ones are about the diameter of a quarter and I can tell you from experience that the orange and yellow photons put out almost as much light as my 2-AA cell mini-mag. Depending on color they get up to 120 hours of continuous use on one battery. I make my living as a techie so I'm predisposed to gadgets, but these really work
Dead-Nuts-Zero
New member
Ok, I just had the chance to get to the Target store. I now have a MaxFire @ 16.95. I took it out on the back deck tonight and compared it to my PolyStinger. The PolyStinger is about due for recharge but the two lights were very much the same brightness at my shed about 25 yds. away. The MaxFire has a little more whitness to the beam. The PolyStinger has a very slight yellowish tint that I had not noticed before. I will dump a full charge in it and compare them again.
As of now, I am happy with the purchase. Now if I can find a great buy on rechargable 123 batteries and a charger, Im good to go!
Anyone have a good source for the rechargables?
Thanks for the great heads up there Monty!
As of now, I am happy with the purchase. Now if I can find a great buy on rechargable 123 batteries and a charger, Im good to go!
Anyone have a good source for the rechargables?
Thanks for the great heads up there Monty!