Just got a new flashlight

T

TJ Cornish

Graduate
Jan 13, 2011
1,263
1
0
St. Paul, MN
I picked up a 4Sevens Maelstrom G5 this week. 360 lumens from a pair of CR123As, plus other lower output modes.

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I've been a fan of multi-power flashlights for a while - it's really handy to have one light that can be turned up so you can see the inside of cases outdoors in bright daylight, but also turned down for backstage use. This particular light is controlled by twisting the bezel - all the way tight 360 lumens, next step 215, next step 30, next step .4.

I'm really impressed with LED technology's advancements. My last light was a Fenix L2D-CE, which did 120 lumens for 1 hour on a pair of AAs. This guy will do twice the brightness for 3X the time (though on differnet batteries, so not a totally fair comparison). For you gun nuts, it's quasi-tactical and compatible with 1" gun mounts.

Check it out:
http://www.4sevens.com/product_info.php?cPath=297&products_id=2495

I shopped around and got mine for $109.
 

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Re: Just got a new flashlight

Nice. Does it have easy push button on/off that doesn't require the tail cap to be adjusted? Those things always get tightened in my pants pocket, and then my light turns on and I don't have it when I need it... why I stopped buying Inova flashlights and started buying Surefire. My concern with the style of brightness adjustment is that, which it is nice to be able to switch to a low power mode, I want to be able to get to full power now. If the bezel is set to low power and I hit the button and try and see into the rigging with .4 lumens that's annoying... if someone is trying to harass me and I want to make it clear I'm not fooling around, it could be much worse.

I love my Surefire E2D LED Defender, 72 hours on 5 lumens, more than bright enough for everyday flashlight tasks. 2 hours on 200 lumens, about as bright as my car's headlights. Great beam pattern, too. Takes CR123s, which I like, but the ass end of the strike bezel chews up my pants. I'm idly looking for a replacement.
 
Re: Just got a new flashlight

Bennett Prescott said:
Rob,

I want high beam first. I can't recall the last time I needed only a few lumens right now.
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Not to disagree Bennett, but what if you're backstage and you don't want the Searchlight of Heaven beaming everywhere while an artist is performing? I usually shield my (extremely cheap, Home Depot grade, one-brightness) LED flashlight with my hand, but I could envision some situations where low-beam-first might be useful.
 
Re: Just got a new flashlight

I'm not saying I don't want a low beam. My flashlight goes into a low beam mode after a second click of the tailcap within a second of the first click.

I just want high beam right now, immediately, every time, regardless of what I last had the flashlight set on.
 
Re: Just got a new flashlight

Bennett Prescott said:
Nice. Does it have easy push button on/off that doesn't require the tail cap to be adjusted? Those things always get tightened in my pants pocket, and then my light turns on and I don't have it when I need it... why I stopped buying Inova flashlights and started buying Surefire. My concern with the style of brightness adjustment is that, which it is nice to be able to switch to a low power mode, I want to be able to get to full power now. If the bezel is set to low power and I hit the button and try and see into the rigging with .4 lumens that's annoying... if someone is trying to harass me and I want to make it clear I'm not fooling around, it could be much worse.

I love my Surefire E2D LED Defender, 72 hours on 5 lumens, more than bright enough for everyday flashlight tasks. 2 hours on 200 lumens, about as bright as my car's headlights. Great beam pattern, too. Takes CR123s, which I like, but the ass end of the strike bezel chews up my pants. I'm idly looking for a replacement.
Click to expand...

The front bezel controls the output - if it is all the way tight, you are guaranteed to get full power. Each step down from there is 90 degrees of rotation, so you can index off that if you're looking for a different output level.

The switch on the tail cap will go momentary on if you push it halfway, or it will click on if you push it farther. If you unscrew the back tail cap about one turn the switch is disconnected and can't turn on until you screw it down.

They shipped a lot of accessories with it - both the crenelated bezel, and a smooth one, and the tactical finger grip as well as a spacer ring that let's you remove it. The clip also doesn't suck, which is saying something. I'm not sure i love the holster yet - it has molded detent to retain the light and they are pretty stiff.

This thing has a really nice beam - it is focused to throw pretty far, but still has a good sized spill zone for closeup use. The only downside is the head is fairly big. I don't mind that - i have other smaller lights for pocket carry and i wanted a moderate cost retina burner. I'm pretty happy so far.

Edit: fixed "auto uncorrect". Stupid IPad.
 
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Re: Just got a new flashlight

I've got the Defender as well, and I love it. I agree with Bennett, I like the high power option first. It's easy enough to get to low power, but high power is always my first priority. It really gets the kids out of the way when I'm walking through the crowd. :lol:

I'm still looking for a holster for mine though because it does chew up my pants as well...


Evan
 
Re: Just got a new flashlight

LED Lenser P7 for me. 200 lumens from 4 AAA batteries, first push on the tail cap switch goes to full power and second press gets you to low power. It also has a very nice sliding focus system, with a spot that lets me see 400m to the far end of our car park and good wide wash for sitting it on the floor and working with.

As a bonus it ships with a nice holster too!
 
Re: Just got a new flashlight

John Neil said:
Bennett,

What pants are those? My dickies carpenter ducks only have the cellphone/flashlight/dikes/driver/SM57 pocket on the right leg. I'd be twice the stage police with utility items attached to both lower limbs.
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Y'know, tactical pants by 5.11 should have all the pockets your heart desires. Also Cabela's hikers (although it doesn't sound so badass).
 
Re: Just got a new flashlight

I don't buy 5.11 pants because I am not, never have been, and never will be an operator. Wearing clothes designed by and for military personnel when I clearly am not will just make me look like a douche bag.

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I am, however, a hick from back country NH, so Carhartt fits me fine.
 

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Re: Just got a new flashlight

Bennett Prescott said:
I am, however, a hick from back country NH, so Carhartt fits me fine.
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That's considered formalwear in VT and NH. :)

Well, I am not even close to being a hiker (you've seen the Handicap plates on my POV, I trust), but the Cabela's suit me just fine. With the Carhartts I run the risk of looking like the guy who's gonna excavate for your foundation, grade your driveway or tuck point your chimney (never mind that I've done all of the above).

Talk about looking like a douche bag, I think today I saw new heights reached. While checking in at the army base in Grafenwöhr this morning, I saw a contractor wearing a black suit jacket with black (notice I didn't say matching) operator trousers. Not good. LOL! (arguably the same britches would look more than passable with a black IATSE t-shirt)
 
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