Comparison Nitecore HC60 vs Nitecore HC30

General type of flashlight.

Hand lamps for general use are divided into full-size and compact. However, in addition to this, on the market you can find many models with a narrower specialization and/or specific design and mounting features: headlamps ; touring devices, including self-contained dynamo lights, L-shaped lights, and diving models; powerful hand lamps and ultra-compact key chains ; auxiliary lighting systems ; as well as underbarrel models and baton flashlights widely used in law enforcement agencies. It should be noted that one model can belong to several types at once. For example, most underbarrel flashlights are equipped with a removable mount for mounting on a weapon, and without such a mount they turn into hand-held or hand-held compact ones; and L-shaped models, in principle, are not an independent type of flashlights — most often this is a design feature of hand-held compact or head-mounted devices (or even models that combine both of these applications).

— Manual. Full-size hand-held flashlights over 20 cm long and...weighing over 200 g represent a kind of "middle class". They are designed for those for whom compactness does not play a decisive role and functionality is important first of all. Such lights can carry on board more than 1 LED and powerful power supplies, providing a good luminous flux; they are often supplied with various additional functions.

— Manual compact. This type of flashlight is somewhat larger than key fobs, but can still be classified as compact devices: hand-held compacts look like a tube up to 20 cm long and weighing up to 200 g. They rarely install more than one LED, but their dimensions and weight already allow the use of fairly powerful sources supply, which has a positive effect on the characteristics of the luminous flux (see "Maximum luminous flux"). In addition, a number of additional functions can be used in this type of flashlight, such as focus and brightness adjustment (see below).

— Lantern on the forehead. Flashlights designed to be mounted on the head — usually with special elastic straps that can be adjusted to fit. Mounting features impose restrictions on the weight and dimensions of the lantern, which affects the functionality. When purchasing such a flashlight, it is worth considering that high brightness in this case may be a disadvantage — if you need light to work with objects in close proximity, excessive brightness quickly tyres your eyes. In this case, it may make sense to pay attention to models with brightness control (see below for more details). Typically, such models have the ability to adjust the angle of the beam, but the possibility (and features) of such adjustment needs to be specified separately.

— L-shaped. Lanterns in which the beam of light is directed perpendicular to the body; the body itself, usually, has a cylindrical or close to it shape. Most of these models, according to the main format, belong to hand-held compact ones, and many also allow use in the headlamp format (see above for both). Anyway, L-shaped lanterns with the possibility of manual use have a characteristic clip on the body — on the opposite side of the lamp. Such a clip allows you to hang the device on a belt, the edge of a pocket, an element of an unloading vest or other overalls, etc.; in this case, the light beam will be directed forward, the vertical position of the case will ensure the stability of the device, and the user's hands will be free. (Note that the first L-shaped lanterns designed for such wearing appeared as an element of army equipment — back in World War II, the US military fully appreciated the merits of such a design).
As for the forehead installation, in such cases the body is placed horizontally, and its mount is made movable. Turning the lantern in such a mount, you can set almost any angle of the beam; at the same time, regardless of this angle, the position of the lantern remains equally stable (whereas in some headrests with “heads” of an inclined design, such a “head” may tend to roll forward as the mount wears out).

— Manual lamp. The most powerful type of hand lamps, which can even be called "hand spotlights". Most of these devices are designed to give out a long-range and at the same time sufficiently thick beam of light — much wider than in many other types of lanterns. Actually, the illumination range of hand-held lamps often exceeds 100 or even 200 m, while the large beam width makes it possible to very effectively detect individual objects even at such large distances. Another, less common type of such devices are models that have a short range, but are capable of illuminating a vast area.
Anyway, flashlights of this type turn out to be quite large and heavy, so initially they are not designed to be constantly carried with you (although even one and a half to two hours with such a device in your hands usually do not cause much discomfort). It is worth paying attention to hand lamps in cases where the effective detection range (or bright illumination of a vast area) is of the most fundamental importance to you. In particular, such devices are very popular in rescue services: a powerful beam of a "portable searchlight" is indispensable for search operations at night. Also among the lamps of this type there are so-called "inspection" models, well suited for inspecting machines, industrial equipment, communications (cables, pipelines), etc.

— Tourist. Tourist lamps are mainly lanterns that were originally intended for organizing lighting in a camp, at a halt, etc. Such devices provide diffused light with a coverage of 360 ° horizontally and most often allow installation directly on the ground. In addition, most of them have a hook for hanging, sometimes supplemented with a built-in magnet (see below for both). Thus, such a lantern can be mounted on a tree branch, under the ceiling of a tent / awning, etc., significantly expanding the area of illumination — or hung on a backpack or other equipment, illuminating the path for several people at once.
Most tourist lanterns have only this specialization; however, there are also models that allow other applications. Usually these are hand-held compact devices of a special design — with a retractable diffuser made of white matte material. Such a device allows you to turn the directional beam into diffused light with full horizontal coverage; and when such a beam is not needed, the diffuser can be hidden in the housing. However, some of the more traditional travel models also have a folding design — it makes it easier to carry after hours, especially if the device needs to be hidden in a backpack or bag with other things.

— Dynamo flashlight. Lanterns equipped with a built-in generator (dynamo) that generates energy due to the user's muscular strength — usually for this you have to swing or twist a special lever. Thus, it is possible to recharge the built-in battery even in the absence of power sources (and such lights most often work from batteries). Such features are especially relevant for those who often have to be "far from civilization": tourists, military, researchers, etc. At the same time, dynamo lights can have different specializations — compact, tourist, etc.

— For diving. Lanterns originally designed for diving and long stays at great depths — usually from 50 m or more. Such models, by definition, have a sealed waterproof housing (see "Dust and water protection"). In addition, diving lights are often designed with specific features designed to provide additional convenience and safety. For example, the body can have bright colours or additional inserts that increase visibility under water, as well as be made of lightweight material so that the flashlight released from the hand floats to the surface and does not sink. Often, the device is supplemented with a carabiner for attaching to equipment or a hand strap (see "Complete set"). It is because of these additional features that not every flashlight with a high level of water protection is considered diving. Therefore, it is worth looking for a lamp specifically for diving among the models of this category.

— Auxiliary lighting. Lanterns designed to organize additional stationary lighting where there is no light or it is not enough. In a sense, such models are similar to tourist camping ones (see above), they can also be used in a parking lot or in a tent. However, the matter is not limited to this: many auxiliary lamps are originally designed for use in workshops, garages, etc. Some of them can also be hung on the open hood of a car, which can be very important for field repairs. But such models are not designed for carrying in hands: it is technically possible, but not very convenient.

— Trinket. This category includes the most compact models: their weight, usually, does not exceed 50 g, and the length is 10 cm. Hence the name — most of these lanterns can be worn instead of a keychain on a keychain. Actually, the convenience of wearing is the main advantage of key rings: you can always have such a flashlight at hand. The main disadvantage is low power: key fobs are usually equipped with one LED (see "Number of diodes"), and any "solid" power source in a compact case will not fit. At the same time, such lamps are quite enough for simple everyday tasks — for example, to illuminate the road on an unlit section of the street or find a keyhole if a light bulb has burned out in the entrance.

— Underbarrel. Flashlights designed to be mounted on a weapon are most often under the barrel, but installation on the side is also technically acceptable. Many of these models are essentially hand-held compact flashlights (see above), supplemented by a removable weapon mount (or the ability to install on such a mount — see "Packaging"), as well as, in most cases, a remote button (see below) ; however, there are also purely underbarrel models in which the mount is not removed. In both cases, the mount is usually designed for a standard Weaver / Picatinny rail, but this point needs to be specified separately. This also applies to the possibility of full-fledged use with firearms: the fact is that some underbarrel lights are intended for airsoft drives and are simply not designed for powerful recoil.

— Lantern-baton. Lanterns with a baton or baseball bat body and are strong enough to strike. Such a flashlight can be a very useful addition to the equipment of a watchman or law enforcement officer. Note that some so-called patrol lights, hand-held lights in a large and durable body of traditional design, also allow the use as a “percussion tool”. However, for them, such an application is an extreme case, while baton lamps are initially created as reliable and impact resistant as possible. Therefore, patrol models in our catalog are still not assigned to this category, but to ordinary hand lamps.

The maximum range at which the flashlight provides any effective illumination of objects. Different manufacturers have different criteria for this efficiency when measuring ranges, and therefore it is only possible to unequivocally compare among themselves in range only models of one manufacturer. At the same time, this parameter allows us to compare models from different manufacturers with some certainty: for example, flashlights with a lighting range of 15 m and 100 m will clearly belong to different range classes, regardless of manufacturers.

Note that the range of illumination depends not only on the maximum luminous flux provided by the lantern (see above), but also on the features of its design: the narrower the beam is provided by the reflector of the lantern, the greater the range will be, and vice versa — scattered light does not spread far. Some models allow you to adjust the beam width depending on the requirements of the situation (for more details, see "Adjusting the focus").

It is also worth bearing in mind that models with the same claimed lighting range can cover different spaces. For example, a hand lamp (see Type) with a reflector diameter of 20 cm will be able to provide a wider beam than a conventional hand lamp with a 5 cm reflector. And although in both cases the objects that fall into the light spot will be illuminated in the same way, however, in the first case, the size of the spot itself will be larger, and the actual efficien...cy of the flashlight will be correspondingly higher (in light of the fact that it is easier to "feel" individual objects with a wide beam, especially at a considerable distance).

The angle of light or illumination provided by a flashlight.

The meaning of these parameters is generally the same — we are talking about the angle that forms the edges of the light flux diverging from the lantern. The only difference is what is meant by edges. So, speaking about the angle of the glow, they usually mean the angle directly between the edges of the main stream; beyond these edges the light does not propagate. And the word "light" refers to a relatively narrow sector in the centre of the light flux; there is also light outside its edges, but its intensity is low, and effective illumination is provided only within the light zone. Thus, there is no fundamental difference between these terms — both of them characterize the width of the sector effectively covered by the lantern.

In addition to the coverage width itself, the luminous flux density and, as a result, the effective illumination range also depend on this indicator. With the same number of lumens (see “Maximum luminous flux”), a small coverage angle allows you to brighter illuminate objects that fall under the beam and provide greater “range”; and a large angle, respectively, will mean extensive coverage, but with a small effective range and less illumination of objects within the beam.

Also note that if the coverage area has the shape of a rectangle, then for different brands (and even in different models of the same brand) this parameter can be designated differently:...in some cases, the angle is measured along the larger side of the rectangle, in others — diagonally. Most often, this difference is not fundamental, but exceptions are possible; in such cases, you should refer to the official documentation of the manufacturer.

Maximum runtime of the flashlight without changing batteries or recharging the battery.

Note that in models with brightness control, this time is indicated for the most modest and, accordingly, economical mode. For example, in a flashlight with a maximum luminous flux of 1000 lm, the claimed operating time of 20 hours can be achieved at a brightness of only 30 lm, and at maximum battery life may not exceed half an hour. These nuances should be clarified according to the detailed characteristics. However, also note that additional modes of operation (see below) are not taken into account in this case: for example, if the flashlight from our example in SOS mode can operate for 30 hours, the characteristics will still state 20 hours.

It is also worth bearing in mind that for models with replaceable batteries, the actual operating time will also depend on the quality of such batteries. For example, for flashlights for AA and AAA elements, battery life is most often given when using high-quality alkaline batteries; if instead of them inexpensive saline ones are used, the operating time may be several times shorter.

In general, when choosing a flashlight according to the maximum operating time, it does not always make sense to focus on “long-playing” models: they often have either low power or impressive weight / dimensions, and the price can significantly “bite”. Flashlights with a long battery life will be useful first of all to those who have to s...tay “away from civilization” for a long time: extreme tourists, rescuers, military, etc. And for most everyday tasks in a modern city, and even for trips to nature for several days, up to 10 hours is enough.

The ability to charge the flashlight from a standard USB port. Such connectors are mandatory for modern computers and laptops, they are found in other types of equipment (from tablets to audio systems); in addition, USB power adapters are available for household outlets and car cigarette lighters. Thus, charging from USB significantly expands the capabilities of the flashlight: instead of a specialized charger (which, moreover, you can forget or lose), you can use any USB port for this.

Note that compact models (for example, key fobs — see "Type") often come with their own USB plugs, but larger flashlights may require a cable.

An indicator that indicates the level of charge of the battery installed in the flashlight. The design and functionality of such an indicator can be different — from a simple LED that changes colour and/or mode of operation depending on the state of the battery, to an LCD display that can display a specific charge level. However, anyway , the charge level indicator makes it easier to monitor the state of the battery and reduces the likelihood of being left without light at the most inopportune moment.

- Flashlight charger. A device for charging batteries directly in the flashlight. Note that models with both non-removable and removable batteries can be equipped with such a “charger”. In any case, such devices are extremely easy to use: you do not need to remove the batteries and put them in a separate device, just connect the flashlight to an outlet, auto outlet or USB port (memory devices can use different power sources, this should be specified separately). In addition, some flashlights with this function are able to work even while the battery is charging (in fact, from the mains). At the same time, chargers of this type are not as universal as "chargers" for individual batteries (see the corresponding paragraph).

- Car memory. The presence in the kit of a device for charging a flashlight from a car cigarette lighter (or a standard auto socket of the same size). Typically, such a device has the form of a simple plug with a cable; the cable can be made detachable. And in some models, a separate car charger is completely absent: to charge the battery, the flashlight itself is inserted into the cigarette lighter socket, and the body of the device plays the role of a plug. See "Power - Cigarette Lighter" for details.

- USB cable for charging. The presence in the kit is separately only a cable for charging, bu...t without a complete plug into an outlet. At the same time, you have the possibility to charge, for example, from Power-bank.

- Battery charger. A device for charging the batteries supplied with the flashlight. Only models with removable batteries are equipped with such a device - in fact, the battery must be removed to charge. This may create some inconvenience. On the other hand, batteries are usually made in a standard size, which gives many additional options. For example, you can buy a spare set of batteries and use it while the main one is charging, or even put disposable batteries instead of "native" batteries; The charger can be used not only for flashlight batteries, but also for other compatible batteries.

— Power element(s). A battery is included with the flashlight. This feature allows you to use the flashlight immediately after purchase, without buying additional batteries separately. Note that the presence or absence of a battery in the kit does not depend on the type of battery itself (see "Power"): for example, models for the original battery are not always equipped with such a battery. Therefore, if readiness for work “out of the box” is critical, you should choose a flashlight for which the battery is directly declared in the kit. At the same time, it does not hurt to clarify which element the product is equipped with - a disposable battery or a rechargeable battery.

- Light filters. Removable filters, commonly used to color the beam of a flashlight in one color or another - red, blue and / or green. See "Additional Modes" for more information on such colored lighting; Here we note two points. Firstly, the set of light filters can be different: for example, red light is common, but green and blue are much less common. At the same time, for some lamps, additional light filters are produced separately, they can be purchased in addition if necessary. Secondly, if a flashlight with colored light does not have filters in the kit, it means that this model uses separate colored diodes or, much less often, built-in filters. Both the one and the other option turns out to be more convenient from the point of view that to switch colors you do not need to mess around with interchangeable accessories (which you can forget somewhere or lose). On the other hand, additional equipment somewhat complicates and increases the cost of the design of the entire device.

— Clip for carrying. The presence in the design of the flashlight of a special clip (clips) - similar to that used in portable players, ballpoint pens, etc. This clip allows you to fix the flashlight on clothing, for example, on the edge of a pocket. This function is intended primarily for ease of wearing: a flashlight fixed with a clip will always be in one place, without getting lost or confused in your pocket.

- Bicycle mount. Fastening for installation of a lantern on a handlebar of a bicycle. Allows you to use the lighting device as a source of head light and indicates the presence of a cyclist on the road at night. As a rule, the holder is fixed on the steering wheel by means of a screw clamp, and the flashlight is held in it due to the elasticity of the mount.

- Strap. The presence in the design of the lantern strap for mount on the hand. It protects the device from falling: even if you accidentally open your fingers, the strap will hold the flashlight on your hand (or at least delay the fall so that you have time to react). And in diving models (see "Type"), such a device can, on the contrary, keep the flashlight from floating up. In large-sized hand-held lamps, the strap may be designed for ease of carrying on the shoulder, but such options are quite rare.

— Case. Existence in a set of delivery of a special cover for storage and transportation of a lamp. Such a case protects the device from excessive contamination and provides some degree of protection against damage. In addition, it can come in handy for protecting surrounding fragile items - for example, if you have to transport them along with a flashlight in a tightly packed bag or backpack.

- Underbarrel mount. Attachment for mounting an underbarrel flashlight (see "Type") on a weapon. Most often, such a mount is designed for a standard Picatinny / Weaver rail, but other options are possible; This point does not hurt to clarify before buying. In any case, this equipment is convenient because the mount does not need to be looked for separately; on the other hand, it may not be suitable for non-standard "seats".

- Without mount. The absence of a mount on a weapon in the delivery set of an underbarrel flashlight (see "Type"). Such models were originally intended for use for a different purpose - usually as hand-held compact ones (see ibid.), and the possibility of installation under the barrel is provided as an option. Also, you should pay attention to this option if the weapon has a non-standard way of installing flashlights - the mount for such an installation is easiest to buy separately from the flashlight.