Maglites

[Stavhp]

Hi everyone
I noticed that a lot of photographers have maglites. I keep meaning to go get a torch for my bag but always forget.
Anyway, are maglites special in anyways? waterproof? drop proof???
Also, a lot say that they use them for protection??? HOW, its a torch?!?!?!
Sorry for teh really stupid question but im just wondering

Stav

[Moppie]

They are basicly an aluminuim tube with a bulb in the end, and some batteries for weight.
Makes an excellent truncheon in an emergency.

They are also well sealed with rubber gaskets, the high end ones are completely weather proof.
Just be aware they the orginals are very expensive, there are some excellent copies at more reasonable price, and then there some copies that are a complete waste of time.

[Skip Souza]

A standard flashlight by definition is a metal or plastic cylinder used to store dead batteries. :-)
The 3 cell Maglite is quite rugged, water resistant, powerful and is an aluminum pipe with considerable heft. I have several from the single AAA micro up to the 3 D Cell. My wife just gave me a 2 D cell model that came with an led light source, very cool indeed.

[Woolburr]

Maglites are very weather resistant and pretty much rock solid. Not only are they durable, they can serve as a weapon should the need arise. I believe one of my favorite authors would say that it makes a suitable truncheon.

[Wilt]

Hi everyone
I noticed that a lot of photographers have maglites. I keep meaning to go get a torch for my bag but always forget.
Anyway, are maglites special in anyways? waterproof? drop proof???
Also, a lot say that they use them for protection??? HOW, its a torch?!?!?!
Sorry for teh really stupid question but im just wondering

Stav

Maglite...expensive metal tubes that have substitutes available in plastic at less expense, at a marine supply (boating) store...lighter total weight and just as water proof, though less durable than aluminum (or 'aluminium' to you Brits).

[neil_r]

My wife just gave me a 2 D cell model that came with an led light source.

She is trying to get you into a very dubious line of work there Skip ;-)

N

[RossW]

No one has mentioned their excellent focusing capabilities, from a wide beam to a tight spotlight. Very rugged... tool of choice for many police departments in the U.S. I think they all carry a spare lamp in the handle, and have a range of optional accessories including colored filters, holsters, rubberized protectors that keep the light from rolling off of a surface, etc. (And let's not forget the range of cool colors!)

The two AA cell model is excellent for putting in your camera bag, and the larger C or D cell models are great for serious illumination.

[Wilt]

Methinks the Maglites are now outdated by the new LED flashlights that are so compact and light weight and run forever on a single battery...at least for photo bag purposes! (although it's hard to hurt someone if you're looking for a truncheon!)

[gjl711]

My kids gave me a couple of DuraPRO crank flashlights. http://www.duraproflashlight.com/foreverflashlights.php
These things are great. I keep one in the car, and one in my camera bag. They never run out of batteries. A few cranks give minutes of bright light and when they run down, just crank it up again. The light is a little blue, but it’s quite focused and bright.

[rhys]

Many of the security guards in Britain carry big Maglites because they're not allowed to carry weapons (even CS gas is illegal). They can claim their Maglite is just a flashlight but in reality it's a darned good truncheon - despite the fact they're illegal too.

[sando]

More than 2 cell Maglites are illegal in England. Because they're classed as a weapon.

[Sledhed]

Also, a lot say that they use them for protection??? HOW, its a torch?!?!?!
Stav

It's too big for my camera case, but I keep a 6 D cell maglite in my pickup in case I need to bop somebody over the head.

[Ronald S. Jr.]

I have a few of the long ones (is that the 6?) around the house, and one in the car. I'll tell ya. I dropped one on my foot one time and screamed out loud. F-ing thing is solid! It's the L of the flashlight world. I set one up on the counter in the kitchen a while back, and it fell over on my hand, and one of my fingers was black and blue for days.

[Skip Souza]

More than 2 cell Maglites are illegal in England. Because they're classed as a weapon.
Figures. Sorry guys.

[Mark_Cohran]

I have a small maglite in my bag - it's great for finding things in the dark. It was the same one I used for the better part of 20 years when serving on submarines - so, they're very durable. I also have several 3 cell maglites I use with colored gels for light painting photography (well, I bought them for light painting photography, I just haven't gotten around to doing it yet :) )

Mark

[winkie]

lol... this is what you need, right? too bad it doesnt take normal batteries :P
it's the L of the flashlights :)


http://www.surefire.com/maxexp/main/co_disp/displ/prrfnbr/24412/sesent/00

Here's a new flashlight from surefire, makers of flashlights for cops, Navy SEALs and other guys that need to kick ass in dark places. The LED lightsource can go from a low intensity to high, the brighter mode giving the palm sized flashlight 50-lumens. That's more than double the oomph of a twin D-cell battery. And enough to "temporarily blind an assailant." There's even a red and blue LED mode built in, the red one good for reading maps without mussing up your night vision. It's mil-spec, from its type III hard anodized aluminum grade body, to its pyrex lens. The non rechargable lithium ions give you 1.5 hours of run time on that bright mode, 8 hours on the dimmer mode. Just $300 bucks to play Navy SEAL in the woods at night.–

[calicokat]

They double as batons too if needed

[Jon, The Elder]

Two candles and a box of matches.

[Ronald S. Jr.]

They double as batons too if needed


Believe him; he knows. :lol:

[winkie]

actually, I have one that matches the color of my truck in the driver side door, I think it is the C battery variety (possibly D, havent changed batteries in a while)... works very well as a baton.

[rhys]

http://www.surefire.com/maxexp/main/co_disp/displ/prrfnbr/908/sesent/00

Now that's a torch!

[Curtis N]

More than 2 cell Maglites are illegal in England. Because they're classed as a weapon.I'm surprised you guys can buy a set of golf clubs without a special permit and government background check.

[KevC]

Maglites aren't really anything special. They're overrated. Mostly by people who believe that law enforcement/military use them.

The only thing they have is build quality. They're built tough, that's for sure. But light output is far from quality. However, as a self defense tool it will work =)

I'd look into Surefire or Streamlight torches instead.

//edit: Here's a good list of "cheap" but good flashlights:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=94229

[Johan Groenewald]

Great fLashlite, hammer, baseballbat, all in one

[lakiluno]

More than 2 cell Maglites are illegal in England. Because they're classed as a weapon.

are they? I can't find anything saying they are on the web.

However, you can get 2 cell D maglites (although I've seen 3-D-Cell ones for sale on websites in the UK).

I have a lowly 2xAA mag...and I may get the LED attachment if I ever decide to use it again (If I can find it :o)

[rhys]

are they? I can't find anything saying they are on the web.

However, you can get 2 cell D maglites (although I've seen 3-D-Cell ones for sale on websites in the UK).

I have a lowly 2xAA mag...and I may get the LED attachment if I ever decide to use it again (If I can find it :o)

As far as I know, the definition of an offensive weapon is so loose that anything can be described as an offensive weapon. The point is though that flashlights with large batteries and large quantities of batteries look more as though they're intended to be used as truncheons than as flashlights. Hence the police in the somewhat unbalanced criminal justice system regard anybody that wallops a criminal with one as somewhat worse than the criminal. The government bans every tool with which the honest citizen can defend themselves against attack and I just don't know why when criminals (who don't obey the law anyway) can get things that have never ever been legal, to attack honest citizens with.


Basically, in Britain you have to ask about any purchase you make: can this be used as a weapon. If it can then it's a purcase that often times one has to walk away from.

For self-defence, a monopod can't be beaten :D

[neil_r]

There is a lot of misinformed nonsense in this thread. It is not illegal to carry a 3 cell Maglite in the UK, It is not illegal to carry a knife in the UK and it is not illegal to carry a gun in the UK. I frequently carry all three and I am not breaking the law. It comes down to having a legitimate need to carry the said object. A traveller was recently arrested and charged by an overzealous policeman with carrying an offensive weapon, to whit one knife. The case lasted no time in court and the police were reprimanded as the court accepted the traveller’s legitimate reason of “I eat rabbits and the occasional road kill and they need to be skinned”

I carry a large torch because I need to see in the dark.
I carry a rifle when I shoot vermin and deer because it would be impossible to do so without one.
And I carry a knife for the same reason as the traveller (with the exception of the “road kill” bit)

It is true that you can not under any circumstances carry a hand gun in the UK but there again it would be pretty difficult to find a legitimate reason to do so.

[Skip Souza]

Gee whiz Neil, and I was hoping that you would share your recipe for road kill raccoon stew with us. :-)

[neil_r]

Gee whiz Neil, and I was hoping that you would share your recipe for road kill raccoon stew with us. :-)

Unfortunately we don't have raccoon in the UK, but PM me and I will give you a blinding recipe for Badger fricassee ;)

[Wilt]

Unfortunately we don't have raccoon in the UK, but PM me and I will give you a blinding recipe for Badger fricassee ;)

Was wondering if Hedgehog Helper turns that into a gourmet delight!

[Carzee]

Mmmm maglites.

I have a tiny LED for the bag and I keep my 6 cell -the biggest one- for self defence. I have had it 10 years and it looks new. A little known secret is to buy a length of cricket bat handle grip/rubber and fit it to the maglite. Works a treat.

[Skip Souza]

Unfortunately we don't have raccoon in the UK, but PM me and I will give you a blinding recipe for Badger fricassee ;)
:lol: :lol: :lol: :p :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Tom W]

A standard flashlight by definition is a metal or plastic cylinder used to store dead batteries. :-)
The 3 cell Maglite is quite rugged, water resistant, powerful and is an aluminum pipe with considerable heft. I have several from the single AAA micro up to the 3 D Cell. My wife just gave me a 2 D cell model that came with an led light source, very cool indeed.

The nicest thing about the maglight, as opposed to some of the competing flashlights, is that the switch works properly. They don't require a beating to light properly. I've had a few flashlights, even "professional" grade models, that were very poorly built.

[Stavhp]

JUST GOT A 2C MAGLIGHT
:D