Recommend me a new LED torch

Marky said:
Maglites - need we say more :p They are definatly the best LED torches around :)
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The LED maglites are quite good, but on the AA and AAA models the rotary switching isn't as robust as the push button Fenix. At work AA maglites barely lasted about a year before the switches started giving up. The Fenix I have now is about 18 months old.

The D cell LED maglites seem to have an infinite battery life!
 
Maglites - need we say more They are definatly the best LED torches around
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That statement is just wrong on SOOOOO many levels.

I have torches half the price that last twice as long and are four times the brightness when compared to Maglites.

I bet my Fenix TA30 could go through way more abuse than a similar sized Maglite - in fact - I reckon it could outlast a 3D Maglite as well.

Maglite = dinosaur antiques.
 
Thanks for all the info guys. I still have no idea which to get lol.

The TA30 looks good but i don't think i could justify spending £75 on a torch :eek:. Also i don't like the idea of using Li-on batteries as they're expensive and only last 500 charges from what i have been told. Also i don't have any, nor do i have a charger for them. I have a decent AA charger and loads of AA batteries, so i think i would be better off with one that takes AA bats. Then i can just chuck a few in my camera bag if the torch runs out.

What would you recommend as the best AA torch for around £50? Also what difference does a smooth or textured reflector make?

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

(Discount avail to OCUK members from this store)
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tell me more :eek:.
 
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The TA30 looks good but i don't think i could justify spending £75 on a torch
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Don't pay rrp then - I got mine for £40 delivered. Spend some time on google :-)

Also i don't like the idea of using Li-on batteries as they're expensive and only last 500 charges from what i have been told.
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I user CR123A primaries in the TA30 - i.e. non rechargeable - rated at 1500mah so they last ages. I get them for 60p each (Panasonic or Titanium depending what's cheaper at the time).

I have a decent AA charger and loads of AA batteries, so i think i would be better off with one that takes AA bats. Then i can just chuck a few in my camera bag if the torch runs out.
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That's why I have the Romisen as well - I bought 8 AA Sanyo Eneloops (they don't lose charge over time like normal nimh's) so that's my "free" torch if I know I'm going to use it a lot - i.e. that's why it's on the bike. If I get stuck, I can just nip into any shop and chuck a couple of normal AA's in - although it wont last as long or be as bright but at least it will get me home.

If it's just a camping trip then I don't mind burning up £3.50 woth of batteries (actually, I very rarely have to change batteries in my TA30 over the course of the weekend so it;s only a couple of quid in batteries really).

tell me more .
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Search the forums - I think you enter something like "ocuk user" at the checkout stage.
 
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I use a Fenix L1D and the battery has lasted a stupid amount of time. It's been in the torch for 2 years now and it's still going strong!

That's at least 2 festivals, 1 camping trip and 3 holidays as well as just general use at home.
 
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You can get Ronson LED torches which have many LEDs and are VERY bright and last ages from local DIY stores. I picked one up for the airing cupboard for £3.

Why would you need a super expensive torch anyway? You're not stirring lobster with it!
 
Mark A said:
What would you recommend as the best AA torch for around £50? Also what difference does a smooth or textured reflector make?
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IMO the best AA torches are the Fenix L1T and L2T.

I think a smooth reflector is more likely to show up flaws in the reflector or bulb/LED and also give out a 'doughnut' light pattern. A textured reflector has a smoother light pattern.

Cut'n'pasted this from a previous thread. September 2007

torches.jpg

torches2.jpg

1. 3xD cell maglite with filament bulb - picture is at narrow focus
2. 2xAA LED Maglite - 3W LED - picture is at narrow focus
3. Nuwai ALX253L - 5W Luxeon - 3x CR123
4. Fenix L2T v2.0 RB80 Black - 2xAA - low power setting
5. Fenix L2T v2.0 RB80 Black - 2xAA - high power setting
6. cheapo generic chinese with 7xLED - 3xAAA

All torches had used batteries in them, so the lighht output is what you would typically expect. They would all be brighter in the first several minutes of use with fresh batteries.
Pictures taken with my Canon 20D, Tamron 28-300 @ 28mm, F3.5, 1 second exposure, ISO 1600. The roller door is white and is approximately 29m distant from the torches and camera. The stainless steel frame and forklift truck are at approxiamately 15m. No post processing on the pictures other than resizing.
 
You can get Ronson LED torches which have many LEDs and I think are VERY bright because I haven't actually seen a REALLY bright light and last ages from local DIY stores.
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Fixed that for you.
 
? It's got an array of extremely bright LED bulbs, it has lasted months on the same batteries it came with and it illuminates the whole section of room/area it's aimed at.

What are you questioning exactly? my technical ability to recall what is and what is not bright light?

Excuse me while I laugh my ass to smithereens.

The Op does nighttime photography (like myself) and one of those Ronsons will be excellent for his needs, it will also magnetically clamp to his tripod stand or hook over any hooky area of tripod/camera bag.
 
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@Tomsk, thats fantastic thanks.

*adds L2T to wishlist*

You can get Ronson LED torches which have many LEDs and are VERY bright and last ages from local DIY stores. I picked one up for the airing cupboard for £3.

Why would you need a super expensive torch anyway? You're not stirring lobster with it!
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I've had cheap torches in the past and they're not very good at all. Had a cheap £5 LED torch i got from ebay and dropped it and it broke, so i had to head home. Also dropped another in a puddle and it stopped working.

The more expensive torches can be abused a lot more and continue to work. I also want to use the torch as a bike light so it has to take a fair amount of abuse plus be resistant to rain etc.

Another reason was the bad luck i have had with this LED Lenser, running out in less than an hour. But i think after reading some replies in this thread mine seems to be faulty. But hopefully paying a bit more for a Fenix i shouldn't end up with another faulty torch.
 
Well like I said, mine has lasted months of semi regular usage and is still bright, the construction is tough rubberised similar to that of a DSLR body and it's inexpensive so if you do drop it down a lake or whatever just buy another! No harm in trying a Ronson out!
 
Just watched a video review on youtube on the Fenix LD20 and I'm pretty much sold. Looks like an awesome bit of kit and should be fine for what i need.

I have like 20 AA NI-MH batteries and also 4 x AA eneloop ones and a decent fast charger that can charge 6 at a time, so i really want to get a torch that makes use of them.

I'll probably end up getting one of the more powerful torches at some point as well as I'm a total gadget whore :o.
 
http://www.fenixtorch.co.uk/led_torches/fenix_tk40.html
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Worst Fenix torch by far imo - it's too big, awkward battery config, easy to put batteries in backwards resulting in batteries leaking and a dead torch, poor performance with standard alkalines, quite delicate by Fenix standards, very pricey.

Did I already say it's too big?

If you want a 700 lumens light there are better out their imo - Eagletac M2XC4 is a stonking light for less money - and brighter!
 
http://www.fenixtorch.co.uk/led_torches/fenix_tk11_r2.html

I also like these, 240 lumens from such a small torch :eek:. Only problem with them is they only have 2 power settings so i would have to use it on turbo mode all the time.

Ive seen Tesco cree LED torches pop up in a lot of my searches. Might pop over and check them out. They're supposed to be as bright as the L2D and built well. Might get one for leaving in mt glovebox and get a couple more for stocking fillers etc :D.
 
I had one of the 3w CREE torches and I was impressed until I got the Romisen - the lowest powered of my current torches. It Blows the Tesco torch away in both brightness, throw, run time and build quality - all for the same price. In fact, I don't know where the Tesco is right now - I think I lent it to someone but didn't see a need to get it back........

The TK11 you linked is a great torch - you'd be very happy with it.
 
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