Recommend me a new LED torch

Mark A

Mark A

Mark A

Soldato
Joined
19 May 2005
Posts
18,140
Location
Lancashire
Hi,

I currently have an LED Lenser V2 professional torch which i love to bits. There are however some drawbacks that are forcing me to purchase a new torch. http://www.ledco.co.uk/Product_D_Professional_V2Professional.asp

The torch lasts less than an hour before it starts to go dimmer and dimmer until its no use at all. Not sure if thats a fault with the torch or the fact it uses 3x AAA batteries.

Ive started doing nighttime photography and need a small torch that will fit in my camera bag and last a lot longer than 1 hour. I was thinking something with variable light outputs would be the perfect solution as i can turn it down for when i just need to change settings on my camera etc.

I'll also be using it as a bike light, so a bike bracket would need to be available for it.

Finally I'd like it to take AA batteries as i have a load of decent Energiser batteries at hand.

From a quick google it seems the Fenix torches are pretty decent.

http://www.thephotonshop.co.uk/page23.htm

This looks to be the perfect torch to replace mine but i thought I'd post here first to see if there is anything better out there. I'd be willing to spend up to £50 if it was worth it.

Thanks in advance :)
 
Maglites are far too big for my needs. Also from a quick google it seems maglite are very old tech and there are much better torches available.

The other torches that keep popping up are Surefire but they only seem to take li-ion batteries. I'm after one that takes AA sized batteries as i have a load of decent rechargeable at hand.
 
Mark A said:
Maglites are far too big for my needs. Also from a quick google it seems maglite are very old tech and there are much better torches available.

The other torches that keep popping up are Surefire but they only seem to take li-ion batteries. I'm after one that takes AA sized batteries as i have a load of decent rechargeable at hand.
Click to expand...

Old tech?

We're talking about a portable light device, do you want communicator built in too? :D
 
old tech as in poor reflectors / lenses, not designed for LED, if you LED conversion you may not have a decent LED, and no proper power control. There are better out there, last time i looked the fenix l2d was what i was going to buy.. probably been superceeded by now tho.
 
Mark A said:
Hi,

I currently have an LED Lenser V2 professional torch which i love to bits. There are however some drawbacks that are forcing me to purchase a new torch. http://www.ledco.co.uk/Product_D_Professional_V2Professional.asp

The torch lasts less than an hour before it starts to go dimmer and dimmer until its no use at all. Not sure if thats a fault with the torch or the fact it uses 3x AAA batteries.

Ive started doing nighttime photography and need a small torch that will fit in my camera bag and last a lot longer than 1 hour. I was thinking something with variable light outputs would be the perfect solution as i can turn it down for when i just need to change settings on my camera etc.

I'll also be using it as a bike light, so a bike bracket would need to be available for it.

Finally I'd like it to take AA batteries as i have a load of decent Energiser batteries at hand.

From a quick google it seems the Fenix torches are pretty decent.

http://www.thephotonshop.co.uk/page23.htm

This looks to be the perfect torch to replace mine but i thought I'd post here first to see if there is anything better out there. I'd be willing to spend up to £50 if it was worth it.

Thanks in advance :)
Click to expand...

Weird, I have one and it hasn't gotten dimmer after an extended amount of time. In fact it has been used for several hours and is still using the original batteries that came with the torch!
 
dustofnations said:
Weird, I have one and it hasn't gotten dimmer after an extended amount of time. In fact it has been used for several hours and is still using the original batteries that came with the torch!
Click to expand...

Mine might be faulty then. I'm using Instant Ni-MH batteries that are supposed to be top of the range. They're only 900MAH though. I have AA batteries in 3000MAH so they should last a lot longer.

Good torch for the price and always surprises people how light it is from such a small torch. I can stand it upright in my bedroom and it lights the whole room up :). Just wish it would last longer.
 
Mark A said:
Mine might be faulty then. I'm using Instant Ni-MH batteries that are supposed to be top of the range. They're only 900MAH though. I have AA batteries in 3000MAH so they should last a lot longer.

Good torch for the price and always surprises people how light it is from such a small torch. I can stand it upright in my bedroom and it lights the whole room up :). Just wish it would last longer.
Click to expand...

As I said, I'm still using the LED Lenser branded ones that came with it, hope yours isn't faulty :( - think there is a rather generous warranty though? I still find it amusing to shine it through my fingers in the dark so you can some all the blood vessels - freaky :)
 
Mark A said:
Mine might be faulty then. I'm using Instant Ni-MH batteries that are supposed to be top of the range. They're only 900MAH though. I have AA batteries in 3000MAH so they should last a lot longer.
Click to expand...
Check the voltage of your batteries. A lot of rechargables only put out 1.2V instead of 1.5V - and it depends on the device whether it can handle that well or not. LEDs in particular can be quite fussy over their operating voltage and may only have a narrow range that will give the optimum brightness.

Try the torch with normal non-rechargables and see if it behaves better. I have a torch by them - less techy and more gimmicky (no prism but a choice of LED colours - red's good for retaining night-vision), but I've not opened the battery compartment since getting it over a year ago :)
 
Get a head-light, but get one that also has a red light so's not to screw up your night-vision, I got one from Homebase on offer a while back for night fishing/photography and the red light is invaluable for letting you see in the dark and still see what's going on around you when you've turned it off.
 
This isn't strictly what you are after but I thought I'd give it a mention because I bought one for my bicycle and it's excellent. It is VERY bright!

One rechargeable battery will only last for an hour on full power but just pop another in when it starts to die. There is a lower power setting on the torch which will last longer but I don't use it so couldn't give an exact time.

Torch
Batteries
Charger
Plug adapter

All of that is within your budget so you could possibly buy another 2-4 batteries if you like.
 
I have:-

Romisen RC-N3 Q5 II - very small (same size as your index finger) - uses 1x CR123A batt or 2xAA with the included extender. Very bright(150 lumens / 10watt halogen) and 3hrs runtime on high with just the CR123A or 12hrs on med. Longer run times with the Extender. Auto swicthes from high>med meaning you wont be left in the lurch (or the dark1). This stays in my jacket pocket all the time.

http://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/the-122/Romisen-RC-dsh-N3-II-Cree/Detail

Fenix TA30 - This is my camping/all round torch. Still not very big (C size maglightish but thinner) - really bright (225 lumens - same as a 15watt halogen), runs off 3x CR123A batts run time is 3.5/60/115 hours on high/med/low. Can tail stand so you can use it as a lamp with a diffuser. Incredibly tough - lifetime warranty.

http://www.fenixtorch.co.uk/led_torches/fenix_ta30.html

(Discount avail to OCUK members from this store)

MG L-mini II - Size in between the above, 220 lumens, uses a rechargable 18650 lion batt, 3 hrs on high, 8 hours on med, 65 on low. Auto switches from high>low and med>low as well. This is my main bike light with the RC-N3 as backup. An amazing little light but as it's rechargeable only - if it dies you won't be able to buy spare batts from the local offy!

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=232143

For your application, the Romisen RC-N3 Q5 II sounds ideal and I guess you'll already have CR123A's if you're into photography - order from www.shiningbeam.com - only took 5 ays to get to me from America and postage was only £4. Excellent service from them.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
doofer said:
Get a head-light, but get one that also has a red light so's not to screw up your night-vision, I got one from Homebase on offer a while back for night fishing/photography and the red light is invaluable for letting you see in the dark and still see what's going on around you when you've turned it off.
Click to expand...

Headlight means you have both hands free.
Or you can get a strap that will hold torches on the side of your head for the same hands free.

My preferred Fenix torches are the L1T and L2T. Both use AA batteries so no real worries about not being able to power them. Unlike the 'D' series they only have two power settings, so there's no fiddling around with multiple button presses.
 
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