I've longed now for sometime for a really powerful torch that is highly focusable; i.e., it can be adjusted from a wide-field area light down to a super tight, long-throw beam. I've not handled a Streamlight Stinger myself, but I'm wondering how tight the focus really is on it; I have a Streamlight Twin Task and the penumbra is huge...almost as bright as the supposedly "focused" area!

So is the Stinger any better really, or is there some other light out that that is better at this?

Thanks!

Noel

I have one of these fairly cheap lights, that has impressive focusing for an LED, though it's hardly in the same league as the streamlight. I'll see if I can take some pics of the thing in action, if anyone's interested.

http://www.dealext...tails.dx/sku.14450

Posted by metawaffle I have one of these fairly cheap lights, that has impressive focusing for an LED, though it's hardly in the same league as the streamlight. I'll see if I can take some pics of the thing in action, if anyone's interested. http://www.dealext...tails.dx/sku.14450

Hmm...looks interesting. Any idea what the output in lumens is?

Okey dokey!

The X2000 uses the last generation of emitters, I suspect, but it's still plenty bright. In fact, despite putting out less light overall than the fancier, newer lights, the focus on the X2000 seems to let it throw at least as far, if not further.

I've taken some quick comparison shots against my favourite JetBeam Jet III Pro IBS, and while it's not ideal, it'll hopefully give some idea of what it's all about.


Looking up the street, just lit by streetlight:



Now, the JetBeam



And the X2000, wide focus - note that it doesn't project very far into the distance.



And the X2000, narrow focus - note that it barely spills light to the sides of the focus area. Also, the focused beam is square, not round.




A different scene:



JetBeam:



X2000, wide - note how smooth the beam is, compared to the throwier JetBeam.



X2000, narrow - notice how little else is illuminated.




The X2000 might be useful if you wanted to light paint smoothly with LED, or if you for some reason wanted a very defined spot. The downside of the X2000 is that it's cheaply built, and thanks to the sliding mechanism that adjusts focus, it may not be water resistant.

I have the 18650-powered version, but there are other versions that run on CR123 and AAA batteries. I'd imagine the performance would be about the same.

One last anecdotal point - I lent this light to a friend a couple of weeks ago, and he was very impressed with the reach in spot mode, compared to his own fancy lights.

I hope that helps!

Posted by metawaffle Okey dokey! The X2000 uses the last generation of emitters, I suspect, but it's still plenty bright. In fact, despite putting out less light overall than the fancier, newer lights, the focus on the X2000 seems to let it throw at least as far, if not further. I've taken some quick comparison shots against my favourite JetBeam Jet III Pro IBS, and while it's not ideal, it'll hopefully give some idea of what it's all about. Looking up the street, just lit by streetlight: http://lh6.ggpht.c...800/Control-sm.JPG Now, the JetBeam http://lh3.ggpht.c...JetBeam-IBS-sm.JPG And the X2000, wide focus - note that it doesn't project very far into the distance. http://lh5.ggpht.c.../X2000-Wide-sm.JPG And the X2000, narrow focus - note that it barely spills light to the sides of the focus area. Also, the focused beam is square, not round. http://lh6.ggpht.c...2000-Narrow-sm.JPG A different scene: http://lh3.ggpht.c...0/Control-2-sm.JPG JetBeam: http://lh3.ggpht.c...tBeam-IBS-2-sm.JPG X2000, wide - note how smooth the beam is, compared to the throwier JetBeam. http://lh6.ggpht.c...2000-Wide-2-sm.JPG X2000, narrow - notice how little else is illuminated. http://lh6.ggpht.c...00-Narrow-2-sm.JPG The X2000 might be useful if you wanted to light paint smoothly with LED, or if you for some reason wanted a very defined spot. The downside of the X2000 is that it's cheaply built, and thanks to the sliding mechanism that adjusts focus, it may not be water resistant. I have the 18650-powered version, but there are other versions that run on CR123 and AAA batteries. I'd imagine the performance would be about the same. One last anecdotal point - I lent this light to a friend a couple of weeks ago, and he was very impressed with the reach in spot mode, compared to his own fancy lights. I hope that helps!

WOW! It helps tremendously! Thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to make those comparison shots; very useful. For $20 the X2000 seems like a no-brainer; I think I'll pick one up.

Posted by Imbroglio WOW! It helps tremendously! Thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to make those comparison shots; very useful. For $20 the X2000 seems like a no-brainer; I think I'll pick one up.

Excellent! I'll be interested to see how you find it. One other pic I'd forgotten about - I'm pointing the light at the ceiling of the tunnel here, so you kinda get an idea of the spread:

Nice and cheap. Don't forget to buy a battery and charger though.

I forgot. Didn't notice they piece-meal the whole thing out. I ordered a couple 2500 mah 18650 Trustfires and a charger yesterday though.

Posted by Imbroglio I forgot. Didn't notice they piece-meal the whole thing out. I ordered a couple 2500 mah 18650 Trustfires and a charger yesterday though.

Oh well

I think I got about an hour and a half runtime all-up out of one 18650 with that light, the one time I used it for walking around, though I switched it off periodically, to let the thing cool down a bit.

I just got my X2000 in the mail, no pictures of it's performance, but sufficed to say that I am more than impressed, astounded even. (Mind you, only other torch I own is a 3D Maglite)

This is beautiful, and with a pair of rechargeable 18650s I'm sure that I'll be having fun with it.

I thought I'd mentioned this before, but maybe not - the larger dildo-style diffuser that Fenix recently released fits nicely onto the X2000. In fact, that's the first light I go to now if I want that lantern-style effect.

Here's a link to fenix-store.com, though it's available elsewhere, too (just make sure you're looking at the large one, to suit the TK models, not the small one to suit the LD20/L2D/P3D/...)

https://www.fenix-...hp?products_id=632

No real samples yet....but that X2000 is UNBELIEVABLE! uber-throw when you need it, even when backed off slightly from the square setting. If only it weren't quite so bluish-white, but I should be able to correct it with a warming filter. The smooth pattern is also excellent...for the money this is the best deal I've seen!

I vote we petition Fenix to rename that as the "Dildo Diffuser".

The X2000 is a great light. I also like Fenix's E20, which uses stock AA's, has an output of around 100 lumen, and adjustable beam. It sells for just under $40 from the Fenix store that Meta linked you to. I'm building my own from parts, but I really like the X2000, too.

FYI...a 3/4 CTO filter corrects the X2000 quite nicely.

Alas, my X2000 seems to be failing. It flickers and goes dark periodically, so it seems there might be something loose inside. Unfortunately, these things are definitely not made to be easily disassembled.

In fairness, this thing has dropped to the ground a fair few times in drains and elsewhere. Given its cheapness, I certainly can't complain that it's finally suffering as a result

Hooray, it turned out the head was just a bit loose - all working fine, now.

Also, they're down to $13.55 at DX now, which is much better than the $20.99 I paid a little while back.

Posted by metawaffle Alas, my X2000 seems to be failing. It flickers and goes dark periodically, so it seems there might be something loose inside. Unfortunately, these things are definitely not made to be easily disassembled. In fairness, this thing has dropped to the ground a fair few times in drains and elsewhere. Given its cheapness, I certainly can't complain that it's finally suffering as a result

When mine does that, I fiddle with the front and it goes bright again, so I think that's the end the connection problem is. Unscrew the front and remove the metal ring and lens. Pry that white ring out (Needlenose pliars or a key works), it holds the emitter in. Now you can reach that end of the wires. The switch is harder to take apart, haven't had trouble with it yet.

I was glad it turned out to be something minor - I use that light all the time. The biggest issue was that I didn't realise the sliding section screwed off like it does, and it had come loose

Hey, cool, DX have a new little flood-to-throw-focusable light by Romisen:
http://www.dealext...tails.dx/sku.26792



Goes for $13.62, takes one CR123A battery, and is smaller than the Romisen RC-N3. If I didn't already have two lights en route to my house, I'd order one

From the comments on the page, it's a twist-focus thing, not a pull-focus, and it takes two-and-a-half turns to go between extremes.

Posted by metawaffle Hey, cool, DX have a new little flood-to-throw-focusable light by Romisen

Damn you metawaffle... I'm ordering one now.