Best flashlight?

[mdd99]

My small, light, bright flashlight of many years died and I'm looking for a replacement. I see there are small LED flashlights now--any good? Maglites seem heavy. What's your favorite portable flashlight for reading f/stops in dim light?

[Richard Wasserman]

I have a tiny LED light on my key chain. I don't know where I got it and I'm sure it didn't cost more than a couple dollars or so. It's surprisingly bright and takes up no space.

[Eric Woodbury]

I have a single AAA cell Dorcy in my pocket. Never fails me (yet). And in my camera bag, I carry a small mini-Mag AAA for focus, f/numbers, and hiking back to the car in the dark. My Pocket Spot light meter gives off enough light to read f/numbers or as something to focus on in a dark scene, but not to find the car.

[Jack Dahlgren]

Almost all the small and light flashlights use LED's nowadays and they are better in almost every way except light spectrum.
I use a red LED bike taillight for night photography because it is easier on the eyes. It weighs about an ounce and I can use it on my bike.

[Juergen Sattler]

Take a look at the Coleman flashlights. I bought one at Walmart with three different light colors - regular white (very, very bright) red and blue. I use the red for operating the camera and white to pint with light. It is small enough that it fits in any pocket.

[Steve Hamley]

I like the lights at photonlight.com. I use the Micro Lights, and this last weekend, the Freedom with the clip for a ball cap was all I needed around the camp and to set up a camera in pre-dawn hours. These are great lights.

This one looks nice and has a red LED to preserve night vision, but is quite pricey:

http://www.photonlight.com/Proton-PR...flashlight.htm

I'd really like to have one, but the price is high - but a 2-watt LED will put out all the light you'll ever need.

The spec sheet at the manufacturer's site is better:

http://www.laughingrabbitinc.com/p_proton_pro.htm

And you have to love "Laughing Rabbit, Inc."

Cheers, Steve

[J Ney]

I'm all about the Streamlight Scorpion. The thing is bright as can be and very compact and light. Can be a bit pricey but it will last for a lifetime.

http://www.streamlight.com/product/product.aspx?pid=34

[Eric Leppanen]

http://diglloyd.com/diglloyd/2009-06...629Flashlights

[Don Hutton]

I'm all about the Streamlight Scorpion. The thing is bright as can be and very compact and light. Can be a bit pricey but it will last for a lifetime.

http://www.streamlight.com/product/product.aspx?pid=34

fantastic flashlight - usually cheapest at Botach - http://www.botachtactical.com/stscfl.html You can usually pick up the CR123s for about $1 each.

[Darren Kruger]

I just use cheap ones. I was using some keychain single LED/laser pointer combo's for around $1 each shipped. Then I got a free 9 LED flashlight from Harbor Freight with a coupon and I'm liking it a bunch, especially the price.

-Darren