LED Lenser Flashlight Product Tests

LED Lenser P7 LED Flashlight (8407) & P14 LED Flashlight (8414) Hand Held Flashlights.

It is seldom that I have reviewed a product that not just exceeds my expectations but simply blows them out of the water. These German made LED Lenser products are that good, especially the latest LED Lenser flashlights in the new HP (High Performance) line using the Cree Chip.

I have tested the hand held P7, P14, the ultimate X21 as well as the H7 Headlamp. All these models are unique in that it has a focusable lens and is super bright while the X21 is up there is the light saber class - I kid you not!.

While this review is specifically on the P7 hand held torch the performance was very similar to the slightly 50% larger P14 that takes 4x AA sized batteries and has a longer battery life. My biggest surprise was both these  these two hand helds performed only marginally better than the tiny H7 Heap lamp unit. How they can pack this much performance into such a small package is testament to those clever German engineers.

The P7 & P14 comes in a nice Black box which would be suitable for presentation as a gift.  Shown below is the P7.

Flashlight Specifications

P7 8407
Light type: Cree LED
Bulb: High-intensity 4.45-watt 167 lumens Gallium LED
Lens: Plastic composite material
Reflector: Advanced Speed Focus System
Beam type: Spot
Case type: Aluminum
Powered by: 4 AAA Alkaline batteries included
Water resistant?: Yes
Length: 133mm
Weight (with batteries): 192gm
Battery Life : 130 Hours

P14 8414
Light type: Cree LED
Bulb: High-intensity 4.45-watt 172 lumens Gallium LED
Lens: Plastic composite material
Reflector: Advanced Speed Focus System
Beam type: Spot
Case type: Aluminum
Powered by: 4 AA Alkaline batteries included
Water resistant?: Yes
Length: 205mm
Weight (with batteries): 384gm
Battery Life : 150 Hours
 

Package Contents P7 & P14

P7 4 AAA batteries installed
P14 4 AA batteries installed
Handstrap
Canvas belt case
Instruction / spec sheet

The P7 & p14 have a Black aluminum case, with a knurled grip and an eyelet on the cap for the included handstrap. In hand it very feels solid and comfortable, with good balance. The only writing on the flashlight is the LED Lenser logo and model number.

The interesting feature of both these lights is that it has a focusable beam. Focusing is accomplished by extending and retracting the lens of the flashlight. When the lens is fully extended, it is approximately 1cm longer - as shown above.

The lens remains at the length you slide it to by friction. You can slide it back and forth while the light is on or off. The above image shows the retracted position.

The lens is made of a plastic material with a dome in the middle that allows the LED to focus the beam of light. Both torches use a Gallium LED called a Cree chip. The P7 provides a 167 lumens and the P14 172 lumens. Until I flicked on the X21 these are without doubt the brightest flashlight that I've ever used.

On the opposite end, you find the metal power switch which is located in the end cap of the flashlight. It's a spring loaded click switch with good tactile feedback.

The o-ring sealed end cap unscrews to reveal an attached battery holder. The P7 is powered by 4 AAA batteries & the P14 by 4 AA batteries which are included with the flashlight. The P7 flashlight advertises the fact that it will give up to 130 hours of light on one set of batteries and the P14 up to 150 hours.

Also included with these flashlights is a nice canvas belt case. It has a belt loop and a small carabineer.

The P7 has a three step Quick-Cycle switch function. Press power without clicking it for maximum light, click it once for low light, click again for high beam and then again to power it off.

This picture taken in an office with no lights on, at night, with the door closed. You can only make out the glowing LEDs from some of the rooms electronics. The torch is in the corner of the room focusing on the opposite corner approximately 16 feet away.

Now let's power on the P7 and see what it can do...

This is what the beam looks like on low power with the lens extended out 100% and the power switch clicked in once. It's a narrow focused bright beam.

Here's what the beam looks like on the second full power setting. You can see that the beam has widened, allowing you to see more area. 
 

Here's what it looks like on low power when you slide the lens to the shortest position and press the power button once. The light is well spread out with no real bright spots or areas of intensity.

Click the power button once more and WOW, a super bright wide spread beam that pretty much illuminates the entire room. According to the specs, the P7 has a 0-711 foot light range. That's quite impressive. The P7 can be seen from 10 miles away and the P14 from 20!

As you will notice from the images above, all of the settings have very visible differences in beam focus and brightness. It's practical uses in the confined places of a boat using the wide angle boat or for spotting an anchorage or mooring at night are obvious. For the hunters the spot lighting features are also impressive.

I really like the LED Lenser P7 for its rugged design, variable focusing options and super bright beam. The fact that it uses regular AAA batteries is also a plus in my opinion.

In summary if you are looking for an ultra powerful, highly efficcient, compact and adaptable hand held flashlight then either of these will simply blow you away. You would buy the P7 if you wanted the benefit of its smaller size and the P14 to get the longer battery life and slightly better performance. Either way at $139.99 for the P14 and $10 less for the P7 it is money very well spent. And of course if nothing but the very best will do the at $649.99 you can buy your own light saber with the X21!