Laser Devices Torches Review x3

[ODS]

Well this afternoon I received in three of the Laser Devices (www.laserdevices.com). This company has been building tactical lasers for sometime now and recently created their own line of torches. I first became aware of them when looking at the Tigerlight brand and doing some research.

I was told they was designed to compete with Surefire and guess what...it's not a lie! The three that I ordered in for review are as follows:

3V OP-3 with Push Button Switch: rated to be at 25 lumens, 1 Lithium 123a, with a run time of one hour. This model has a lexan lens, but a glass lens model is available. Waterproof to 20m. MSRP is 115.00USD.

The OP-3 Model would best be compared to the Surefire E1e www.surefire.com
The E1e by Surefire is rated at 15 lumens, water-resistant, and a MSRP price of 78.00USD

next on the list is:
6V OP-6 with Push Button switch: Rated at 95 lumens, 2 lithium 123a, with a run time of one hour. This model has the Glass lens. It is also said to be waterproof to 20m. MSRP is 128.00USD

The OP-6 model size wise compares to that of the L4 or the E2e Surefire or a AA maglite. Though the rating of 95 lumens bumps it up to near that of the C3 which rated to be at 105 lumens. Respectively I would say it is the same brightness as the Pila G3 I did a review on a week or so ago...so what you get is a torch the size of a AA maglite with near the output of a C3 which is 9V 105 lumen torch. The OP-6 does over power my E2e and has a tighter hotspot.

The next and final on the list is:

The OP-9 with push button switch: Rated at 125 Lumens, 3 lithium batteries, and a hour run time. This model also has the Glass lens, but a lexan can be bought as well. It also is said to be waterproof to 20m. The MSRP is 151.00USD

This one would be close to that of the M3 by Surefire with a MN10 bulb that is rated for 125 lumen for a runtime of only one hour. The M3 price tag is 252.00USD...though you could do a C2 with a P61 bulb which would produce 120 lumens for 20 minutes...which gives you a smaller price tag, but eating up more batteries.

So for comparison I have on hand the following:

OP-3 compared to a ...hmmmm..errrrrr well ok I don't have a E1e so the closest to the rating would be a E2e with a KL1 head....which isn't fare since one is LED and the other is Xenon. I'll just have to wing it and say the light output is nearly the same.

OP-6 compared to E2e..I no long have a C3 on hand as it made its way off last week to a customer...the Pila G2 is rated at 90 Lumens, but to the naked eye looks the same as a E2e. So either Pila has overrated the G2 or Surefire unrates theirs. Till I get the meter I can not say which is which.

OP-9 compared to a M3

before though going into detail about each head to head comparison some features that are found in all three of the Laser Devices torches tested.

No pocket clip (how ever this is available on their lower line the OV-1)
No sheath provided (fits well in most generics such as blackhawk or maxpedition)
Momentary/push button switch. Clickie style like that on a L4 (Z57)
No lanyard ring, non available at this time.
No anti-roll bezel or body feature
Pila batteries will not fit into them

Don't worry there are alot of positives to offset the above negatives.

Ok first thing you notice when you take it out of the package is the handle design. I guess you would call it fluted. the handle is machined to have grooves along the entire length of the torch. On each ring is a diamond knurl texture which is amazingly grippy. Even more than that of the Surefire torches! here is a Comparison picture:

Now what I do notice is that the Head and tail cap knurled grip is different than that of th the bodies. They are even more diamond in shape and sharper/rough feeling. I think one reason why the body feels so secure in your hand is due to the fluted ring design. Your hand sorta falls into it as you hold it.

Ok the OP-3 review: Well as I said I do not have anything to base my review with as I do not have a E1e on hand and nothing else that is rated at 25 lumens so I'm sorta stuck on this one. best I can give you is a light shot in the corner at 12ft away. As seen here:


Ok next up is the OP-6 compared to the E2e. First off we need to establish comparison of light output. The E2e once again is rated only at 60 Lumens. The OP-6 is rated at 90 Lumens. So the OP-6 is going to be stronger and such is seen in this picture: As you can see the Hotspot is a bit smaller on the OP-6. The texture on the reflectors though look to be the same. The bezel on the OP-6 is larger at the lens than that of the e2e, but tapers down to the same size as that of the E2e. You can accually put the OP-6 bezel onto the E2e! I tried for the heck of it to put the KL4 and the KL1 bezel onto the OP-6 body and neither would work. The KL4 LED back side was to big and the KL1 did not screw far enough down to make contact.

Ok now the OP-9 and the M3 both rated at 125 Lumens. As seen here the OP-9 does overpower the high priced M3! :
The photo is taken a 10 ft away just as the other one is. The M3 has more of a oval shaped hotspot than that of the OP9. The M3 does have a much larger bezel and the tailcap is double o-ring sealed.

Now comes time for the side by side shot so you can get a feel for the size:


Here are some closeups of the parts:
The Bezel (note the Orange gasket..this is a rubber gasket that help protect the bulb from shock if dropped or if it was used on a rail system for a gun):

The Lamp:

The Tailcap:

The O-ring seal, threads, and the raised diamond knurling:

So in conclusion the Surefire still has the Laser Devices beat when it comes to add-ons such as LED bezels, Lanyards, pocket clips, even price point. Though the Laser Devices torches beat surefire on grip, numerous tailcap configurations for each torch as seen on www.laserdevices.com, and being waterproof.

So if Laser Devices come out with a simple pocket clip as seen on their OV-1 line up which is the same style torch, but with a lesser anodized body like that of a maglite. A LED head, and a lanyard system (though a surefire lanyard ring fits perfect), and drop the price just a bit for the OP-3 and OP-6....look out Surefire you have some serious competion at hand. These are so far the closest tactical torch that I have put my hands on so far to compare to Surefire standard and quality. For the most lumens for the money though still goes back to the Tigerlight being rechargable and a major powerhouse.

Oh yeahhhh and I forgot to mention this tad bit of info: It is adjustable from spot to flood! here is the OP6 in flood at 10 feet from the wall:

notice that there are no rings or artifacts in the beam unlike other torches that give this option.


Cheers,
Joe

[CM Burns]

Very interesting lights Joe - better and cheaper than Surefire? that can only be more bad news for the cc

[ODS]

For the money...the OP-3 and the OP-6 are higher in cost compared to their rivals the E1e and E2e from Surefire or the Pila G2 series. Yet still if you like the look and feel this may just be a pot hole in the road you have to hit.

Yet these are available as of now ...where Surefire is still...order and wait..and wait...and wait...and wait......

I'll probably throw these three into a passaround sometime soon.

cheers
Joe