HID Comparison: Fire-Foxes III, Magic Scorpion 40W, and 85W Ebay HID...

Got my FF3 today from Lips' GB...

It is so small and lightweight!



I'm using the new 3400mAh Panasonic cells for the FF3 as well as the Magic Scorpion 40W...

Does the FF3 have a little whine? Yes it does...

Is it a little 'floody'? Yes it is...

Does it matter? Not at all!

The palm trees are about 200 yards away:





It out shines and out throws both of the other HID lights shown. Even the 85W ebay HID, which is quite disappointing for the ebay HID performance...

I think it's actually a great thing that it has a lot of spill in my opinion. It doesn't take away from the throw. Maybe it could have even better throw, but in comparison to these other lights, it wins! (IMO)

It's more dramatic in person vs the pictures...

So small!

Thanks to Lips for the GB! :thanks:




Update:

See here for updated comparison beam shots after changing the bulb color temp to 4300K for the Ebay HID: (and my Mag HID mod too)
http://laserpointerforums.com/f66/f...rpion-40w-85w-ebay-hid-75261.html#post1086757

Re: Fire-Foxes III compared to Magic Scorpion 40W and 85W Ebay HID...

EH, the eBay HID is still pretty decent considering it's 1/2 the price. Couldn't really expect it to live up to it's rating as with most things from China. Nice comparison though

Re: Fire-Foxes III compared to Magic Scorpion 40W and 85W Ebay HID...

Oh yeah I still like the ebay light...

But did you see how tiny the Fire-Foxes light is?



I can't believe how much light comes out of that thing!

Thermal protection and low voltage indicator too...

Here's the specs:

Re: Fire-Foxes III compared to Magic Scorpion 40W and 85W Ebay HID...

uh... Ya i need that for my next flashlight Thanks for sharing

BTW, have you had your strap come off on the 85W? I put mine on the other day, threw the flashlight over my shoulder and then heard a very bad noise... The dang clip came undone and sent my light flying to the ground. THANKFULLY it didn't damage the light.

Re: Fire-Foxes III compared to Magic Scorpion 40W and 85W Ebay HID...

Ouch!

No I haven't even used the strap, but thanks for letting me know to watch out for that...

Re: Fire-Foxes III compared to Magic Scorpion 40W and 85W Ebay HID...

This is worthy of the double post...





I've got some good news for the Ebay HID lights!

Just swapped out my ballast and bulb with a 4300K and it is a huge improvement!

I'll get a beam shot when it gets dark to compare, but I can tell in room light that it seems twice as bright...

And it was a 75W ballast/bulb instead of the 85W that I removed!

I had messaged the seller to ask if they can provide a custom ballast/bulb at 4300K, and it's the hot ticket for $31 bucks.

Also, if you do this, take note that there is excess lubricant on the inside of the head of the light, so you can clean all of that off with isopropyl alcohol because I noticed that it was smoking the lubricant during my burn in with reflector off... (make sure to clean the bulb with alcohol too just in case)

One more tip. There is a little room for 'tweaking' the bulb centering when you install the new ballast/bulb. So naturally if you get it perfectly centered, your light will perform better.

I'll post a beam shot tonight...

P.S. In case you want to swap out the ballast/bulb, it's really easy, and can be done in a matter of about 5 minutes or less...

They have a video:

Re: Fire-Foxes III compared to Magic Scorpion 40W and 85W Ebay HID...

Man i just ordered a new 35W bulb since mine burnt out. Wish I would have seen this first. Could I replace the bulb/ballast with a higher powered one? Like the 85W? Im pretty sure they both use the same battery.

Re: Fire-Foxes III compared to Magic Scorpion 40W and 85W Ebay HID...

Yes as long as the ballast length is the same. Because I believe the 35W ballast/bulb is shorter than the 75W and 85W ones...

The 75W and 85W ones are the same length.

It should say the measurements on the sale page...

Re: Fire-Foxes III compared to Magic Scorpion 40W and 85W Ebay HID...

hmmm, I'll have to check that out. Too bad the ebay lights are so dang big.... That Fire-Foxes III looks amazing and comes in a super small package, best of both worlds.

Re: Fire-Foxes III compared to Magic Scorpion 40W and 85W Ebay HID...

Yeah it's the size that makes it so cool, but the Ebay light will have much more run time...

I think now that I installed a 4300K bulb, it is going to out throw the FF3 like it should.

We shall soon see!

Re: Fire-Foxes III compared to Magic Scorpion 40W and 85W Ebay HID...

I just took three more comparison shots because I swapped out the stock ballast/bulb with a 4300K 75W for the Ebay HID... (same for my 75W Mag HID mod)

As the pictures will show, the (now 75W) Ebay HID will do better. Which it should. Since it has a larger reflector.

My Mag mod has a smaller reflector vs the FF3, but still does better since it is 75W vs 42W for the Fire-Foxes III... (I think the Mag mod wins over all 3 here)





Having the 4300K bulbs made all the difference in the world!

I like the beam profile of my Mag mod best, but the size/weight + cool factor of the FF3 is amazing!

And it compares side by side with the 75W lights...





Here's the Ebay HID before and after side by side:

Re: Fire-Foxes III compared to Magic Scorpion 40W and 85W Ebay HID...

Hey, you reckon you could possibly get a current measurement for the 75W HID? It's basically impossible to do on the eBay torches, though since you've installed one in a mag it should be relatively easy to get to.

Dan

Re: Fire-Foxes III compared to Magic Scorpion 40W and 85W Ebay HID...

Things said:

Hey, you reckon you could possibly get a current measurement for the 75W HID? It's basically impossible to do on the eBay torches, though since you've installed one in a mag it should be relatively easy to get to.

Dan

Click to expand...

With the first ones I got (8000K), I measured an initial 7.5 Amps battery current draw on start up, and the ballast quickly brings the HID bulb into full power within about 8 to 10 seconds. At that point, it draws 5.5 Amps steady.

But these new ones I got (4300K), just might really be 85W ones??

I say that because the current draw after warm up, is about an Amp more. (6.5 Amps)

Re: Fire-Foxes III compared to Magic Scorpion 40W and 85W Ebay HID...

Hmm, so it seems it's not actual an issue with power rating, just the bulb efficiency. The 75W ones are rated at like 7500 lumens, though really I'd probably say ~5K at best.

I had initial doubts about them actually being 75W, but 70W is pretty damn close.

Might try replacing it with a 4300K bulb and see. I think Rayleigh scattering kinda makes the beam look more blue in your outdoor shot. Did you get yours from seller "eazytake"?

Dan

Re: Fire-Foxes III compared to Magic Scorpion 40W and 85W Ebay HID...

I got the HID light from blingsurfer, but the 4300K bulbs from lovepets88... (you have to message them)

Yeah the 8000k bulb is not very good for illumination. It may even be 12000k for all we know.

But it's blue. The picture you posted of your beam shot is also very blue. You won't believe how much more illumination you will have with 4300K.

It will seem about twice as bright visually!

Re: Fire-Foxes III compared to Magic Scorpion 40W and 85W Ebay HID...

Tis indeed very blue. Not as noticeable inside, but outside it scatters like anything. Just got this shot here:



Will see about getting a 4300K bulb