New at this: Olight M21 vs Maglite 4D with Terralux upgrade

[Mr. Whippy]

So this is my first go at this.

The Maglite 4D with Terralux TLE-300M-EX upgrade is stated to put out 650 lumens.  The Olight, 500 lumens.

Here are the contestants:



A little closer:


The LED's:



Beamshots:

Olight M21


Maglite 4D with Terralux dropin


Note that both illuminate the distant tree about the same, but the Olight M21 lights up the tree to the right a bit more.

The Olight looks much brighter on the deck planters at the lower edge.

Also note that the Olight has new CR123's while the Maglite has newish Energizer Alkaline batteries.

Regardless, I'd call it close to a tie.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Look's as though the Mags got the wider beam though

[Zed]

very cool, i miss my old big maglite, years ago i worked nights for the daily mirror in watford and i had to walk down this very long alley called DEATH alley       i carried my big maglite not just as a torch but as a hitting weapon  ahh they was the days, none of this no locking blades crap    

[Mr. Whippy]

Look's as though the Mags got the wider beam though

IRL, the Maglite seems to have a sharper and larger diameter cylinder of light while the Olight diffuses out more.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Look's as though the Mags got the wider beam though

IRL, the Maglite seems to have a sharper and larger diameter cylinder of light while the Olight diffuses out more.

On balance I still think the Olight is the better torch, if for no other reason than portability

[NutSAK]

One thing you'll learn very quickly in the flashlight world is that most manufacturers don't specify "actual" lumens or output.  Many of them take the specs from the LED manufacturer for the current at which the LED is running, and that's the spec they use.  That isn't accurate, as no reflector or optic setup is 100% efficient.  What really makes this difficult is that a few manufacturers state "actual" lumens or "out the front" (OTF) lumens.  These specs are measured in an integrating sphere and are true representations of what the flashlight is producing.  These differing approaches make it nearly impossible to compare lumen ratings from one manufacturer to another.

Differing beam profiles also make visual comparisons nearly impossible.  A lumens measurement is the TOTAL light output from the torch.  A beam with a tight hotspot and dim or narrow spill will many times appear to the eye to have more output than a floody light with a dispersed hotspot and bright or wide spill.  This is not necessarily the case.  The total output of torches with similar beam patterns can be visually compared much more easily than those that differ.

To me, it appears that your Maglite has noticeably more output than the Olight.  The intensity of the spot and spill are similar on both, but look how large and bright the Maglite's spot is against the far tree.  However, due to the diffuse beam of the Olight, the spill is somewhat brighter, so it makes a total output comparison difficult to make visually.

I have a Fenix TK30 and, when I first turned it on, I thought there was no way it was outputting ~600 lumens.  Then I started to do some comparisons, and though the hotspot and spill seemed about the same intensity as some of my 200-300 lumen lights, the hotspot and spill are HUGE on the TK30.  In order to have a large spot and spill with the same intensity as a smaller spot and spill, there has to be much more total output (lumens).

[space cowboy]

I like the Olight unless you need an impact weapon. Thanks for the pics!

[jock1]

Cheers for doing this !what kind of distances are involved ?I know there are much better products on the market but I do have a soft spot for the big maglites 

[Mr. Whippy]

Cheers for doing this !what kind of distances are involved ?I know there are much better products on the market but I do have a soft spot for the big maglites 

The far tree is about 80 feet away.

Today was the first day it has been warm enough to make the 19 mile commuter trip since last year.  The light was simply awesome.  As good as many motorcycle headlights.

Here's a pic of it mounted on my bike:

[NutSAK]

   What clamp are you using?

[Mr. Whippy]

  What clamp are you using?

Fenix.  I felt like velcro straps may have let go on some of the rougher roads I ride.

Here's a link to the route.  Switch to by bicycle.  It'll give you the correct route.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Looks like some beautiful country there mate

[jock1]

Cheers for doing this !what kind of distances are involved ?I know there are much better products on the market but I do have a soft spot for the big maglites 

The far tree is about 80 feet away.

Today was the first day it has been warm enough to make the 19 mile commuter trip since last year.  The light was simply awesome.  As good as many motorcycle headlights.

Here's a pic of it mounted on my bike:

(Image removed from quote.)

Cheers Mate I think I maybe cheaper with the OLIGHT 

[NutSAK]

Fenix.  I felt like velcro straps may have let go on some of the rougher roads I ride.

I ride some serious off-road with the Twofish with no troubles.  That Fenix one is nice though--and more adjustable.