Lee1959
06-22-2006, 09:04 PM
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/patycake21/X5minimag.jpg
Again this is a review I wrote up for another site but this light is also easy suitable for EDC so I will put it here as someone might be interested in it. The review is strictly the opinion and experience of the reviewer and your mileage may vary.
The Inova X5 is a two cell personal pocket flashlight which uses CR123 Lithium batteries and 5 5MM LEDs recessed into a steel honeycomb bezel. Price is normally around $30, can be picked up on Ebay sometimes cheaper, or they are carried in stock at Target chain stores. The light is slightly over 4.5 long and 13/16 wide which is about .5 shorter in length than the 2 AAA version Minimag, and about 1.25 shorter than the AA Minimag and about 1/8 narrower at the bezel. I will use the Minimag lights as comparison flashlights because almost everyone either has one, or has used one and they are the most likely encountered personal carry flashlights currently. For this light I am including what is considered the highest selling flashlight in the world, the ubiquitous Eveready 2 D cell economy plastic light, you know the type.
The light is activated by twisting the butt cap of the light, or pressing on the rubber capped butt for momentary usage. It is made of aluminum with stainless steel bezel containing the leds. The finish is hard anodized III in either black or silver which should keep it nice for a long time.
This is the third incarnation of the X5 Inova light in their X series of flashlights. The first
Had a fluted body which was changed in the second version to a body with flats cut into the sides. The latest version uses more powerful 5 MM Nichia LEDs which boost the output considerably, but unfortunately cut the battery life about 50%.
This is currently the only version sold by Inova, sometimes you will find older versions sold by vendors that have not worked out their stock yet. The new version lights come with a lanyard, a few of the first new versions came with the old versions sheath but they are fast disappearing and the lanyard will be the only option.
I drop tested it from 5 feet onto my wood deck half a dozen times and then dropped it in a pail of water and it was not effected by either test what so ever.
Specifications: (some technical specs beyond my ability borrowed from Flashlightreview.com I will use their output and throw specifications for review against other lights on their site which I highly recommend one peruse before buying any flashlight )
Length: 4.5
Light Source: 5 5MM LED
Battery : 2 CR123 lithium batteries
Diameter: 13/16
Output: 2000
Throw: 225
Battery Life: 6.5 hours to 50%, Approx. 13 hours to dead (my test)
Weight with battery : Unknown but on par with the AA Minimag
Minimag AA and AAA version Comparisons:
AAA
Length: AAA 5
Light Source: Minimag Bulb
Battery: 2 AAA Alkaline
Diameter: AAA 11/16 bezel 7/16 tail cap
Output: 200
Throw: 465
Battery Life: 40 Min. to 50% , 2 hours to dead
AA
Length: 5.75
Light Source: Minimag Bulb
Battery: 2 AA Alkaline or Lithium Batteries
Diameter: 15/16 at bezel 11/16 at tail cap
Output: 580
Throw: 884
Battery Life: 40 minutes to 50%, 5 hours to dead
Eveready 2 D cell Economy light
Length: 8
Light Source: Standard flashlight bulb
Battery: 2 D Alkaline Batteries
Output: 1000
Throw: 884
Battery Life: at my test on the last one of these I had last year was 3 hours to dead
Pluses: Very bright close range flood beam it will light up a large room or the back yard in about a 40 + foot radius very brightly. For its size it throws a huge amount of light for a very decent run time, about 15 hours in my test. CR123 lithium batteries have a shelf life of about 10 years which is much longer than Alkaline batteries, and AA Lithium batteries are considerably more expensive than CR123s. It still slips nicely in the hip pocket for a night walk or even EDC and is comfortable carried this way, especially if it is held in place along the pocket seam by a wallet or something. It is water resistant. Built like a tank, this is one tough little light. Twice the overall output of a D flashlight puts it out way out of the class of minimags in output, but not in throw.
Minuses: I liked the first versions sheath much better than the cheap lanyard included in the latest version. CR123s are more expensive and harder to find than AA Alkaline batteries. The newer LEDs cut down the battery life in half of the older version. In cold weather I am thinking this flashlight will need some kind of wrap around the body as I think the finish might be a bit slick in cold hands. Some people would prefer a click switch to twisty. This light is unique in that the batteries face backwards compared to other lights and the user must remember this as I am not sure if it will damage the light to put them in wrong, but it could.
Conclusions:
The Inova is a very well built flashlight. It is a very good light for home uses and most urban areas where distance is not needed. It provides excellent close range light* many times brighter than either minimag,and actually being much brighter than a 2 D Flashlight, but without the throw of either of those lights. It is old technology compared to some newer LED lights, but makes up for that by being brighter for a longer time period than some of the new high powered LED lights.
Actually, when compared, this small package put out almost as much overall output (but no where near the throw) as the 3 D cell Maglight which put out 2300, for a longer runtime, which totally blew me away.
Battery life for the two cells is very good, less than it was, but still excellent. Hard anodize III makes it a very durable look that will last. Throw is not even with the Minimags which is not unexpected, especially given the long battery life.
This is a favored light lately, one I stick in my pocket often when I am traveling at night or working at night around the house inside or out. Especially in areas I know that I wont need a long distant light. Sometimes, but not often, I will even drop it into my front pocket and take out the Inova X1 and the X5 lays well in the large front pocket. I find the CR123s have a long flat output, not dimming starting almost immediately like most Alkaline battery lights and dimming continually till dead which I like. I solved the possible slickness of the body by wrapping a rubber band around the light, I like rubber bands (they are just too handy)and tend to wrap them places in case I need one.
Again this is a review I wrote up for another site but this light is also easy suitable for EDC so I will put it here as someone might be interested in it. The review is strictly the opinion and experience of the reviewer and your mileage may vary.
The Inova X5 is a two cell personal pocket flashlight which uses CR123 Lithium batteries and 5 5MM LEDs recessed into a steel honeycomb bezel. Price is normally around $30, can be picked up on Ebay sometimes cheaper, or they are carried in stock at Target chain stores. The light is slightly over 4.5 long and 13/16 wide which is about .5 shorter in length than the 2 AAA version Minimag, and about 1.25 shorter than the AA Minimag and about 1/8 narrower at the bezel. I will use the Minimag lights as comparison flashlights because almost everyone either has one, or has used one and they are the most likely encountered personal carry flashlights currently. For this light I am including what is considered the highest selling flashlight in the world, the ubiquitous Eveready 2 D cell economy plastic light, you know the type.
The light is activated by twisting the butt cap of the light, or pressing on the rubber capped butt for momentary usage. It is made of aluminum with stainless steel bezel containing the leds. The finish is hard anodized III in either black or silver which should keep it nice for a long time.
This is the third incarnation of the X5 Inova light in their X series of flashlights. The first
Had a fluted body which was changed in the second version to a body with flats cut into the sides. The latest version uses more powerful 5 MM Nichia LEDs which boost the output considerably, but unfortunately cut the battery life about 50%.
This is currently the only version sold by Inova, sometimes you will find older versions sold by vendors that have not worked out their stock yet. The new version lights come with a lanyard, a few of the first new versions came with the old versions sheath but they are fast disappearing and the lanyard will be the only option.
I drop tested it from 5 feet onto my wood deck half a dozen times and then dropped it in a pail of water and it was not effected by either test what so ever.
Specifications: (some technical specs beyond my ability borrowed from Flashlightreview.com I will use their output and throw specifications for review against other lights on their site which I highly recommend one peruse before buying any flashlight )
Length: 4.5
Light Source: 5 5MM LED
Battery : 2 CR123 lithium batteries
Diameter: 13/16
Output: 2000
Throw: 225
Battery Life: 6.5 hours to 50%, Approx. 13 hours to dead (my test)
Weight with battery : Unknown but on par with the AA Minimag
Minimag AA and AAA version Comparisons:
AAA
Length: AAA 5
Light Source: Minimag Bulb
Battery: 2 AAA Alkaline
Diameter: AAA 11/16 bezel 7/16 tail cap
Output: 200
Throw: 465
Battery Life: 40 Min. to 50% , 2 hours to dead
AA
Length: 5.75
Light Source: Minimag Bulb
Battery: 2 AA Alkaline or Lithium Batteries
Diameter: 15/16 at bezel 11/16 at tail cap
Output: 580
Throw: 884
Battery Life: 40 minutes to 50%, 5 hours to dead
Eveready 2 D cell Economy light
Length: 8
Light Source: Standard flashlight bulb
Battery: 2 D Alkaline Batteries
Output: 1000
Throw: 884
Battery Life: at my test on the last one of these I had last year was 3 hours to dead
Pluses: Very bright close range flood beam it will light up a large room or the back yard in about a 40 + foot radius very brightly. For its size it throws a huge amount of light for a very decent run time, about 15 hours in my test. CR123 lithium batteries have a shelf life of about 10 years which is much longer than Alkaline batteries, and AA Lithium batteries are considerably more expensive than CR123s. It still slips nicely in the hip pocket for a night walk or even EDC and is comfortable carried this way, especially if it is held in place along the pocket seam by a wallet or something. It is water resistant. Built like a tank, this is one tough little light. Twice the overall output of a D flashlight puts it out way out of the class of minimags in output, but not in throw.
Minuses: I liked the first versions sheath much better than the cheap lanyard included in the latest version. CR123s are more expensive and harder to find than AA Alkaline batteries. The newer LEDs cut down the battery life in half of the older version. In cold weather I am thinking this flashlight will need some kind of wrap around the body as I think the finish might be a bit slick in cold hands. Some people would prefer a click switch to twisty. This light is unique in that the batteries face backwards compared to other lights and the user must remember this as I am not sure if it will damage the light to put them in wrong, but it could.
Conclusions:
The Inova is a very well built flashlight. It is a very good light for home uses and most urban areas where distance is not needed. It provides excellent close range light* many times brighter than either minimag,and actually being much brighter than a 2 D Flashlight, but without the throw of either of those lights. It is old technology compared to some newer LED lights, but makes up for that by being brighter for a longer time period than some of the new high powered LED lights.
Actually, when compared, this small package put out almost as much overall output (but no where near the throw) as the 3 D cell Maglight which put out 2300, for a longer runtime, which totally blew me away.
Battery life for the two cells is very good, less than it was, but still excellent. Hard anodize III makes it a very durable look that will last. Throw is not even with the Minimags which is not unexpected, especially given the long battery life.
This is a favored light lately, one I stick in my pocket often when I am traveling at night or working at night around the house inside or out. Especially in areas I know that I wont need a long distant light. Sometimes, but not often, I will even drop it into my front pocket and take out the Inova X1 and the X5 lays well in the large front pocket. I find the CR123s have a long flat output, not dimming starting almost immediately like most Alkaline battery lights and dimming continually till dead which I like. I solved the possible slickness of the body by wrapping a rubber band around the light, I like rubber bands (they are just too handy)and tend to wrap them places in case I need one.