Pocket Torch

Gallery: POP PhotosPosted April 14, 20154,459 views5 comments

As a certified flashlight geek, a lot of light from a small package is something that piques my interest. What you see above is my hot-rod LED pocket torch (torch = British for "flashlight").

This started out as a torch that takes a single AA, 1.5 volt battery to produce 246 lumens at maximum output - not too shabby! The maker of this light, a company named FourSevens, also makes the light in a 2-CR123 lithium battery version (6 volts) that when equipped with their "burstmode" head, produces 780 lumens! So how can we do that in a single AA package?

It's all about the battery, in this case a speciality lithium-manganese battery that is the same size as a single AA but fully charged reads 4.2 volts and is capable of flowing over 5 amps. Since the LED head is voltage regulated - it produces the same amount of light from 6 volts down to just under 3 volts, this single Li-Mn battery can fully power the burst-mode head!

So here is my "hot rod" AA-size pocket torch, equipped with the burst mode head the the 4.2 volt Li-MN battery. You really have to experience the incredible amount of light that this little torch can produce to truly appreciate it!

Yes, I'm a hopeless nerd.....

Comments

5 comments

Comment posted by Gary Yeoh on April 16, 2015 at 2:21 AM

Jim

Is this any good as a replacement for on camera flash (I am think as a fill flash for macrophotography where the subject is only a few inches from the front of the lens and the on camera flash often is obscured by the lens).

Registered on September 1, 2009, 588 Posts, 8184 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Erhardt on April 16, 2015 at 6:37 AM

Is this any good as a replacement for on camera flash (I am think as a fill flash for macrophotography where the subject is only a few inches from the front of the lens and the on camera flash often is obscured by the lens).

Gary, in terms of output, absolutely! However, the color temperature of most LED lights is anything but neutral so some post-shutter color correction would be needed.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 245 Posts, 2421 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on April 16, 2015 at 9:26 AM

Jim, here I thought I was the only "lite torch" nerd out there....... sad

I have to say I have a large tote container I carry on long trips FULL of various flash and flood lights. These days all that stuff is dated, all incandescent and halogen types, but the new LED stuff is the best. As you stated not as good for fill lighting for photos with resulting color temps, but the best for multipurpose needs all around. In fact, after having numerous newer LED handheld torches I finally replaced my old incandescent headlamp only about 6 months ago now. What an amazing upgrade that was, I can actually see what I'm doing again while hiking and setting up in the dark...... laugh

Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Erhardt on April 17, 2015 at 7:14 PM

Jim, here I thought I was the only "lite torch" nerd out there.......

You are not, and I finally have the blockquotes styled! devil

Registered on November 1, 2003, 245 Posts, 2421 Comments

Comment posted by John Launstein on April 22, 2015 at 5:43 AM

I've looked at this several times since you posted it, Jim, and I keep coming back! What the heck? It's just a flashlight (torch) already!? sad This certainly shows the interest that can be created by such a seemingly simple object when lit well and photographed with good technique. The cool greys stand out wonderfully from the warm tones of the OOF background, but I think it's the similar-but-different textures in the cord, metal torch body, and your choice of support the flashlight was placed on that make this so appealing. Really cool.

Registered on April 5, 2011, 223 Posts, 1193 Comments