|
The AmiLite Neo T3 is a tiny pocket light that thinks it
is a much larger flashlight. It runs on a single 123A lithium cell,
is the brightest-for-its-size light that I have yet tested, but only
runs for about an hour on one cell. As a testament to its quality, Neo T3 has
a glass lens, HA-III anodize, a lanyard connection point built into
the tail, appears to be very well made, and provides good output regulation.
It uses a simple twist on-off switch for activation. The package
includes various accessories for carrying and maintaining the light.
Body: The body tube is really just the small area from
the base of the head to the tail that contains the battery
- less than half the length of the whole unit. It has a
HA-III anodize finish for durability (much stronger than the
common Type-II finish) and has six flat facets around the body
tube for grip. I did notice that everywhere that there was
a sharp shelf machined into the body I could see a shiny
reflection at its base. I do not know if this is because the anodize did
not take well in these tight areas or if something else is
at play here. At the base of the tail you will find s lanyard
attachment hole and a central divot machined into the end of
the tail - purpose unknown.
Bezel/Head: The head has the same HA-III anodize as the
body tube and has several rings machined into its surface. These
increase its surface area and allow more efficient heat dissipation.
There is also a ring of ridges machined into the surface near the
base of the head for improving grip when twisting the light on and off.
At the very front, the bezel ring is scalloped so that you can see
if the light is on or off when you set it down on its head. The glass
lens is recessed in the bezel for protection. Behind the lens is
a metal reflector, a Luxeon III LED and a boost circuit for maintaining
output.
Output: Output is big. Yea, Yea, Yea! It's not
small. No, No, No! (Only about 1/4 my readers will probably
understand that reference. Am I showing my age yet?)
The Neo T3 has more light output than several 2x123a
cell LED flashlights yet is a fraction of the size.
The white light produced by the LED
is a high color temperature and produces good color
rendition.
A slight tint is detectable when compared against
a near sunlight-white source, but this tinting is not
noticeable during normal use.
Beam at one meter at target center
Runtime Plot: You'll get about 50 minutes of
really good output before it starts to decline and at
around 1 hour you'll hit 50% of starting output. I generally
consider 1 hour to be about the minimum amount of "constant
use runtime before 50% starting output" that is
acceptable. The Neo T3 just makes it there. Considering
the amount of light produced and the size of the cell
used for power, this light does a fantastic job.
Runtime
completed with included batteries. More information
on runtime plots is available HERE.
Switch: To conserve space, the T3 uses the most
simple switch available: twist the head for on/off. Tighten
is on, loosen is off. That's it.
Seals / Water Resistance: The light has O-ring seals at all
the possible points of water entry. I did notice that the O-ring
on the body tube is black while the O-ring on the bezel is clear.
A spare O-ring is included in the accessory packet. The O-ring
on the body is not lubricated at all - give it a quick dab
of silicone grease to help preserve and protect it.
If it gets wet inside, just disassemble as much a possible
without tools and let it dry before using again.
Ergonomics: It's unbelievably small, super lightweight
and as a result it can be a bit tricky to grip. I found it most
comfortable to pinch between my thumb and forefinger, with one other
finger wrapped around the body tube. Be sure to use a wrist
lanyard if you are in a situation where dropping it would result
in its loss or serious damage.
Size compared to a common 2AA aluminum light
Batteries: A single 123A cell powers the light. I
would recommend Titanium
brand cells for $1.00 each (here's
a review) or BatteryStation
or Surefire
brand cells for less than $2 each. I would not recommend purchasing
these cells at retail stores since they cost $10 a pair
or more in most retail stores!
To change out the batteries: unscrew the head, drop
out the old cell, place in new cell observing proper
polarity. Reattach the head and you're ready to go. Yes,
for those super picky individuals out there, the battery
does rattle a little inside the body tube when the light is turned off.
Accessories: Inside the package you will find
a wrist lanyard, a belt clip lanyard, and a plastic
bag which contains a split ring, lobster claw type clip,
and a spare O-ring. The belt clip lanyard allows you
to disconnect the light from the belt loop quickly and
easily by using a plastic backpack strap clip.
What I Liked: Water resistant,
Tough/impact resistant, Regulated,
Really Bright, Easy battery change, Lightweight, Stands up
What I Didn't Like: What's not to like?
Picky Little Things: Battery life almost,
but not quite, too short. Would like to know why it appears that
the anodize is missing at the bottom of the machined ridges.
Conclusions: This is AmiLite's
first product offering? Yikes! I can't imagine what
else they'll come out with. It's going to be hard to
top this one. True the runtime is a bit short but the
output is big, big, big! A super little pocket light,
but be warned, it is not inexpensive. You get what you
pay for and quality does not come cheap!
|
