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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A very nice light! - Off-the-shelf batteries, or go rechargeable! , January 25, 2009
Just got mine! Nice!
Exact same length as a 3D Maglite because the end cap is threaded over the body tube with no side switch allowing for a shorter design.
This light is far superior to a 3D Maglite in luminosity as I also own an upgraded 3D LED Maglite. It has a quality, ball bearing feel detent for twist LO-ON-HIGH head. No rubber buttons to rot off or replace.
Light output is perfectly white, superbright, and very even. Would have liked a little tighter beam for some extra throw, but still a great flashlight (just not a long range spotlight) fitting most applications. Being that it is not a central emitter with a deep reflector design, it can not spot as tightly.
Machined aluminum shim ring in focusing mechanism, and high-grade, aluminum body construction. Emitters all mounted on common metal base for good heat sinking. A hard finish with high grade O-ring seals. No battery rattling with a super solid feel. To get a closer look at this same light under a different brand name evaluated complete with photos see this link:
http://www.lightch.com/gentos/a/sf705xp.html
The cammo shoulder strap included is very nice and long enough to fit across the chest diagonally in addition to same side shoulder use.
I am using AccuPower's D-cell NiMHs. They just happen to be low self-discharge, and the only ones on the market right now in D size to my knowledge so I'm able to store it, and run it on high all I want!
Surely, other manufacturers will soon be offering LSD cells in D-size as well.
These bigger, high capacity lights seem to be getting harder to find, so if you want a substantial camp light that you could stake your life on in the deep woods or even possibly to defend yoursef, this is the light for you.
I like this MFlare because even though I am using new generation, hi-cap NiMHs, it can still run off of any 'ole country store's D-cells in the back country, or able to canablize other D-cells from elsewhere in a pinch. Heck, it could even be used with AA battery adapters!
I like this flexibility. Tactical types just can not boast as much flexibility. Run time with Ds is also another strength per lumen than most tactical types. Plus, many of those force you into recharging, and lugging that equipment. 8 hours at 500 lumens, and 25 hours at 220 lumens just gives one a secure feeling.
This light is definitely worth $89! A Maglite is a good value as well, especially if you are looking for the absolute longest run time of any LED lights, but to compare these two on luminosity would be a joke.
Also, someone on Amazon upgraded a new 4D-cell Maglite with a $127 Terralux module to build a similar light that would actually be one cell length longer, and probably not adjustable! The cost would have been about $70-$80 more than this light, so why even bother?
Obviously, they did not know about this light.
Just buy this if you're looking for very high output with long battery life capable of running on "Wally World" batteries.
I'd say this light seems to be very strong within about 50 yards. This light might even be magnificent for portable photography applications.
I personally plan using it as an ovehead flood light for an area around a fire pit by hanging it from a tree along with Coleman's 8D, Cree LED, family lantern running on 10,000 mAh NiMHs. Both can burn all night long on high without a recharge!
This combo should light up the woods pretty nicely without having to resort to lugging a deep cycle marine battery, inverter, and CFLs. The old way to light up a camp electrically without using fuel lanterns.
I own, and have begun collecting many LED flashlights, about 10 so far, Luxeons, or Cree, AAA, AA, Cs, and Ds, and this is my flagship light, which will likely remain so for many years to come.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Good Light...For the Most Part, October 19, 2009
I work in security and need the ability to quickly scan dark or dimly lit areas for leaks, fires and intruders. The areas vary from electrical, telephone and computer rooms to warehouses. As a result, a powerful light with an adjustable beam is a must have tool.
I have been using the Mflare Super Bright Baton Light (4 "D" version) for a few days now and it has performed very well. It has provided great coverage for the smaller areas but it also handles the large warehouses with no problems. Because of the diverse areas I need to check, I am frequently switching from low to high and adjusting the focus. The operation of the light has been very smooth and I have no complaints. As other reviewers have already stated, this light is solidly built with no rattles. I also appreciate the heft of the light - I could use it as a weapon if necessary.
However, there are a few issues. The painted markings on the barrel for L-O-H (low-off-high) should align with the painted arrow on the head as appropriate based on the setting in use. On my light, they do not align - the arrow always points at a blank section of the barrel for all settings. I can live with this fault but it is an odd problem on a new light. It is easy to discern the setting of the light without these markings but I don't understand why the markings are so far off.
The other issue that I have concerns the shoulder strap. Another reviewer described this accessory as "very nice". However, I consider it to be worthless. As I already mentioned, this light is heavy - especially with 4 "D" alkaline batteries. The strap is so poor that it cannot support the weight of the light without unraveling the Velcro wraps. Instead of this crappy shoulder strap, the light should have included a holster.
Despite the flaws of the painted markings and the cheap shoulder strap, this light was still a good purchase for me. Where it really counts, this light performs admirably.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
A bit underwhelmed..., October 9, 2009
I must have about 200 flashlights I've been collecting since the early 1970's, including more than a few bright LED flashlights that are rated at a somewhat lower output than this, and I like a number of them better. My real criteria is if I have buyer's remorse, then it isn't on my list of favorites. I have that here sadly. The only real problem is that it cannot focus the beam tight enough to be considered a real slahlight to me. This is a very wide beam when it is at it's tightest. Consider a flashlight that is nothing but a bunch of white LEDs all pointing the same way. I have one with 100 regualar white LEDs and it has the same dispursal pattern as this one when "focused" as tightly as it can go. That's about the coverage this one gives. Not much wrong with that if you want to light an area, not your path. It might make a good bicycle headlight but I fear it would always glare in the eyes of oncoming traffic. I was hoping I could use it at work for vehicle inspections, but the beam is so wide it overshoots an 8" mirror at only 24" away from it - so less of the light gets under the vehicle for inspections at night. Don't get me wrong, it is what the other reviewers say it is: very sold and very bright, but just not as usable as I would have liked. I still prefer the LED lenser P-17 over this. Sorry, but the focus on the P-17 is so much better the usability factor goes up a lot with that one: http://www.amazon.com/LED-Lenser-High-Performance-HP8417/dp/B002C8YIKQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1255142508&sr=1-1 So for a few bucks more (less than the cost of a set of batteries) I prefer the P-17. This is nice, but it just does not cut it for what I use a flashlight for. Maybe as a lanturm or a flood light or trail blazing for a large group? I'll find some use, just not the one I wanted it for.
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