LED Lenser P7 Holster/Filter kit

[markha 99]

Hi all,

After chatting with other members about IR filters and their suitability for use with CREE type lights I though I would put a quick post about 3 things:

 

There is no point putting any kind of IR filter on any of the high output CREE led type lights as the visible light emmitted tends to be focused in a very narrow wavelength of the visible spectrum at 420nm.

Near Infra red is from around 400nm to 1400nm and typically 740 - 780nm is where the visibility drops off.

The lumen output at 740nm is around 10% of the stated lumen, so for say the LED Lenser P7 at 200 lumen that measn less than 20 lumens once you put that filter over the front.

 

In short, you cant filter what isnt there!

 

I got one of the new filter/holster sets for the P7 light last week and first immpressions are good. As a holster its bomb proof lads, made from very thick ballistic nylon/cordura. The lens cap has a circular filter holder for holding one of the 4 glass filters, red, green, blue and yellow, this folds over the front of the holster and fixes with a heavy duty press-stud.

On the back is a sturdy belt loop that also has a belt clip, again all made very sturdy, just studs and thick plastic.

Spare lenses are stored in an elasticated pouch on the rear of the holster.

 

Initial indoor tests with the filters is quiet good, bear in mind this torch is aimed at law enforcement etc and as such the filter colours have been well matched. The Blue filter in particular showed up blood very well and the red filter giving a good strong pinkish light.

 

I havent tried the red filter for lamping yet and would expect a drop in range, but hey considering this is a 200lumen torch that lights up a field easily out to 100m I guess it should still be good enough for close quarter lamping with the air rifle.

 

http://deniswilsonofglenavy.co.uk/led-lenser-intellligence-pouch-0039-p-15102.html

 

 

 

Whilst working on another project, I came across this piece of kit

 

 

Its an IP65 rated (waterproof) High output IR floodlight with a general working range of 120m and works off 12v dc at 1.4amp, so could be hooked up to any 12v power supply. It would work very well with any kind of device that can see infra red and will be far safer than a lot of the high powered IR lasers about (there as some very dangerous ones about, you cant see the light but they are class 3 laser and still damage the retina if shone in the eyes!)

[eddiej35 10]

hi bud, this filter is for the tiablo torches so should work with the P7 as they use similar internals. http://www.inovatech.co.uk/shop/product.php?productid=63

 

[moxy 617]

They are ok for close up, ideal for the rats. I have a selection of the led lensers. Handy little lights.

 

Good write up, let us know how you get on with it

[eddiej35 10]

The P7 and the lighter T7 with the filters are great for 70 yards without any fuss. Ratting with the low setting is no probs either..

[markha 99]

hi bud, this filter is for the tiablo torches so should work with the P7 as they use similar internals. http://www.inovatech.co.uk/shop/product.php?productid=63

 

 

 

Have you used this filter on a Tiablo or orther LED based torch?

 

I ask because the physics dont work out for the led unit in the P7, it uses an LED from Philips and the peak output or 100% is around 420nm, so in the visible IR range, however when you look at the graph it drops very sharply to less than 17% at 740nm, still just visible IR, but once you get to 750nm and above the output drops to less than 5%,

 

So how can an 850nm true IR filter be any good on a torch with less than 10 lumens of power at that wavelength? Am I missing something?

[markha 99]

The P7 and the lighter T7 with the filters are great for 70 yards without any fuss. Ratting with the low setting is no probs either..

 

Completely agree Eddie, I have been using my P7 for the best part of a year, in all weathers and only changed the batteries a few days ago, even though they were still very useable. Its great for lamping and simply stuns the close range rabbits, Only gripe I have is you do need to put a bit of pressure on the push pad.

[matt_hooks 188]

I bought the M14 a while back. It's a great torch, but not so good for "on gun" lamping as it's a fair bit heavier and bulkier than the P7 (it has four AA's, as opposed to iirc the four AAA's in the P7, correct me if I'm wrong)

 

Also the M14 doesn't have the option of a remote switch. This is a big drawback for gun mounting, though it's fine if there are two of you, or if you use it as a torch to see where you're going/what you're doing.

 

I've got a "surefire" eBay cheapy that I mount to whatever rifle I'm lamping with, which gives a nice tight spot out to odd yards, great for the LR, and perfect for the air rifles. The lensers are good torches, but I always worry about damaging them, with the amount they cost. I have the H7R head torch, which is light and easy to wear, and has variable brightness and focus, and the P17 which takes 3 D cells, and throws a beam a heck of a distance, or floods a large area when the head is pulled back.

 

Edited to add, I'd LOVE to get my hands on an X21, 1060 Lumen, a 1/4 mile beam, sex in aluminium!

Edited March 15, 2011 by matt_hooks

[matt_hooks 188]

Torch porn!

[eddiej35 10]

hi bud, this filter is for the tiablo torches so should work with the P7 as they use similar internals. http://www.inovatech.co.uk/shop/product.php?productid=63

 

 

 

Have you used this filter on a Tiablo or orther LED based torch?

 

I ask because the physics dont work out for the led unit in the P7, it uses an LED from Philips and the peak output or 100% is around 420nm, so in the visible IR range, however when you look at the graph it drops very sharply to less than 17% at 740nm, still just visible IR, but once you get to 750nm and above the output drops to less than 5%,

 

So how can an 850nm true IR filter be any good on a torch with less than 10 lumens of power at that wavelength? Am I missing something?

Your guess is as good as mine, i did a search because someone asked me if you could get an ir filter for the P7. I found that filter . I have the tiablo A9 and the P7 uses the same type of chip. In theory it should work but to what distance i dont know. I did hear tiablo had an ir lens that you could change for your white one . I am still looking for it as i would like to test these out for performance. maybee i could update with a test soon.

Edited March 15, 2011 by eddiej35

[markha 99]

Well, I went out lamping on Saturday night after watching the very poor Wales-France game

 

With the red filter in place the P7's 200 lumens is seriously cut down, with the torch on its wide angle setting its great for lighting the way whilst walking about in the dark, and obviously great on the eyes too.

 

With the P7 zoomed in to spotlight and with the Red Filter on you can easily pick up the orange glow from the eyes of rabbits, sheep and cows etc out to 100yds easily with the MK1 Eyeball.

[markha 99]

I had a session lamping on Saturday night and this was the first time using the P7 with a red filter on and using a scope.

 

So as above post, it works well enough with the red filter on and using your eyes, however its a complete waste of time when trying to use it with a red filter and looking through a scope.

I could hardly see anything past 15m and there was nowhwhere near enough contrast to be able to see my reticle.

 

With a quick change to the amber filter things were much better indeed.

I also noticed that the rabbits were a little more happy to stay sat for longer under the amber lght than they were with just the unfiltered LED light.

 

So for me atleast, the amber filter is the way forward with the P7 and filter kit, with the red filter only useable at the shortest of ranges with the P7 on its tightest beam setting ie: full zoom.

 

Cheers

Mark

[moxy 617]

I thought they were good for 70yds with a filter

[markha 99]

Moxy, Yes, I put my hands up, 70m stretching it with a scope in my initial post,(scope was Bushnell trophy 3-9x40) with the Hawke 6-18x44 scope on,the combination was at its limit at 20m, I couldnt see much nor could I see the reticle untill around 15m.

 

Amber filter or no filter with this scope and light combination.

[moxy 617]

I find these are cracking little torches unfiltered for up to 35/40yds, with my eyes anyhoo.

Put a filter on and you are drasticaly reducing the beam, like i said initially, only really any good for ratting, using a red filter.

For a light weight combination ie ratting, green rabbits etc i often use the p7 on my 3.5 x 10 x 50 WTC and i find its ok to the 35/40yd range unfiltered but it is a strain on the eye.

I also have the p6 and the PTF, good torches but i think something like 220+ lumens would be more suited.

Imo

[Novusordo 0]

Hey I went out lamping last night using my LED Lenser P7 for the first time. The range was really impressive, but the bunnies would not keep still for more than a couple of seconds. It is FAR too bright.

After reading this excellent thread I have just ordered the filter/pouch kit. I'll let you all know how it goes!