LED Mini Mag

[Grant Lamontagne]

Thanks to Mikey I now have an LED Mini Mag to test against the Vic 2xAA and LED upgrade kits.  I'll try and get some time to play with them this weekend and report back.  Now all I need to complete the set is one of the new Nite Ize drop ins...

Def

[Leatherman123]

They have the one watt at Target for $20. They have the three LED one for 5 bucks at Wal-mart... I am willing to bet the std. Mag LED is alittle better than the Inova Vic!

[hawkchucker]

I think LED is the only way to go now. Now cringe at using anything other. Between eating a ton of batteries, I just dont like the yellow tinge to the light. The LED gives off a pure clean white light. Now ya gotta try the Surefire G2L!

However the  night ize tailcap with the little built in led is really sweet. I keep mine on my nightstand because of that little blinkey.

[Leatherman123]

The strobes are quite cool. I bet the Vic 2AA and the Nite Ize 1 Watt are about equal power. The wattage on the Mag ones are 3 watts I think!

[Grant Lamontagne]

Actually, an impromptu test on my ceiling above my computer shows that the MiniMag (left) is somewhat more yellow.  The focusable beam makes some difference, but if it weren't for that I think the Mag would fall fairly short.  Also, the Mag is significantly larger than the Vic.

I can see I am going to have a good time testing these more in depth!

Def

[hawkchucker]

Neat, but my 2 G2 models are compleatly opposit of those, The incan is yellow the Led is pure white.

[Leatherman123]

I figured!!

[NutSAK]

Yeah, the 2AA Vic has a very "floody" spot.  I like that better for an all-around EDC light.  The MagLED looks like it has some really good throw, and that's due to its deep reflector.  It should be great for outdoors, especially since it has a warmer tint.  Warmer tints are better for good color rendition of "earthy" colors like brown and green.

Your Fenix L2P/L1P combo set will be somewhere in the between the two--not as focused as the MagLED, but not as floody as the Vic.  The Seoul emitter I put in it has a nice warm vanilla tint to it.  That is the package that I mentioned was in the mail a few days ago, BTW.  I suppose this will be your first light with a "new generation" LED.  I hope you enjoy it!

A word of warning about the MagLED.  Don't get caught out with low batteries.  The regulation circuit is designed such that the light will stay bright till the end of the battery's life, and then goes dark quite abruptly.  There is very little warning if any.

[jock1]

I have had that unpleasant experience with the 2aa minimag led I know carry a standard minimag just in case

[Anthony]

A word of warning about the MagLED.  Don't get caught out with low batteries.  The regulation circuit is designed such that the light will stay bright till the end of the battery's life, and then goes dark quite abruptly.  There is very little warning if any.

Good to know; during treks to the outhouse at night while camping, I used my 3AA Mag LED.  If that were to stop working while out in tha pitch dark, I don't think I would have gotten back to camp   The good news is, before my next trip, I'll have to buy a Surefire

Does the Terralux LED you sold me fade out slowly, or would it just drop out when the batteries get low?

[WhichDawg]

all you have to do to protect yourself is carry some extra batteries (like in a small pouch or pocket in the case);
it's the circuit that cuts off the power when battery level drops below a certain designed rating.
you should always have spare bats anyway

[Anthony]

all you have to do to protect yourself is carry some extra batteries (like in a small pouch or pocket in the case);
it's the circuit that cuts off the power when battery level drops below a certain designed rating.
you should always have spare bats anyway

...OR...carry a tiny keychain LED to get back to camp and get another bigger light.  It would be easier to carry around at night instead of three more AA batteries.

[NutSAK]

Does the Terralux LED you sold me fade out slowly, or would it just drop out when the batteries get low?

The TLE-5 drop-in in that light doesn't have full current regulation, so it dims slowly as the batteries are used up.  You can see the effect in the runtime chart for the Terralux here:

http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/diamond_tle-5.htm

[WhichDawg]

all you have to do to protect yourself is carry some extra batteries (like in a small pouch or pocket in the case);
it's the circuit that cuts off the power when battery level drops below a certain designed rating.
you should always have spare bats anyway

...OR...carry a tiny keychain LED to get back to camp and get another bigger light.  It would be easier to carry around at night instead of three more AA batteries.

this is true, a real flash-a-holic would have several lights on his/her person at all times!