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This is the Cyclops light that was on special recently
at Costco for less than $9.00 for a pair with batteries.
I do not know if they are available any more. What we
have here is a very small 2x123A powered light with
a textured reflector. It will run for about an hour
before reaching 50% output, and for the money it is
quite a deal.
Body:
The body is Type II anodized aluminum and arrived with
a few patches of missing anodize from abrasion. It has
three rings of checkering around the body - one around
the center tube, one near the base, and one on the tailcap.
A single flat panel is machined into the side for the
Cyclops logo.
Bezel/Head:
There are six flutes around the head and a notch cut
all the way around near the front, which appears only
decorative. The head can be removed to reveal a spring
contact between the head and lamp/reflector assembly.
The bulb retainer is plastic and can be unscrewed from
the reflector assembly to access the bulb. The bulb
is one of those unusual ones that look like a .22 shell.
It's bulged out at the bottom, has straight sides that
rise up to the bulb envelope which is held in place
by a crimp at the top. The reflector is textured to
smooth out any beam imperfections. The result is a very
smooth beam.
Output:
The beam is smooth as a result of the textured reflector,
and has a yellowish/orange tint that is typical of incandescent
lights. It's really not a powerhouse and the tint of
the light makes me think that either the bulb is a krypton
or standard incandescent bulb. If it's xenon, it's not
a very good one.
Beam at one meter at target center and at target edge
to show spillbeam.
Runtime Plot:
Runtime is pretty normal for a high output 2x123A light,
but I wouldn't exactly call this light "high output".
Sure, it's bright for its size, but it's not as bright
as many other 2x123A incandescent lights.
Runtime
completed with "Titanium"
brand batteries. More information on runtime plots is
available HERE.
Switch:
The switch is a rubber covered clickie built into the
tail of the light. Click on and off.
Seals / Water Resistance:
It appears to have decent O-ring seals. I'd call it
"splashable" at least. If it gets wet inside,
just disassemble as much a possible without tools and
let it dry before using again.
Ergonomics:
It's small, very lightweight, and very easy to use.
Size compared to a common 2AA aluminum light
Batteries:
Two 123A cells power 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! Be aware that
there are some inherent
risks in using lights powered by multiple 123A cells,
so take appropriate precautions.
To change out the batteries: unscrew the tailcap, drop
out the old cells, place in new cells observing proper
polarity. Reattach the tailcap and you're ready to go.
Accessories:
No accessories came with the light.
What I Liked: Water resistant,
OK battery life, Easy battery change, Lightweight
What I Didn't Like: Beam was a
little more yellowish than I expected. Output is a bit
lower than expected as well.
Picky Little Things: Scratches/rub
marks through the anodize.
Conclusions: A fair light. The
one thing that really bugs me about it is the apparently
lackluster output for being a 2x123A powered light.
For the price it may be a great bargain for some folks.
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