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Posted: 3/10/2009 8:33:07 AM EDT
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Does anyone know if the L4 is gonna throw significantly further than the G2LED? I know the lumen difference ratings by sure fire are 120 vs. 80, so it seems to be the L4 wins out, but by how big of a real-world margin?
I really want to get an L4, but I just wonder if the runtime differences between the two (12 vs. 2 hours) are enough to offset the difference in throw...this will go on my sabre middie intended primarily for outdoor use.... |
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Quoted:
Does anyone know if the L4 is gonna throw significantly further than the G2LED? I know the lumen difference ratings by sure fire are 120 vs. 80, so it seems to be the L4 wins out, but by how big of a real-world margin? I really want to get an L4, but I just wonder if the runtime differences between the two (12 vs. 2 hours) are enough to offset the difference in throw...this will go on my sabre middie intended primarily for outdoor use.... If the L4 is as under-rated as the E2DL, then quite a lot. |
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If you're referring to the updated KL4 bezel, it's beam is still pretty broad. The runtime is far longer than the LuxeonV KL4 though which along with the L2 and X200B are known for their short-range flood beams.
The P60L of the G2L has a beam that is obviously more intense, although not as intense as other lights. As for the lumen ratings - plenty of the KL4 (LuxeonV version) light is being 'wasted' in the surround beam so I wouldn't play too much attention to ratings. When it comes to runtime ratings I urge checking out runtime/output charts rather than taking the manufacturer's single-value rating as considered and useful. If you want to make a really obvious difference in putting quality light out there then the KX2C bezel of the M600C (akin to the X300 and E2DL) demonstrates the how effectively light can be managed and directed forwards. The just recently updated L4 (KL4 bezel) is more like the G2L's P60L and it's output may be descernably brighter but there isn't a lot in it (IMHO) so it comes done to form-factor and other determining features which may steer you toward one or the other. Al |
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Quoted:
If you're referring to the updated KL4 bezel, it's beam is still pretty broad. The runtime is far longer than the LuxeonV KL4 though which along with the L2 and X200B are known for their short-range flood beams. The P60L of the G2L has a beam that is obviously more intense, although not as intense as other lights. As for the lumen ratings - plenty of the KL4 (LuxeonV version) light is being 'wasted' in the surround beam so I wouldn't play too much attention to ratings. When it comes to runtime ratings I urge checking out runtime/output charts rather than taking the manufacturer's single-value rating as considered and useful. If you want to make a really obvious difference in putting quality light out there then the KX2C bezel of the M600C (akin to the X300 and E2DL) demonstrates the how effectively light can be managed and directed forwards. The just recently updated L4 (KL4 bezel) is more like the G2L's P60L and it's output may be descernably brighter but there isn't a lot in it (IMHO) so it comes done to form-factor and other determining features which may steer you toward one or the other. Al Ahhh...I was thinking the new L4 had the KX2C bezel, at least according to bobfried's review posted earlier, and not a P60L like the G2L. According to his review the new L4 is pretty much an E2DL with a single stage head and scout tail cap. Is he mistaken? If so, I see no reason to spend twice the money on the L4 over the G2LED just to save an ounce or so of weight. |
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Ahhh...I was thinking the new L4 had the KX2C bezel, at least according to bobfried's review posted earlier, and not a P60L like the G2L. According to his review the new L4 is pretty much an E2DL with a single stage head and scout tail cap. Is he mistaken? If so, I see no reason to spend twice the money on the L4 over the G2LED just to save an ounce or so of weight. The L4 has the KL4 bezel and Z57 Clickie TailCap. The KL4 bezel has been updated with a new LED just like the KL5 and U2 have been. Although these are smaller light sources than the old LuxeonV LED and so create tighter beams as a result, the main difference is the far better runtime this far more efficient LED allows. The VTAC L4 or more formally Viking Tactics / SureFire "VTAC-L4-BK" uses the KX2C bezel and Z61 shrouded Clickie TailCap. It's essentially an M600C with the MH60 ScoutLight Housing Body replaced by an E-Series body. In a contest between the VTAC-L4 / M600C / E2DL / X300, and the G2L with it's P60L the former significantly out-performs the P60L in output, throw and usefulness at further distances. Reflectors waste light - they can not collect all the light from an LED, and can not focus all the light they do gather into when it needs to be in the beam. On the other hand TIR optics such as the one used by SureFire in it's current line-up (KX2C, E1B, X300 etc) collect pretty much all the light from the LED and concentrate it forwards into generating the designed beam. It can effectively achieve more results with less light compared to a reflector. Al |
| Al...thanks for your helpfulness. I'm definitely leaning towards that L4 VTAC now. I did not realize the mods that it has versus a Surefire factory L4. The carbine its going on will be mainly outdoors use, ala a pest removal system, which I think could benefit from a light with much longer throw, albeit shorter runtime compared to the G2L. Have you seen any actual numbers or reports on the useable throw differences between the two? |
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How do you tell the difference between the older and newer KL4 heads? I believe the packaging will draw attention to the updated LED. SureFire seem to have decided the change does not justify changing the model number as initially expected L5 would become L5A (KL5 becoming KL5A) U2 would become U2A (not to be confused with the proposed UA2 concept) L4 would become L4A (KL4 becoming KL4A) In this post on CPF http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showpost.php?p=2809242&postcount=101 The KL4 bezel with the LuxeonV LED is on the left. The updated LED (SSC P4 I believe) is in the one of the right. So it is possible to tell them apart by looking at the LED as they are distinctly different. |
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