The SureFire Beast

[Schuey2002]

SureFire is offering 85 Beasts for sale. These flashlights produces a mind-boggling 2000 lumens each!! Price? $2,900 !!

http://www.surefire.com/maxexp/main/co_disp/displ/prrfnbr/24204/sesent/00

 

[Double Naught Spy]

You know, my M3 just wasn't cutting it as my tactical light on my Barrett 82A1. I believe that at tactical light is important on a CQB gun like the 82A1 - Close Quarters BRUTAL!

Now, if the Beast has a shockproof bezel and a decent mount, I think I can extend the nighttime effective range of my Barrett!

After the light, all I will lack is a collapsing stock and I will be set for house clearing! You know, like whole football stadiums...

You know, running on 20 batteries at about 1.5 hours of operation time, it costs more per hour to run than I MAKE!!!!

 

[NMshooter]

If my lunch got cold I could pull one of those out of the truck and heat it right up! WooHoo!

Someone else will have to buy it for me, though. $2900 would pay for a lot of other neat stuff.

 

[DigMe]

The guys over at candlepower forums will be all over these.

brad cook

 

[DigMe]

BTW, does anyone know how that translates to candlepower? I'd like to tell my dad about this but I don't think he has any reference point as to what a lumen is.

brad cook

 

[esheato]

The way I figure it, 2,000 lumens equals roughly 160 CP. Although that doesn't seem very bright to me.

I'm sure someone smarter than I will come along shortly....

Ed

 

[Kobun]

esheato,
you forgot to put gazillion behind.
160 gazillion CP sounds about right.

Why didn't they make the rechargable one instead?
Well, I wouldn't pay that much anyways.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

escheato's math is correct, but candlepower and lumens are not actually units of measure that are comparable in any real manner. They measure different sorts of things. See http://www.theledlight.com/lumens.html

We all know that a Surefire 2 celled (3 volt, lithium CR123 batteries) light produces about 60 lumens and that at 60 lumens, the light is pretty doggone bright. In reality of the math, it is less than 5 candlepower. When considered in that perspective, the Beast is going to be 32 times brighter than the regular 2 celled surefire. That is awfully bright.

Let's confuse the issue further. A Streamlight Scorpion flashlight running on the same 2 cells is said to produce 6500 candle power according to Streamlight. Based on my own side by side comparisons, the Scorpion produces light roughly comparable to a 2 celled Surefire of 60 lumens.

Wait, that can't be right. We know that 60 lumens is only about 5 candlepower. How can that be possible since we know that the Scorpion produces roughly comparable light, but is rated at 6500 candlepower, or 1300 times brighter than the Surefire?

There is a lot of funky math going on. A Streamlight Scorpion isn't 1300 times brighter than a 2 celled Surefire.

You can call the Beast at just 160 candlepower using the basic math, but that won't be representative of the performance. Lumens and candlepower measure two different things.

 

[DigMe]

double naught spy,

According to www.flashlightreviews.com the scorpion is brighter than a 60 lumen surefire. At least that's how I remember it but I'm too lazy to go check right now.

brad cook

 

[Ktulu]

*Note: E1e flashlight not included. Shown only for scale. Do you really think if you buy a Beast for the low price of $2900.00 we can afford to include a $70 flashlight?

 

[Duke of Lawnchair]

Do you really think if you buy a Beast for the low price of $2900.00 we can afford to include a $70 flashlight?

Beggers can't be choosers.

 

[earl_simmons]

The McCulloch X990 is rated for 3,200 lumens and costs $2,400 less.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Sure, but will it survive being mounted on my Barrett?

With that said, it does seem impressive compared to the Beast, brighter and cheaper, plus it recharges!

DigMe, yes, the Scorpion is a little brighter than the Surefire, but not by much and certainly not by 6495 candlepower (1300 times), which according to the math, it would be. I have both. The Surefire has a better and more uniform light beam and spot, but for half the price, the Scorpion is a little brighter and replacement bulbs cost less. However, at distance, the more uniform light of the Surefire seems to out perform the Scorpion's light. So each has some advantages and disadvantages and in the final analysis, I see them is being about comparable....but you are technically correct that the Scorpion is a little brighter, but it doesn't broadcast the light as well and the beam isn't as uniform.

With all that said, my point wasn't to debate a Scorpion versus a Surefire, but to point out that the Beast, at the supposed 160 candlepower, can't be debated about its light producing ability when trying to compared lumens to candlepower. According to candlepower, my $30 Scorpion light is brighter and more power than the Beast. I just don't see that happening. After all, it is not brighter than my Surefire lights rated at 125 lumens, which would only be about 10-11 candlepower, according to the math.

My point, mixed comparisons of candlepower and lumens just is not reasonable.

 

[c_yeager]

E1e flashlight not included. Shown only for scale. Do you really think if you buy a Beast for the low price of $2900.00 we can afford to include a $70 flashlight?

At least it comes with about $30 worth of batteries (it holds 20 of them!).

I noticed this from the description:

Limited to one per customer and available exclusively through SureFire, each one is serial numbered and comes in its own waterproof, airtight Hardigg Storm Case® along with a letter of authenticity from SureFire founder and CEO John Matthews.

I wonder if the letter says "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA thanks!" I bet you they will sell each and every single one of these too.

 

[NMshooter]

I wonder how hard it would be to make a lens capable of focusing the beam down to a small spot at oh, 5 yards or so...

Still wouldn't be a laser pistol, though.

 

[c_yeager]

I forgot to add that trying to "conver" lumens and candlepower from one to the other is a lot like trying to convert pounds into farenheit, it doesnt work.

 

[Size15s]

The X990 is rated at 3,200 Lumens - yes that's what the bulb is rated at but that is not what is actually coming out of the lens (which is what SureFire measure using their integrating sphere). Also, the X990 does use the same ballast - SureFire have refined their own ballast so that it can be turned on and off just like a normal SureFire. The Beast is extremely fast to get to full output when switched on, and once on can be turned on and off as required. This is not the case for the X990 nor other HID lights as I understand it.

Another thing is SureFire's reflector - the Beast for sale has, I believe, a "medium to long" range reflector of quite stunning beam purity. The reflectors of the Beasts used by the SEALs and the US Boarder Patrol are designed to produce broader, and tighter beams respectively as required. The Beast is actually rather compact and light-weight for it's output. It is supplied with a rubber bezel 'shroud ring' to protect it from drops. The Beasts have been in service in battle and proven durability is vital and something SureFire take extremely seriously. The Beasts can take a real beating.

I won't personally be purchasing a Beast. I have no real need to buy and feed it and I have other plans for my money at the moment.I have played with a few different Beasts over the last few years. From what I've seen and heard they are well worth every penny SureFire are charging for them and then some. I'm glad SureFire are giving the American public the chance to own one at last.

Al

 

[Double Naught Spy]

I forgot to add that trying to "conver" lumens and candlepower from one to the other is a lot like trying to convert pounds into farenheit, it doesnt work.

I know that was sort of meant to be funny, but the analogy is absolutely brilliant! Of course, no pun was intended. The link I provided previously, though a little involved, really provides insight into some of the ways in which light is measured, that they all differ, and the fact that the measurements don't really convert to one another. http://www.theledlight.com/lumens.html