No, I haven’t had a chance, Russel. They have a good return policy and I have a workable flashlight so I thought I’d experiment until I find someting I’m happy with. I like the idea of the laser feature. I wind up pointing with the light a lot.
Update: I’ll be taking advantage of that return policy. I like the laser feature, but the flashlight’s not bright enough. Seems like someone mentioned that to me at some point?
Kenton,
Keith Swift turned me on to this one. I like it so much I bought two!
Stephen, do you carry both on you all the time?
Andrew, is it possible to get through two inspections a day with two batteries?
This is an old post but I recently bought this flashlight . I’ve been using Stingers for years (with my aviation job and home inspections) and have always been pleased. A few days ago I borrowed a friends LED DS to look at one thing and knew right away I had to buy it. This is the best deal I found (light only because it fits the same Stinger chargers).
I use a xenon light i bought at Lowe’s i think its 100,000 candle lights. The bulb will not break and it lasts for a long time on two c batteries (about a week or so) I also have the stinger and hate it. The xenon light is a bright white light you can see more detail in what you are looking at. The cost varies from 30-39 dollar’s if you can catch it on sale. look through the rack and look at candle lights that will tell you how bright they are.
I bought all my inspectors lights that I found at Target. They are 230 or 240 lumes. They use 2C sized batteries and I bought rechargable batteries and a recharger. They are the BEST BY far. I have owned stinger, the rechargeable mag lights, the ones that use 6 AA batteries, hell about 10 different ones and these by far are the best and my guys love em…with no doubt I recommend these.
I have 2 Ultra Stingers. One easily lasts me throughout an inspection. I bought the second one after 5 years, when the button on the first failed. Lifetime warranty sent me a new one so now I have 2 fully charged lights every day. On top of that, I highly recommend picking up a headlamp from REI or something for hands free light in attics and crawlspaces. Improved my inspections greatly. Not very bright but great for walking safely.
Hello,
Have you looked at the Pelican M6 lithum I belived now they even make it in LED. I have had mine as long I can remember never let me down and great light…
100 lumens and about $25 dollars, small enough to fit in a pocket. Two C batteries last all week.
Rayovac Extreme is the best I have used.
Sturdy and the batteries last forever it seems.
Super bright LED (one bulb) that casts a distant beam.
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Darn thing is at ACE for about $30 bucks and I use nothing else.
Excellent Lumen s rating.
Sometimes both the camera flash and the flashlight are too bright to take a good picture due to reflection. In those situations it’s nice to have a small flashlight that doesn’t put out too much light.
Trying to photograph a white label in an unlit crawlspace is a good example. It’s good to carry a small back-up flashlight that will fit into a pocket anyway.
That’s one reason I like this one . If you hold the button down it will dim to medium and then to low. Three brightness levels, plus a strobe, as you need them.
This one is heavenly.
When worse comes to worse…
It really bothers me when I pick up my flashlight in a dark crawlspace and it begins to squirm and kick in my hand and make comments about my inspection abilities. Plus, you have to keep waxing his head or it’s not so bright any more.
Hahaha
Now that makes for a image that will stay with me for a while today.
Some cameras will auto-focus in total darkness. My Sony camera projects an LED pattern to focus on. I set-up my shot with the flashlight on then I turn the flashlight off before taking the picture.
A while ago I did an inspection for a professional sports photographer. He asked if I would mind if he gave me some pointers. Of course, I was eager to hear what he had to say. He suggested that I turn off the flashlight, back away from the subject, set my flash on low (the choices are high, medium, low), zoom in and increase the angle as much as possible while still getting a good shot. The reason for increasing the angle is to minimize reflection. By the time I finished the inspection, I was taking better pictures. The best part was that he paid ME! I probably got more out of the inspection than he did.
I have 3 UltraStingers, one of which is the NACHI logo’d UltraStinger.
I have two AC chargers in the office, and a car charger if needed, but I go loaded for bear, and have rarely had to pull out the 3rd one.
I have had to switch to the second one, during the inspection, as they do tend to fade after a couple hours…