runsongas
Contributor
My evolva were just not cutting it and I spotted two new types of video lights on aliexpress in october. I actually think they turned out pretty decent on my trip in november, so I figured I would try and measure their output. While I was at it, I measured my old chinese lights for comparison. Batteries used were Soshine 26650 5500 mah and LG B2 18650 3000mah. All batteries were fully charged before use with a luc v4 to 4.2v
Test setup: all lights were measured at 2 meter distance in a completely darkened room with an urceri light meter.
Comparison was to a Sola 600 lumen spot which was used to estimate the lumen amount by calculation. Beam angle measurement was manual with a protractor and measuring tape.
Lineup (please use google to find lights without link, gearbest/aliexpress are blocked):
No name XM-L: off ebay about 2 to 3 years ago
Black 5000Lm Scuba Diver Diving 100m XM-L2 LED Flashlight Torch Push ON Light DB | eBay
Solarstorm Dx4s: off gearbest about 2 to 3 years ago
https://us.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_193546.html
Evolva D02: off amazon 2 to 3 years ago
D02 Scuba Diving Underwater 100M Video / Camera Photography Light Torch Flashlight
Brett C11, 6x XHP?: off aliexpress in october
US $28.4 38% OFF|Underwater 100m waterproof LED diving tactical flashlight 20000Lumens 6x XHP90 photography Video fill light with 18650 charger-in LED Flashlights from Lights & Lighting on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group
Brett C15, 15x XM-L?: off aliexpress in october
US $28.4 38% OFF|Underwater 100m waterproof LED diving tactical flashlight 20000Lumens 6x XHP90 photography Video fill light with 18650 charger-in LED Flashlights from Lights & Lighting on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group
Measured beam angle:
No name XM-L: 8 degrees spot, 18 degree spill
Solarstorm: 10 degrees spot, 32 degree spill
Evolva D02: 110 degrees
Brett C11 6x XHP?: 140 degrees
Brett C15 15x XM-L?: 145 degrees
Sola 600 spot: 12 degrees
Lux Reading:
No name XM-L: 1550 spot, ~300 spill
Solarstorm: 4450 spot high, ~1200 spill. 1210 spot low, ~300 spill.
Evolva D02: 124 high, 63 low.
Brett C11 6x XHP?: 1050 high, 625 med, 420 low
Brett C15 15x XM-L?: 1160 high, 580 med, 390 low.
Sola 600 spot: 2430 high, 1560 med, 1050 low.
Estimated Lumen:
No name XM-L: 180 lumen
Solarstorm: 1950 lumen high, 530 low
Evolva D02: 380 lumen high, 190 low
Brett C11 6x XHP?: 5250 high, 3120 med, 2100 low
Brett C15 15x XM-L?: 6460 high, 3230 med, 2170 low.
Take all the numbers with a grain of salt, but this gives an idea of what you can expect with the lights.
The evolva are just antiquated at this point like halogen headlights.
The no name xm-l is only somewhat usable because the spot is reasonably tight. otherwise the output is not good.
the solarstorm would be a lot better if it did not spill so much light outside the spot. it is losing nearly 1/2 the output to the spill.
the brett video lights are fairly usable. color temp is not as good as the sola, but I can live with it for the price.
Test setup: all lights were measured at 2 meter distance in a completely darkened room with an urceri light meter.
Comparison was to a Sola 600 lumen spot which was used to estimate the lumen amount by calculation. Beam angle measurement was manual with a protractor and measuring tape.
Lineup (please use google to find lights without link, gearbest/aliexpress are blocked):
No name XM-L: off ebay about 2 to 3 years ago
Black 5000Lm Scuba Diver Diving 100m XM-L2 LED Flashlight Torch Push ON Light DB | eBay
Solarstorm Dx4s: off gearbest about 2 to 3 years ago
https://us.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_193546.html
Evolva D02: off amazon 2 to 3 years ago
D02 Scuba Diving Underwater 100M Video / Camera Photography Light Torch Flashlight
Brett C11, 6x XHP?: off aliexpress in october
US $28.4 38% OFF|Underwater 100m waterproof LED diving tactical flashlight 20000Lumens 6x XHP90 photography Video fill light with 18650 charger-in LED Flashlights from Lights & Lighting on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group
Brett C15, 15x XM-L?: off aliexpress in october
US $28.4 38% OFF|Underwater 100m waterproof LED diving tactical flashlight 20000Lumens 6x XHP90 photography Video fill light with 18650 charger-in LED Flashlights from Lights & Lighting on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group
Measured beam angle:
No name XM-L: 8 degrees spot, 18 degree spill
Solarstorm: 10 degrees spot, 32 degree spill
Evolva D02: 110 degrees
Brett C11 6x XHP?: 140 degrees
Brett C15 15x XM-L?: 145 degrees
Sola 600 spot: 12 degrees
Lux Reading:
No name XM-L: 1550 spot, ~300 spill
Solarstorm: 4450 spot high, ~1200 spill. 1210 spot low, ~300 spill.
Evolva D02: 124 high, 63 low.
Brett C11 6x XHP?: 1050 high, 625 med, 420 low
Brett C15 15x XM-L?: 1160 high, 580 med, 390 low.
Sola 600 spot: 2430 high, 1560 med, 1050 low.
Estimated Lumen:
No name XM-L: 180 lumen
Solarstorm: 1950 lumen high, 530 low
Evolva D02: 380 lumen high, 190 low
Brett C11 6x XHP?: 5250 high, 3120 med, 2100 low
Brett C15 15x XM-L?: 6460 high, 3230 med, 2170 low.
Take all the numbers with a grain of salt, but this gives an idea of what you can expect with the lights.
The evolva are just antiquated at this point like halogen headlights.
The no name xm-l is only somewhat usable because the spot is reasonably tight. otherwise the output is not good.
the solarstorm would be a lot better if it did not spill so much light outside the spot. it is losing nearly 1/2 the output to the spill.
the brett video lights are fairly usable. color temp is not as good as the sola, but I can live with it for the price.
