What lights?

[jamin100]

That would be very helpful

Pictures as promised.
Ive tried to mimic Gaz's settings as a comparision, so F4, 100ISO, 4 sec exposure. I dont have a tripod so it may look a bit shaky.

This was shot with the lights on full but the batteries have been used for around 2 hours previously. If you look closely you can just make out the yellow of my computer on the stem

However, after conducting this test i WOULDN'T recommend them for unlit roads. They are great "be seen" lights and when I put them on flashing mode they really were noticeable however, for lights to see by, then I can't recommend them unfortunately.

Wether this is to do with the batteries being AA or just the fact that they are cheap lights, i don't know.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Its exactly the lights from the same seller i was looking for, asked him last week if he was getting them back in and he said in the next week or so, so these come recommened do they?

If you get them you may want to consider buying some velcro style mounts if running flat bars or bullhorns where the supplied mount may foul brake levers

 

[MrGrumpy]

is that the ones I linked to earlier? Don't look very bright? Can the head be zoomed in out?? Maybe best running two?

 

[gaz]

Pictures as promised.
Ive tried to mimic Gaz's settings as a comparision, so F4, 100ISO, 4 sec exposure. I dont have a tripod so it may look a bit shaky.

This was shot with the lights on full but the batteries have been used for around 2 hours previously. If you look closely you can just make out the yellow of my computer on the stem

However, after conducting this test i WOULDN'T recommend them for unlit roads. They are great "be seen" lights and when I put them on flashing mode they really were noticeable however, for lights to see by, then I can't recommend them unfortunately.

Wether this is to do with the batteries being AA or just the fact that they are cheap lights, i don't know.

And you compare that to a hope vision 1

Or perhaps a Dinotte 1200L+

 

[jamin100]

Oh they were zoomed out too

 

[Col5632]

If you get them you may want to consider buying some velcro style mounts if running flat bars or bullhorns where the supplied mount may foul brake levers

Do you know where i will get them from as the brake levers was something i was worried about

And what makes Torchy boy's two Cree lights better than the lights posted above by Jammin?

 

[MrGrumpy]

Col those ones up above are Cree Q5 7w i think, the other ones advertised by several sellers are XML T6's however they will be driven much lower lower I suspect as they put out about 500 lumens in the small torch heads. Now I might be wrong with that and they are indeed running full blast, thus they will be mega mega bright and look be on a par with the Dinotte 1200 in Gaz'z picture!
Just as a side note, reading on other forums these torch heads with XML T6 LEDs run very hot ( unless you get a dud like the one I just bought), so best not have them on full blast for long, hence if you can run two better!

 

[Col5632]

Col those ones up above are Cree Q5 7w i think, the other ones advertised by several sellers are XML T6's however they will be driven much lower lower I suspect as they put out about 500 lumens in the small torch heads. Now I might be wrong with that and they are indeed running full blast, thus they will be mega mega bright and look be on a par with the Dinotte 1200 in Gaz'z picture!
Just as a side note, reading on other forums these torch heads with XML T6 LEDs run very hot ( unless you get a dud like the one I just bought), so best not have them on full blast for long, hence if you can run two better!

Man im confused (easily done i know) if torchy can get his back in stock i would like to try them as he gives them good reviews and people recommend him on here so can only be good

 

[fossyant]

Man im confused (easily done i know) if torchy can get his back in stock i would like to try them as he gives them good reviews and people recommend him on here so can only be good

Just get a hope 1. Simples

 

[Teuchter]

Always had good results from a Fenix torch on unlit tracks and roads but lost mine last year (I suspect the kids "borrowed" it). Are these now totally out of fashion and superseded by better options?

That Dinotte that Gaz posted looks amazing but no way I'm springing for one of them when only about a mile or two of my commute is on dark roads and needs more than a flashing Cateye.

 

[MrGrumpy]

Just get a hope 1. Simples

Yer but they are £80 which is above budget for Col I think, I think some of the UK manufacturers are missing a trick here, if they dropped there prices to compete just a little bit, we would all be jumping on them but alas in todays economic climate, we are price senstive. They are all using the same tech,same drivers I suspect and probably all from the same chinese factory as well??

 

[Col5632]

Yer but they are £80 which is above budget for Col I think, I think some of the UK manufacturers are missing a trick here, if they dropped there prices to compete just a little bit, we would all be jumping on them but alas in todays economic climate, we are price senstive. They are all using the same tech,same drivers I suspect and probably all from the same chinese factory as well??

I can stretch to the £80 but ideally only need a bright light for about a mile of my commute each way, and if i can get two lights at £50 that do that then even better

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Do you know where i will get them from as the brake levers was something i was worried about

And what makes Torchy boy's two Cree lights better than the lights posted above by Jammin?

the velcro mounts are available on fleabay for about a fiver a pair, if you search for ultrafire mounts you should find them.

the emitters (the LED's) are better spec and are emitters used seem to be ones that actually meet the spec as it appears the torchy brand/company have decent quality standards

I've not noticed heat being a problem btw.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Yer but they are £80 which is above budget for Col I think, I think some of the UK manufacturers are missing a trick here, if they dropped there prices to compete just a little bit, we would all be jumping on them but alas in todays economic climate, we are price senstive. They are all using the same tech,same drivers I suspect and probably all from the same chinese factory as well??

Hope are transparent about their sourcing the electronics from overseas but stand by their claims that their kit is made in Lancashire. They are a premium brand with premium brand prices to suit.

 

[gaz]

Yer but they are £80 which is above budget for Col I think, I think some of the UK manufacturers are missing a trick here, if they dropped there prices to compete just a little bit, we would all be jumping on them but alas in todays economic climate, we are price senstive. They are all using the same tech,same drivers I suspect and probably all from the same chinese factory as well??

Naaaah, the last thing they should do is reduce the prices. As that will no doubt mean reducing the quality of these products. Which by the way, is outstanding and definitely noticeable.

Whilst they may be using the same drivers, the good quality lights are out putting higher lumens than the cheaper lights using the same drivers. As the cheaper companies are buying the stuff in huge quantities and get varying quality.
Where as the good quality companies are buying less and making sure they get the top stuff. Which results in better quality across all of their lights.

The Exposure range of lights is a great example of the minor things that make a difference. The flash mode on most lights is in the cycle of the solid beams, this isn't much good if you cycling in pitch black, the last thing you want is to have no light for a split second as you are changing modes. Instead they took the flash out of the normal mode pattern and made it so you hold the power button for two seconds and then you have flash.
Take into account the extras they also provide, including linking up a rear light or second front light to the original front light and the ability to add an additional battery pack on the back.