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Tin Can
4-Mar-2016, 13:28
Since everybody here is an expert on something. We are!

What is the best powerful LED handheld flashlight, when considering price and light output?

I am a big fan my key-chain Fenix E05 LED torch and use it many times a day. I consider it a modern miracle.

An ad I just saw online showed big light power handheld, which would be great for night shots, paint by light or daytime fill.

Any suggestions and actual experiences welcome.

Kirk Gittings
4-Mar-2016, 13:31
I am interested in such too and would like to know the color temp of any suggested flashlights if you know them, as I prefer a warm k value for light painting.

Richard Wasserman
4-Mar-2016, 13:41
I think you guys need one of these- http://petapixel.com/2015/11/24/the-worlds-brightest-flashlight-can-light-the-world-with-90000-lumens/

Tin Can
4-Mar-2016, 14:05
Thanks for the link Richard. Great video, but maybe more than a city can handle?

I have been researching those very LED's and have them in my eBay list. I need to find the lenses.

Kirk here is what i have been looking at (http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-PC-10W-20W-30W-50W-80W-100W-High-Power-LED-Chip-Cool-Warm-White-RGB-Light-Lamp-/231052215290?var=&hash=item35cbc903fa:m:mWNQgbZhxB1jI-86XmiJfPQ) they are available as RGB, warm and cool temps. This is not an auction, and I have nothing to do with them. This supplier seems to be the factory and is getting an order from me shortly for UV strip LED for an Alt Process printer.

Jac@stafford.net
4-Mar-2016, 14:05
Very cool for constant light. My flashbulb arsenal would beat it down in a heartbeat - which is as long as the bulb lasts. :)

Good stuff. Thanks for the link.

EDIT: I am waiting for Randy Moe to advise or build the ultimate. I'm with ya, Randy!

Tin Can
4-Mar-2016, 14:13
One more question for making this FLASHLIGHT is why not use 3x12vdc high amp batteries in series and eliminates the power supplies?

On thinking a bit while typing, the power supplies most likely have a low voltage cutoff and a method of maintaining output as the parallel wired batteries dwindle in available power.

I will add one of these $24 100 watt warm white LEDs to my order. For experimentation purposes...:)


I also now see whole kits with lens LED, heat sink, fan and power supply.

Robert Tilden
4-Mar-2016, 14:28
Those are boost supplies rated for 150 watts (optimistically). You put in 12V or more and can get a steady 32 volts out. See here (http://www.amazon.com/Yeeco-Adjustable-Transformer-Stabilizer-Automotive/dp/B00MIJL4OC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1457126675&sr=8-2&keywords=150+watt+boost+power+supply). The lenses are available here (http://www.amazon.com/Reflector-Collimator-Housing-Fixed-bracket/dp/B00HLBHLIA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1457126831&sr=8-1&keywords=100W+LED+Chip). You will need a heat sink for the LED.

BarryS
4-Mar-2016, 14:35
Nitecore TM26--basically a handheld search light. The current version kicks out 4000 lumens of neutral light from a focused array of four emitters. Built-in charger, uses 4 18650's, OLED output/voltage/temp display. It also has a tripod mount. Bought it so I can focus at night or in dim light and for some light painting.

http://flashlight.nitecore.com/product/tm26

147555

Tin Can
4-Mar-2016, 14:52
Those are boost supplies rated for 150 watts (optimistically). You put in 12V or more and can get a steady 32 volts out. See here (http://www.amazon.com/Yeeco-Adjustable-Transformer-Stabilizer-Automotive/dp/B00MIJL4OC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1457126675&sr=8-2&keywords=150+watt+boost+power+supply). The lenses are available here (http://www.amazon.com/Reflector-Collimator-Housing-Fixed-bracket/dp/B00HLBHLIA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1457126831&sr=8-1&keywords=100W+LED+Chip). You will need a heat sink for the LED.

Thanks Robert, I was not finding those.

I will make a single 100 watt LED first.

Found this guy...I haven't read all his insanity yet... (http://tesladownunder.com/WorldsBrightestBike.htm#Space)

Tin Can
4-Mar-2016, 14:55
Nitecore TM26--basically a handheld search light. The current version kicks out 4000 lumens of neutral light from a focused array of four emitters. Built-in charger, uses 4 18650's, OLED output/voltage/temp display. It also has a tripod mount. Bought it so I can focus at night or in dim light and for some light painting.

http://flashlight.nitecore.com/product/tm26

147555

That's what I asked for, but wow, definitely not free.

Thank you~

Willie
4-Mar-2016, 14:58
Fenix TK35 is excellent. Much better than the highly advertised 'navy seal flashlight' that is all over the internet. More powerful and great for longer fill light on buildings out to 1/4 mile or so.

jp
4-Mar-2016, 15:09
http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000I4O8BK Smith & Wesson Galaxy 6 LED Flashlight (3 Red + 3 White LEDs)
is what I have. It does not light paint landscapes, but I have used it for lighting a portrait at night outdoors with the white LEDs. Sort of an average brightness flashlight. The real reason I own this is for the red LEDs. It has two on/off buttons, one for red, one for white. (it does pink if they are both on and my girls like that). The red is nice for shooting with the DSLR at night, I can use the red light to adjust settings on my camera and find things I drop without totally losing my night vision. One could use the red for darkroom or wet plate work I suppose but my darkroom is well lit.

BarryS
4-Mar-2016, 15:19
That's what I asked for, but wow, definitely not free.

Thank you~

Got it on sale, but it still wasn't cheap. For a reasonably priced light, the Nitecore EC11 is excellent. Very small, but still 900 lumens with an IMR 1850 battery. Also has a red led mode. http://flashlight.nitecore.com/product/ec11

BetterSense
4-Mar-2016, 17:27
Zebralight SC52w. Lost it once and bought another because it's perfect. It uses common AA batteries, and you can turn it directly onto any of its three main power levels. It has a lockout tailcap, can freestand to act as a lamp bouncing off the ceiling, is small enough to bite, bloody bright on high, and has a high CRI LED.

HMG
5-Mar-2016, 13:51
Adding "tactical" onto "flashlight" is like adding "professional" before "camera". Good for at least a 20-50% increase in price.

But since you're considering price and output, you might want to wander around here: http://budgetlightforum.com/

Tin Can
5-Mar-2016, 14:04
Thanks. Forums are the new Apps!


Now I know what 'protection' means.

I worry about electrical items like exploding or flaming Hoverboards which are in the news lately.

I have seen and worked my share of fire. Lost family 2 years ago from home fire.

Safety First.




Adding "tactical" onto "flashlight" is like adding "professional" before "camera". Good for at least a 20-50% increase in price.

But since you're considering price and output, you might want to wander around here: http://budgetlightforum.com/

Jac@stafford.net
5-Mar-2016, 14:49
I thought LEDs emitted light without temperature. :) Now I see flashlights setting things on fire! Oi!

Tin Can
5-Mar-2016, 15:11
I thought LEDs emitted light without temperature. :) Now I see flashlights setting things on fire! Oi!

They do produce heat and the more power they consume the more heat they produce.

I find even my tiny 1 watt LED Red safe lights are warm. My room lights are very hot to touch the external heat sink.

Power supplies, chargers and batteries are big dangers.

There is no free lunch.

Leszek Vogt
5-Mar-2016, 17:45
Instead "tactical" or "ninja", bla bla bs, what we need is an entity that tests these things with some reliable integrity. I had this thing with megazillion lumens and it became quite weak v. quickly....and I wasn't able to recharge it. Subsequently bought a waterproof Princeton Tec (for a trip to Hawaii) and had to fold 2 pieces of paper in the front of it (blocking) in order to light a tree in the Bristlecone Forest. No more issues.

Les

Peter De Smidt
5-Mar-2016, 17:56
https://haroldrossfineart.wordpress.com/light-painting-tools-and-resources/

Tin Can
5-Mar-2016, 19:27
https://haroldrossfineart.wordpress.com/light-painting-tools-and-resources/

Very informative link and the M10 stay set brightness feature is great. It puts put 4 times the light my Fenix E05 does, but is 3 times the size.

Maybe I should put a battery pack on my aging LED panel and run around the hood, or mount to my bicycle.

I also like the light tunnels from PVC.

Thanks!

paricpo
8-Apr-2016, 23:45
I think you guys need one of these- http://petapixel.com/2015/11/24/the-worlds-brightest-flashlight-can-light-the-world-with-90000-lumens/

I have visited your link, thats an amazing post about this.

roseawebs
21-Jun-2016, 09:09
Thank you @Barry for suggestion. I am going to buy the the best tactical flashlight reviews (https://besttacticalreviews.com/best-tactical-flashlight/) Nitecore led flashlight (http://besttacticalflashlights.org/). I can also suggest a new flashlight review site (https://bestflashlights.org/).

Jac@stafford.net
21-Jun-2016, 09:56
A couple things. I wonder if simply raising the voltage on LED flashlights works. They are diodes. Isn't a resistor necessary in a boosted battery case?

Another: Some of these are just too bright for night work. Don't temporarily blind yourself. I was mounting mine on my bicycle and flashed into my eyes and had to wait a couple minutes so the image would go away.

Finally, those '75% off' Shadowhawk lights are $7 to $8 each wholesale.