Mag-Lite ST3D016 3-D Cell LED Flashlight, Black

[Remark on Nov 27, 2011]
Amazon has combined the 2-D and 3-D cell versions of Maglite LED flashlights into one product page. The following review was original written for the 3-D cell version. See my other review if you are looking for the 2-D Cell version.

==== Original Review follows ====

This Mag-Lite ST3D016 3-D Cell LED Flashlight features the second-generation LED technology by Maglite. You may be alarmed that many of the older Amazon reviews are highly critical about this product. However, please note that the 2nd-gen LED Maglite was not even available before May 2009. That means earlier reviews were all based on the inferior first-gen Maglite LED flashlight... Read more

LED BASICS: A regular "incandescent" bulb produces light via a thin filament of wire (actually a tiny coil) that glows white hot at thousands of degrees Fahrenheit. LEDs are solid-state devices--a cousin of the transistor--that produce light as a byproduct of electrons "dropping" orbital levels.

LED VS. INCANDESCENT: I can think of 5 reasons to buy an LED flashlight over a regular incandescent flashlight:
1) An LED will usually last for tens-of-thousands of hours. In regular use, it shouldn't burn out.
2) White LEDs are so "white" that they make incandescent bulbs look dull yellow by comparison.
3) LEDs tend to be more rugged than incandescent bulbs,
4) LEDs don't eat batteries quite as fast as equivalent-light incandescent bulbs
5) LED flashlights tend to stay bright until they abruptly die
Their only disadvantage is that they cost more.

Whiter-than-White--our eyes perceive white light with a slight blue tinge as being whiter than... Read more

****REFER TO THE CUSTOMER IMAGE I UPLOADED****

The 3-D LED Maglite is indeed an improvement from the traditional krypton Maglites that were used by police in the past. Nowadays police prefer xenon or LED models, especially the Streamlight Stinger or Pelican 7060, especially after allegations that these lights were being used with excessive force.

However, the LED Maglite left much to wish for, especially when compared to other LED lights.

PROs:
*Much brighter than the krypton Maglites
*Has spare krypton bulb in the tailcap should you ever manage to break the LED module, something that rarely happens.
*The focus ability of this light allow you to decide whether you want to use a lot of "sidespill" to light up the room, or to focus all the light into a tight beam to get a lot of "throw." Unfortunately the "throw" only allows you to see things up to 2-3 blocks away.
*Solid construction, the flashlight looks nice in any color, and it... Read more