Preface Official Specs Versions Price Short Review Long Review What's Included Manual and Packaging Build Quality and Durability Size Retention Power User Interface and Operation Modes LED and beam Tint vs... Beamshots, Runtime, etc table. Comparisons Conclusion What I like What I don't like Up Next Notes
Preface
Today I have a light I’ve been geeked up about for a while now. Lumintop sent one to me for review, and I put it through the paces. Here’s the review of the Lumintop Geek! It has Nichia!!
Official Specs and Features
Versions
There is just one version of the Geek.
Price
The official Lumintop amazon store has this light for $75. This light can certainly be had for less elsewhere, and I feel like $75 is higher than even the MSRP. Maybe the official store has low stock?
This light is also available via the Lumintop official site for a much more reasonable $45.90.
Short Review
This is a fun light. It’s very well built, has multiple Nichia emitters, and a very versatile UI. It’s a bit large for a keychain light, but I like it for a pocket light.
Long Review
What’s Included
- Lumintop Geek Keychain Flashlight
- Spare o-ring
- Lanyard
- Manual and papers
- Two plastic bunnies (!)
Package and Manual
The standard cardboard Lumintop package, with a logo and a bunch of specs on the back.
The manual is a long sheet with all the necessary information, and a bunch of languages.
I really like this manual, aside from the layout. The UI flow chart is particularly nice!!
Build Quality and Disassembly
The Geek is a solid little light. It has a certain feel when in use that makes clear that it’s put together well.
The internal cell is held in place with two Torx screws.
The secondary emitters are on the same side as the switches, and can be seen through the frosted lens cover.
One side of the light has three other emitters, too: Red, blue, and green.
Size
Officially 60 x 36 x 16mm, and 51g.
By no means is this the smallest keychain flashlight!
Retention
The primary means of carry is a pocket clip, which attaches through the lanyard loop on the tail of the light.
I say it’s the primary, and in the same sentence mention the lanyard because the clip comes attached and the lanyard is only included.
The clip is quite broad, but it’s purpose driven.
It’s reversible! It’ll go on either side of the light, and when on the switch side, it covers the buttons perfectly, preventing accidental activation. Except if you use it as an actual pocket clip, in which case you stand at least as good a chance of accidental activation as if you had the clip on the other side.
The lanyard attaches only through the tailcap, but in the usual way. The orange of the lanyard and red of the light clash so badly I couldn’t bring myself to photograph it.
Power
The light is powered by an internal cell, which is not removable or replaceable. It’s accessible via the back cover, which is held on with two Torx screws. It’s a lipo cell, claimed at 530mAh.
Output on high is very stable for the duration of the runtime. The light switches to very low, but it does not switch off completely.
I’d intended to runtime on Medium… instead you get a low-then-medium Runtime. Both modes are very stable.
Of course the light has on-board charging as well. This is achieved by a micro-USB port on the side of the light, covered by a press-in rubber boot.
Charging happens at around 0.45mA, which is a great current (Almost 1C) for this 530mAh cell. I tested the cell at ~550mAh and ~460mAh- I think the lower number was just a result of the cell not being nearly as depleted.
One big bonus built into the Geek is a side strip of emitters: Blue, Green, and Red. These are used for (and only for!) displaying the current charge of the battery. The indicator displays as follows while charging:
Solid blue = full charge.
Flashing blue = >60% charge.
Green flash = 30-60% charge.
Red flash = <30% charge.
It also seems to maintain some of this functionality while off the charger, too.
User Interface and Operation
There are two switches on the Geek. The middle one is a power switch, and the other is a function switch. They’re clicky e-switches, and provide quite a large surface for clicking (though they’re really only clicky right in the center).
Here’s a UI table!
| State | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Off | Click Power Switch (PS) | On Mode Memory, Front Light (FL) |
| On | Click PS | Off |
| Any | Hold Both >3s | Lock/Unlock |
| Locked | Click or Hold PS | Momentary Medium (FL) |
| On | Click Function Switch (FS) | Mode advance (Moon, LMH) |
| On | Double Click FS | Strobe |
| Strobe | Click FS | Strobe Group cycle: Strobe-SOS-Beacon |
| On | Hold FS 1.5s | On Side Light (SL) “Mode 1” |
| On (SL) | Click FS | SL advance (LMH) |
| Off | Hold FS 3s (long flash from FL) | On Side Light (SL) “Mode 2” |
| Mode 2 | Hold FS 3s | Exit mode 2 |
| Off | Click FS | Battery check |
Here’s a blow up of the UI flow chart.
Modes
| Mode | Mode Claimed Output (lm) | Claimed Runtime | Measured Lumens |
|---|---|---|---|
| High (Front) | 350 | 30m | 365 |
| Medium (Front) | 125 | 1h50m | 137 |
| Low (Front) | 25 | 9h15 | 25 |
| Moonlight (Front) | 1 | 43h | – |
| High (Side, Mode 1) |
350 | 1h50m | 50 |
| Medium (Side, Mode 1) |
15 | 5h40m | 12 |
| Low (Side, Mode 1) |
3 | 18h | – |
| High (Side, Mode 2) |
5 | 12h | – |
| Medium (Side, Mode 2) |
1 | 26h | – |
| Low (Side, Mode 2) |
0.2 | 34h | – |
Note that the website lists the high mode for the side emitters as 350, while the manual states the (obviously correct) 50 lumen high. I can’t measure the lower modes in my tube. Sorry!
LED and Beam
The main emitter of choice is a Cree XP-L HD. It’s behind a dimpled optic, and provides a diffuse beam.
The secondary emitters are High CRI Nichia emitters.
All of the modes here are so dim that my usual output test doesn’t even show them. But it’s still good data.
Tint vs BLF-348
Beamshots, Runtime, and Lux Measurements
| Lumintop Geek | |
|---|---|
| Emitter | Cree XP-L HD, Nichia High CRI |
| Emitter Notes | Multi-emitter |
| Cell | Internal |
| Runtime | Chargetime |
| LVP? | |
| Claimed Lumens (lm) | 350 |
| Lux (Measured) | 58 lux @ 4.511 m |
| Candela (Calculated) in cd | 1180.2 |
| Throw (Calculated) (m) | 68.7 |
| Throw (Claimed) (m) | 70 |
Random Comparisons and Competitive Options….
I really don’t think there’s anything else like this one.
Conclusion
What I like
- Very solid build
- Diverse use parameters, with multiple emitters
- UI is versatile, having two mode groups for secondary emitters
- On-board charging
What I don’t like
- Overall quite bulky
- Pocket clip can detach
- Flips out of pocket easily when using pocket clip
Up Next
I hope to finish a Nitecore charger soon, and lights, more lights!
Notes
- This light was provided by Lumintop for review. I was not paid to write this review.
- This content originally appeared at zeroair.wordpress.com. Please visit there for the best experience!
- Whether or not I have a coupon for this light, I do have a bunch of coupons!! Have a look at my spreadsheet for those coupons. It’s possible to subscribe and get notifications when the sheet is edited!!
Thank you for your review of this light. I got mine from Vinh with a current boost for only $20! This is a great light for Flashaholics! I’m one with over 100 lights. I just came across your site this evening, I’ll bookmark it. Thank you.
patrick
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