Re: Best RED L.E.D. Flashlight?

[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Fleemo) wrote in message news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...
> Or are the red LEDs really crucial to achieving good night vision?

Chris Peterson's note that "any filtered incandescent solution is a
poor one compared to an LED" is right on technically, including that a
narrow band red light, logically, would be superior to a broadband
incadenscent light source for preserving night vision. My own
experience with red LEDs vs red painted incandescents never resulted
in a significant difference in eventual night vision adaptation. But I
am not an advanced observer and do not have the same exacting
standards that more experienced observers who regularly search for
fainter deep sky objects (like faint galaxies) have.

At $30, the Rigel Systems model (at http://www.rigelsys.com/  )
suggested by David Jessie and the $20 Astro-Lite model (at
http://www.astrolite-led.com/  ) suggested by Dave Mitsky, a well
known experienced observer, all look like great recommendations. 
Neither combines my "ultimate reality astro flashlight" desired
features into one "stick" - a headband or clipon for hands-free
operation (for use when setting up cameras, binoculars and scopes and
for checking camera and scope settings) and a variable light dial (for
when you need a brighter red light to read the details on charts or to
find a dropped pen).  Based on this thread, I decided to buy the Rigel
model, because it probably can be adapted easily to a hands-free
headband for individual use, has the courtesy neck strap for group
observing (a good limitation pointed out by Les), and has the variable
brightness dial.

But if you are a beginning observer, unsure of how far you are going
to go in amateur astronomy, are adverse to buying another piece of
consumerist "stuff" that will end up in a landfill,  buying a spare
bulb at RadioShack and painting it with red nail polish, remains a
good, quick, cheap & dirty standby. But it will not work as well as
the more expensive LED solution. - Kurt