Beamshot Comparisons 2009
One of our most frequently asked questions is "which torch is best for me?". The answer to that depends on what you want to use it for, and whether the beam it produces is suitable for that purpose. Also for consideration is your preferred type of battery and even the torch size and weight.To give you a better idea of how each torch differs, we've taken a series of comparitive beamshots for 24 flashlights from our current range. Click on any image to see an enlargement and any link for more information. Lumen ratings are as quoted by the manufacturer.
The Torches
Each of these 24 lights uses a single Cree XR-E (Q3 Natural White, Q5 or R2-bin Cool White) or Cree MC-E power-LED. The main differences between them are the type of reflector they use (the size and suface finish, see below), the battery capacity and body size. Both of the latter influence the amount of current driving the LED [== brightness] given how much metal is available to act as a heatsink and the tradefoff against the desired battery life.
Reflector Surface Finish
On the left is a smooth reflector, on the right a textured reflector. A textured reflector smooths out imperfections in the beam but also spreads the light out. A smooth reflector throws the light further in a narrower beam.
Batteries
On the far left is a 3.7-volt, 2600mAh (9.6W-h) 18650 Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery, next to that a 1.2-volt, 2000mAh (2.4W-h) AA rechargeable NiMH, then a matchbox for size comparison. On the right is a 3-volt, 1400mAh (4.2W-h) CR123A Primary "camera" battery.Note that the 18650 (nominal 66mm x 18mm) is around twice the length of the CR123A (34mm x 16mm), but slightly larger in diameter. A torch designed to use both has a larger diameter body and must cope with a wider voltage range (typically 2.7-volts through 10-volts or more).
Target One
The green shed is approximately 25 metres (82 ft) away from the camera. Each torch was in turn mounted in a Fenix Bike Mount on the camera tripod (except for the TK40).In the following photos check the gravel path and objects on the right for the amount of light coming from the torch that isn't part of the main beam. This is the "spill" and is useful for seeing where you are walking.
Due to variations in LED colors and limitations in the camera for low-light conditions, you can't directly compare beam colors in these photographs.
Moonlight
An almost full moon but with extensive cloud cover and a moderate amount of light from metro Melbourne lights (if you can't see the dim foreground, gravel path, roof and sky through the trees then your monitor may need adjusting for better black levels).
Floodlights
In the first group we have the Fenix TK40, Tiablo ACE-G, LumaPower MRV SideKick Ultra and the Dereelight DBS V3. The ACE-G comes with a battery extension tube to allow use of 2 x 18650 cells. Each of these torches uses the 4-emitter Cree MC-E LED and therefore requires a textured reflector to minimise artifacts. This results in a wide floodlight beam.
Dereelight DBS V3
3SM module, MC-E-M LED, textured reflector, 2xCR123A | 1x18650 | 2x18650 with optional tube
Relatively wide graduated central beam, excellent spill that is restricted by a deep reflector (see bottom left and right of image).
Fenix TK40 MC-E
MC-E LED, 630-lumen, textured reflector, 8xAA (4xAA usable in an emergency)
Wide central beam, excellent spill. Readily available AA batteries.
Tiablo ACE-G MC-E
MC-E LED, 700-lumen, textured reflector, 2xCR123A | 1x18650 | 2x18650 with supplied body extension
Wide beam, excellent spill. Note extra brightness due to higher voltage from two batteries (compared with single battery image below). Longer body.
Tiablo ACE-G MC-E
MC-E LED, textured reflector, 2xCR123A | 1x18650 | 2x18650 with supplied body extension
Wide beam, excellent spill.
LumaPower MRV SideKick Ultra MC-E
MC-E LED, 400-lumen, textured reflector, 2xCR123A | 1x18650
Wide beam, good spill. Extra brightness traded off against longer runtime.
Spotlights
In the second group we have the Tiablo A9 (with the standard reflector or the optional collimator head fitted), Tiablo A10, Dereelight DBS V3, LumaPower MRV SideKick, LumaPower SignatuRE Turbo Force, iTP C6, Fenix TA30, Fenix TK11 (R2), Fenix TK10 and Fenix TK20 (Q2 Neutral White).Each of these torches uses the Cree XR-E R2, Q5 or Q2 LED with a large/deep smooth reflector for a narrow beam and extended throw. The Tiablo A9 with the optional collimator lens head focuses the light from the LED resulting in a very tight spot that is effectively an image of the glowing LED die.
Tiablo A9 Q5 with Collimator Head
Q5 LED, 256-lumen, focussing lens, 2xCR123A | 1x18650
Extremely tight beam, excellent for spotlighting specific objects. Very limited spill. The semi-rectangular bright spot is the same shape as the LED die.
Tiablo A10 Q5
Q5 LED, 260-lumen, smooth reflector, 2xCR123A | 1x18650
Very tight beam, excellent for spotlighting. Limited spill.
Dereelight DBS V3 R2
R2 LED, smooth reflector, 2xCR123A | 1x18650
Tight beam, excellent for spotlighting. Restricted spill.
LumaPower MRV SideKick Q5
Q5 LED, 265-lumen, smooth reflector, 2xCR123A | 2xRCR123A | 1x18650
Tight beam, excellent for spotlighting. Good spill.
LumaPower SignatuRE Turbo Force Q5
Q5 LED, 260-lumen, smooth reflector, 2xCR123A | 1x18650
Tight beam, good spill. Smaller head so easy to carry.
Tiablo A9 Q5 with standard head
Q5 LED, 256-lumen, textured reflector, 2xCR123A | 1x18650
Medium graduated beam (with the default textured reflector), good spill. Good for general illumination.
Fenix TK11 R2
R2 LED, 240-lumen, smooth reflector, 1x18650 | 2xCR123A | 2xRCR123A
Medium beam, good spill. Good for general illumination tasks.
iTP C6 Q5
Q5 LED, 230-lumen, smooth reflector, 2xCR123A | 2x16340 | 1x18650 | 1x17670
Medium beam, useful spill. Good performance for a tighter budget.
Fenix TA30 Q5
Q5 LED, 225-lumen, textured reflector, 3xCR123A
Wide beam, good spill. Narrower head and longer. Designed for high impact use.
Fenix TK10 Q5
Q5 LED, 225-lumen, textured reflector, 2xCR123A
Wide beam, good spill. Tactical switch.
Fenix TK20 Q2
Q2 Neutral White LED, 150-lumen, smooth reflector, 2xAA
Wide beam. Uses common AA batteries. Rubber grip. Provides improved color rendering with a neutral white LED.
Every-Day-Carry
The third group contains the iTP C7, C8 and C10 (the iTP C9 uses the same head and has the same battery voltage as the C8), the LumaPower SignatuRE, the Fenix PD30, LD20, PD20 and LD10, the Dereelight C2H and our 3-LED signaling torch.
These torches all use the Cree XR-E Q5 and Q2 LED, or the Cree XR-C at lower LED currents for longer battery life. They also have smaller heads and reflectors and thus generally produce wider beams.
Fenix PD30 Q5
Q5 LED, 220-lumen, textured reflector, 2xCR123A
Fenix LD20 Q5
Q5 LED, 180-lumen, textured reflector, 2xAA
LumaPower SignatuRE Q5
Q5 LED, 260-lumen, textured reflector, 2xCR123A
Fenix PD20 Q5
Q5 LED, 180-lumen, textured reflector, 1xCR123A
Fenix LD10
Q5 LED, 120-lumen, textured reflector, 1xAA
Dereelight C2H Q2
5A Q2 Neutral White LED, textured reflector, 1xCR123A | 1xRCR123A
iTP C10 Q5
Q5 LED, 230-lumen, combination smooth & textured reflector, 2xCR123A | 2xRCR123A
iTP C8 Q5
Q5 LED, 190-lumen, combination smooth & textured reflector, 2xAA
iTP C7 Q5
Q5 LED, 120-lumen, combination smooth & textured reflector, 1xAA
Signal Torch Green XR-C
XR-C Green LED, textured reflector, 2xCR123A | 1x18650
Signal Torch Red XR-C
XR-C Red LED, textured reflector, 2xCR123A | 1x18650
Signal Torch White XR-C
XR-C White LED, textured reflector, 2xCR123A | 1x18650
Target Two
The second target, another green shed, is approximately 210m (682ft) distant.For this trial we chose a selection of 10 of the tightest beam spotlights and the widest beam floodlights.
Use the hanging branches of the tree on the right (in the night shots below) as a guide to the width of the beam.
Tiablo A9 Q5 with Collimator Head
Q5 LED, 256-lumen, focussing lens, 2xCR123A | 1x18650
Tiablo A10 Q5
Q5 LED, 260-lumen, smooth reflector, 2xCR123A | 1x18650
Dereelight DBS V3 R2
R2 LED, smooth reflector, 2xCR123A | 1x18650
LumaPower MRV SideKick Q5
Q5 LED, 265-lumen, smooth reflector, 2xCR123A | 2xRCR123A | 1x18650
Tiablo A9 Q5 with standard head
Q5 LED, 256-lumen, smooth reflector, 2xCR123A | 1x18650
Fenix TK11 R2
R2 LED, 240-lumen, smooth reflector, 1x18650 | 2xCR123A | 2xRCR123A
LumaPower MRV SideKick Ultra MC-E
MC-E LED, 400-lumen, textured reflector, 2xCR123A | 1x18650
Dereelight DBS V3
3SM module, MC-E-M LED, textured reflector, 2xCR123A | 1x18650 | 2x18650 with optional tube
Fenix TK40 MC-E
MC-E LED, 630-lumen, textured reflector, 8xAA (4xAA usable in an emergency)
Tiablo ACE-G MC-E
MC-E LED, 700-lumen, textured reflector, 2xCR123A | 1x18650 | 2x18650 with supplied body extension