I’ve got an old Insight XML (Xenon bulb) and have been waiting for their LED/Bezel upgrade for a while-seems they’ve finally solved whatever problems were making ‘em scarce. I’ve also had one of the Streamlight TLR-3 lights, and can finally compare LED to LED after installing my upgrade.
The Streamight is brighter, but it’s probably due to the reflector size rather than the LED? The TLR-3 does have a larger reflector, both in circumference and depth.
Here’s a few of my observations for anyone considering one of ‘em.
Streamlight is brighter but at the cost of being slightly bigger.
Think I like the Insight mounting system better? It’s just pushbutton snap on/snap off (actually, you pull the button/bar down to snap on). The Streamlight you also snap on/off, but the button is also a screw head-maybe OK if you’re going to leave on the gun (you can cinch it up tight), but for quick on/off, you have to set the screw tension ahead of time, and so far I’ve had little luck finding the sweet spot on screw tension in order to allow you to simply snap it on/off as the Insight. There seems to be a very narrow range-If I preset the screw tension low enough to allow EZ on/off, it’s not real confidence inspiring when you click it on. If I set the screw tension tight enough to feel it’s ‘on there’, I have to fumble with it a bit to mount it.
The Insight has a wedge shaped bar that you’re actually pulling down, which allows you to slide it on your rail-when it’s on, you release the bar and it raises into one of the rail slots to lock in.
With the Streamlight, the bar is not wedge shaped, and it’s fixed-when you hit the button (after you’ve preset your tension) to install, you’re just driving the right side clamp out and when you release, it springs back-I’m finding tension adjustment a bit trickey if you want confidence inspiring, fumble free operation.
Tough call-right now I have a preference for the smaller Insight even though it’s not quite as bright. I often carry one of these lights in my winter coat pocket-makes a nice emergency light, and should you ever find yourself in need of one should you have to pull you sidearm, I like the attachment system better.
If you’re not worried ‘bout quick on/off (and want the little bit of extra light), you may prefer the Streamlight.
The light fits my XDSC (main CCW) and also my Taurus Millennium Pro PT145 (don’t ask! :banghead
.
Anywho…the LED upgrade makes a world of difference on the Insight-the old Xenon bulb was pretty pitiful, and had the worst yellow tint of any light I recall seeing.
I also ordered the LED upgrade for an M3X/M6X-there’s not nearly as big a jump in improvement as there is with the XML upgrade, mainly because the Xenon XML’s output was so pitiful. ‘Course, you still get the white vs yellow output, it is brighter (not by a great deal?), but I think battery life is now double the old Xenon bulb.
Price for the XML and M3X/M6X LED upgrade was the same-around $50 delivered.
Part #s are:
MTV-750-A1 for XML LED Upgrade
M3X-750-A1 for M3X/M6X LED Upgrade
The Streamight is brighter, but it’s probably due to the reflector size rather than the LED? The TLR-3 does have a larger reflector, both in circumference and depth.
Here’s a few of my observations for anyone considering one of ‘em.
Streamlight is brighter but at the cost of being slightly bigger.
Think I like the Insight mounting system better? It’s just pushbutton snap on/snap off (actually, you pull the button/bar down to snap on). The Streamlight you also snap on/off, but the button is also a screw head-maybe OK if you’re going to leave on the gun (you can cinch it up tight), but for quick on/off, you have to set the screw tension ahead of time, and so far I’ve had little luck finding the sweet spot on screw tension in order to allow you to simply snap it on/off as the Insight. There seems to be a very narrow range-If I preset the screw tension low enough to allow EZ on/off, it’s not real confidence inspiring when you click it on. If I set the screw tension tight enough to feel it’s ‘on there’, I have to fumble with it a bit to mount it.
The Insight has a wedge shaped bar that you’re actually pulling down, which allows you to slide it on your rail-when it’s on, you release the bar and it raises into one of the rail slots to lock in.
With the Streamlight, the bar is not wedge shaped, and it’s fixed-when you hit the button (after you’ve preset your tension) to install, you’re just driving the right side clamp out and when you release, it springs back-I’m finding tension adjustment a bit trickey if you want confidence inspiring, fumble free operation.
Tough call-right now I have a preference for the smaller Insight even though it’s not quite as bright. I often carry one of these lights in my winter coat pocket-makes a nice emergency light, and should you ever find yourself in need of one should you have to pull you sidearm, I like the attachment system better.
If you’re not worried ‘bout quick on/off (and want the little bit of extra light), you may prefer the Streamlight.
The light fits my XDSC (main CCW) and also my Taurus Millennium Pro PT145 (don’t ask! :banghead
.Anywho…the LED upgrade makes a world of difference on the Insight-the old Xenon bulb was pretty pitiful, and had the worst yellow tint of any light I recall seeing.
I also ordered the LED upgrade for an M3X/M6X-there’s not nearly as big a jump in improvement as there is with the XML upgrade, mainly because the Xenon XML’s output was so pitiful. ‘Course, you still get the white vs yellow output, it is brighter (not by a great deal?), but I think battery life is now double the old Xenon bulb.
Price for the XML and M3X/M6X LED upgrade was the same-around $50 delivered.
Part #s are:
MTV-750-A1 for XML LED Upgrade
M3X-750-A1 for M3X/M6X LED Upgrade
