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These are the Alphas that started it all!
These three Blue Label finishes have been out of production for several years. Now they are back in limited quantities!
Alpha lights are assembled to order and may take up to two weeks to ship, depending on our current workload.
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The Alpha wasn't always a classic, but my three original finishes are back from a very long hiatus. basically I wasn't able to keep up with the workload, but the current Prometheus team numbers six souls and we can get a lot more done.
As with standard Alphas, these lights use an 18650 battery, but we are also rolling out our "shorty" bodies that can convert an Alpha to 18350. The shorty bodies are only available as a separate accessory at this time.
An 18350 battery is 1/2 the size but only 1/3 of the overall capacity. This makes the 18650 great for a work/utility/duty light when you need to use it regularly. The smaller 18350 is more suitable for EDC (Every Day Carry) and casual use.
I've been working on this driver for over two years. It's simple, powerful, and full of features even the most demanding flashlight enthusiasts will appreciate. A maximum current of 3.4 Amps delivers class-leading power and an advanced software platform lets you make Icarus a reflection of your unique preferences by programming it any way you like...
This driver is 100% designed, programmed, and manufactured (in the USA) just for me. Until now, I've been limited by "what is available," but Icarus is the realization of a long standing goal. No expense is spared, no shortcuts taken, no compromise accepted. I'm proud to put the Prometheus stamp on this driver as the crowning jewel of the Alpha platform. Enough talk, let's get to the details.
I have only one standard for quality: the highest.

Taking a concept from an idea all the way to a manufactured product has been a humbling experience. Despite many years in product design and manufacturing, this is the first time I've been 100% responsible for every aspect. It's incredibly difficult, infinitely complicated, never perfect, always challenging, and fundamentally satisfying. I once heard Adam Savage say that, "the best way to end a day is filthy and satisfied." Quite right.
I work with over 50 different vendors to bring you the Alpha and source everything I can locally, not just domestically. Every light passes through my hands on its way to yours, and I think that's meaningful. Call me old fashioned, but I like to know the people that make the objects I value, use, and rely on. I wish there was more opportunity for that in this day and age.
My work is a reflection of my values and the culmination of my years in design, fabrication, and manufacturing. A flashlight might seem simple, but I spend sleepless nights thinking about details that you will never even see.
Why go to these lengths for a humble flashlight? Lighting up the dark hasn't always been such a humble pursuit. For most of our history it's been life or death. When it's dark, and you need light, you really need light. If you think about it, it's not that different today.
We forget how important light is because most of the time you can just walk over to the wall and turn one on. What if that wasn't an option? There is accidental darkness: I actually get excited every time the power goes out. I also make lights for people that find themselves in the dark deliberately: airline pilots, mechanics, law enforcement, campers, hunters, fishermen, adventure racers, EMTs, contractors, moms, brothers, neighbors, and friends.
Details, details, details...

My lights look different because they are different. These don't look like "tactical" flashlights because they are not tactical flashlights. I like tactical stuff in a manly sort of way, don't get me wrong, but I don't need my flashlight to scream it. I'll meet the zombie apocalypse in style thank you very much.
The Alpha is a gentleman's flashlight like an Aston Martin is a gentleman's car. It pairs nicely with a Rolex watch and a Montblanc pen...or if you are a lady, with a Celine bag and a pair of Louboutins. The refined exterior only begins to hint at the ridiculous power underneath the hood, and that's the way you like it.

The EN coating is applied over 6061-T6 aerospace grade aluminum. I use EN plate on the Alpha because it's the ideal engineering solution, not because it's pretty. Unlike anodizing, EN coats every inch of the light, inside and out, with an even layer of super-hard nickel. EN is just as durable as anodizing and is electrically conductive.
You will not find any bare aluminum on the Alpha, like you see with anodized lights. The body of the light is just a shell, but the threads play the critical role of conducting electricity. Ever wonder why anodized lights have bare metal threads? Anodize is an electrical insulator so it must be removed for the light to function. Bare aluminum threads will wear out over time and corrode when exposed to air, reducing your lights useful life span and decreasing its performance.

People like expensive products to come in fancy packaging. What I don't like is people spending money on packaging that could be going into the product. That's why my packaging is minimal. It's also reusable and recyclable. The paper in the packing tube is 100% recycled and the natural cotton bag is unbleached and un-dyed. Please keep the tube and use it to store something else. The cotton bag can store your accessories for travel or house that marble collection that's just been rolling around in a drawer.

Unlike laser marking or screen printing, the deep marks left by the stamp will not rub off or wear away over time. Stamping is the traditional metal smith's method of signing their work.
I've had two custom stamps made to mark my lights. The first is my Maker's Mark (left) and this mark indicates the light was 100% manufactured in my own shop using my own tools.
The second stamp (roll over the photo) is the Prometheus Lights logo. This mark is only used on the Ready-Made lights, which are machined at a CNC shop just down the road from me.
The Alpha's size is deliberate and based on a blend of engineering and aesthetics. It's proportioned based on the "Golden Ratio" and intended to deliver a specific "hand feel" in terms of size and weight. The light is balanced for overhand, underhand, and cigar grips.
It's the largest size for a pocketable light and the smallest size (in my opinion) for a light this powerful. Internal components are arranged for improved thermal management and the tailcap is recessed to allow tail standing.
The clip is sized specifically to deliver comfort and traction with an overhand grip.

I tell you everything there is to know about my lights and this is very intentional. I hate it when companies are vague about what goes into their lights. I'm a researcher and a fiend for data. I want to know as much about a product as I can, before I buy it.
My "secret sauce" is solid engineering, the best components I can get, and old fashioned hard work. That's also why my lights are expensive. I show you everything so you can see that I haven't cut any corners.
Each Blue-Label light comes with it's own report card so you know exactly what you are spending your money on. Ready-Made lights do not because it takes a lot of time to test each individual light.

It's not much but it's something. I like everyone to have a little surprise when they open the box...to get something extra. I suppose that's why I'm spoiling the surprise here?!
Every light comes with a 1cc bottle of Nano-Oil and two replacement o-rings. One for the head and one for the tail. Blue-Label lights come with fluorosilicone o-rings and Ready-Made lights come with Nitrile o-rings. If you get the Journeyman package (with maintenance kit) then these are not included.
The bottles are medical grade precision dispensing bottles. You didn't think I'd just buy something random off the internet did you? I fill each bottle by hand.

The Alpha is sealed with only 3 O-rings and the silicone tailcap, making the Alpha rated for submersion and tested to 300 feet for 5 hours. This is unprecedented for a "general purpose" hand-held flashlight.
Blue-Label lights feature blue fluorosilicone o-rings that are 10x more expensive that the industry standard Nitrile o-rings.
Ready Made lights come with black Nitrile o-rings. Nitrile is the most common o-ring material and it's amazingly good...just not as good as fluorosilicone.

This is one of the most expensive components in the light. These premium glass lenses are coated on both sides with an anti-reflective coating that achieves 98% light transmission. That's really impressive...in case you weren't already impressed.
The lens is so clear that a lot of people think I've forgotten to install it.
The coating is quite durable and can be cleaned with a soft cloth and Windex. Be careful though, because you "can" scratch it.

This reflector is made by Ledil of Finland. The only thing they make are optics for LEDs so you should expect it to be good. The reflector is precision-molded plastic and each facet is actually engineered to optimize the beam.
Most reflectors used in flashlights are smooth (SMO) or orange peel (OP). Smooth reflectors put more lumens out the front, but the orange peel texture is added to cover imperfections in the beam and create more spill light, while slightly reducing output.
The Boom is the best of both worlds, maximum light output with a perfectly smooth beam.

The center spot is 20 degrees from edge to edge. The camera tends to exaggerate the separation between spot and spill. To the eye the transition is much more gentle. The Alpha is a floody light that produces a huge wall of light. It's not " thrower" but at +100m it's more than enough for 80% of flashlight use. In my opinion "throwers" are only good for special use cases...the 20% by the 80/20 rule and the Alpha is an everyday light, not a specialty light.
I'm proud to say one of the most frequent comments I get is how "perfect" the beam profile is. I can only take a little credit as most of it goes to those Fins. However, I did try (almost) every possible LED optic on earth before I settled on this one.

This is the most common place for flashlight manufacturers to skimp, but for me, this is where I spend most of my money. I purchase LED's from a US-based authorized CREE dealer. No grey-market or sketchy imports.
I specify exact bins and I want to be absolutely sure that's what I'm getting. If you aren't buying directly from CREE or an authorized dealer, there is no way to know what you're actually getting.

Thread fit is one thing that sets my lights apart. My threads adhere strictly to Unified Tread Standard (UNS) tolerances set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). This ensures reliable compatibility between production runs.
Blue-Label lights feature a Class III thread fit. This is the most precision class and normally reserved for military and instrumentation applications. The increased thread contact area enhances electrical and thermal conductivity.
Ready-Made lights use a Class II thread fit. This is the most common class of fit and specified to ensure that parts are compatible without high percentage (costly) inspection.

You'll never see it unless you disassemble your light; however, high-temperature silicone sleeves protect the LED leads as they pass through the head. This is probably not necessary but it protects keep the wire casing from being worn through from long term or intense vibration.
This was implemented around January 2012, so only lights made after this date feature strain relief. I install these in any light that is returned for LED swaps or as part of the Blue-Label Lifetime Upgrade program.

This is pretty much as good as wire gets. Electrical resistance is incredibly low and the Teflon insulation resists abrasion and can withstand temperatures in excess of 300 degrees Fahrenheit. This wire meets the standards for MIL-W-16878/4.
This 24 AWG wire is very thin but it is capable of carrying up to 13 Amps of current. "Standard" 24 AWG wire is only rated to carry 0.5 Amps. I said it was good right?

The driver is secured by a custom designed wave spring and polycarbonate "window" to keep out dust. The sleeve acts as an electrical contact for power transmission and to act as a heat sink for the driver itself. The hollow shape and distance from the LED mounting surface helps with thermal isolation. The positive battery terminal is made from solid copper and has a large contact surface to ensure maximum electrical conductivity.
Blue-Label lights feature a C101 (99.9% pure) copper sleeve.
Ready-Made lights use an EN plated 6061-T6 aluminum sleeve.
Part of my signature style is the .375" diameter grooving on the body. These wide grooves provide finger-friendly grip and an interesting visual effect. The grooves on most lights are "as machined," meaning they receive no polishing to achieve the high degree of reflection...just the right tool at the right speed.
All bodies are finish turned to the correct outside diameter and then grooved on my Hardinge HLV-H manual lathe. No automated CNC for this step.
My pocket clip is now made from ASTM Certified 6Al/4V titanium alloy. There is a hole at the top that will pass a lanyard as large as two strands of 550 para cord. The bend in the tip of the clip is designed to be flat and smooth to minimize the wear on your pocket.
All my clips are manufactured from genuine ASTM Certified 6Al/4V (Grade 5) titanium. I'm also the only maker on earth that uses Certified material, because I make no compromises. Certified Ti is 50% more expensive than generic. Don't be fooled by claims of "aerospace grade" materials...if it's not Certified, it's not aerospace grade.

It doesn't look like much but this tailcap is a tour-de-engineering. I won't bore you with all the details but my crowning achievement is the "tool free" installation. The clip "pops" over the o-ring so you won't loose it accidentally. Unlike most lights, you don't need to remove the o-ring to take the clip on/off.
When the clip is removed, the retaining shoulder slides into the body and disappears. Most clips are "screw-on" which looks cool if you use the clip, but if not, there are two ugly holes in the side of your light.
If your clip ever looses tension, simply install it backwards and re-tension it.
Of course I use the most famous flashlight switch on earth. I have tried every other kind of switch, and like most things, you get what you pay for. The McClicky is 5x the cost of other switches, but it's worth it.
The McClicky is a "forward-type" clicky that allows momentary activation.
The Alpha battery should always be changed through the head of the light. You should not open the tailcap unless you are replacing the switch or removing/installing the pocket clip. Removing the tailcap causes the compressed spring to rotate against the battery, putting undue and unecessary stress on the switch spring which can lead to failure.
Most people consider the UI to be the software onboard the driver; however, the UI also includes the physical means of interface. My current driver has three modes with last level memory accessed through a single button. This is the simplest and most robust flashlight UI.
Control rings and multiple buttons are useful, but they introduce cost, complexity, and additional points of failure. I think there are some things that should remain simple.
Please see the Icarus driver page for more details. Icarus is the product of more than 2 years of work, is fully custom made, and 100% manufacured in the US.

The PSR was implemented in all lights starting in October 2012. My lights were pressure tested to 300 feet for 5 hours without the PSR...so it's not really necessary, but again, I accept no compromises.
The security of the primary seal was one detail that did not completely meet my standards. So I went ahead and had these rings custom manufactured by Smalley Steel Ring. I probably should have applied for a patent for this sealing method, but there you go, everyone feel free to copy :)

Packages include things like accessories, maintenance tools, and replacement parts.
If you are looking for a gift, I suggest package #2 (the "Apprentice") which includes everything you need to get started.
Package 1: Light ONLY
This is pretty self explanatory. A good option if you already own 18650 batteries and a charger that you are happy with.
Package 2: Apprentice (+ $30.00)
Dominate the dark with the basic package: light + battery + charger
- Alpha Series light
- 1x18650 Olight 3400 Battery
- Battery Tube
- Foursevens USB Flex Charger (Lithium-ion and NiMH)
Package 3: Journeyman (+$65.00)
Maintain your Alpha like a pro and avoid buyer's remorse about your button color. Includes everything in the basic package, but you also get:
- Maintenance kit (Nano-Oil + replacement o-rings)
- O-ring removal tool with rubber grip
- Three extra button colors of your choice
- Switch Tool (Pronged tool to aid in removal of the switch and retaining ring. Machined in-house!)
Package 4: Master Package (+$75.00)
The full boat. A good friend once told me, "two is one and one is none." He was right, don't get caught in the dark. You get everything above, but you also get:
- Spare UCL window (glass lens)
- Spare McClicky tailcap switch
Apprentice Package

Journeyman Package

Master Package


This page will help you select the best LED for your application
Click on a heading below to expand the sectionBeam Quality and Balanced Engineering
A good light is not just about more lumens, it's about having a well balanced package that is versatile in a variety of situations. My lights are designed for 80% of flashlight use cases, not the highly specialized 20% like a weapon light or search light.
The top four elements of a "quality" beam are: wide flood, smooth beam profile, good color reproduction, and usable power.
Wide Flood: If you follow the "80/20 rule," a floody beam is best for 80% of flashlight work. It's like camera companies trying to sell you more zoom when you really need wider angle. A highly concentrated beam is only good at one thing, distance, and if you are using the light up close that's bad. Every MCE and XML based light I make will throw light over 100m and provide a huge amount of flood.
Beam Profile:is the overall distribution of light within the beam. I insist that the beam have no dark shadows and a smooth transition from the center spot to the softer spill light. I tested nearly two dozen reflectors and optics before settling on the Ledil "Boom" reflector. Ledil is located in Finland and they only make one type of product...optics for LEDs. They really know their stuff. One of the most common pieces of feedback I get from customers (I'm paraphrasing) : "The Alpha has a better beam than any other light I've seen." Yep, that's the idea.
Color Reproduction: I say "color accuracy" and not "color rendering" because the latter is a technical term that can be measured by instruments. I also tested dozens of cool and neutral LED tints to select the ones that provide the most natural looking color at that particular temperature. LED lights have the reputation for ugly blue and purple beams, and that's because most manufacturers use the lowest possible quality (cheapest) LEDs. I only use the highest possible quality.
Usable Power: More power is not always better because it leads to shorter battery life and more heat. It's hard to explain the massive amounts of energy being released by these lights. People think LEDs "run cool" and that's just not the case at these power levels. You can find brighter lights but they are either much larger or will melt down in under 10 minutes. You can find lights that run longer but they are either much larger or they are much less powerful. The Alpha represents my ideal balance.
LED Options at a Glance
The spider chart and comparison table below help visualize your LED options at a glance.
Please see the next sections for detailed technical information and ANSI FL1 flashlight standards.
A lot of people write and ask what LED I recommend. Without question, I recommend the MCE 4500K Neutral White LED. If you are ordering a custom light you can select this option during checkout. All Ready-Made lights come with this LED.
- Generally speaking, the MCE produces a beautiful beam and runs for 1.5 hours on maximum power.
- The XML has more output, but it runs MUCH hotter and only gets 1 hour run time on maximum power.
- The XPG is ideal for those seeking maximum color rendering and a warm beam that is the same as incandescent, but it's much less powerful than it's siblings.

ANSI FL1 Standards for Flashlight Testing
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) released the FL1 standards for flashlight testing and reporting in 2009. The standard is voluntary, and adopted by companies committed to the accurate and responsible reporting of their products. These standards help consumers make "apples to apples" comparisons between flashlhts.
ANSI FL1 should also help consumers feel more confident that they are getting products that perform as advertised. Many less reputable companies in the flashlight industry exaggerate their product claims, so please look for ANSI standards when purchasing a flashlight.

Light Output:Total lumens measured between 30-120 seconds of powering on the flashlight. A lumen measures the total quantity of light emitted, and does not indicate anything about how that light is distributed within the beam. For example, a street light puts out a lot of lumens but they are not very focused. A laser puts out very few lumens but the beam is highly focused.

Run Time:The length of "continuous" run time until the light output drops to 10% of the original value recorded. Please note that "intermittent" use will greatly increase the cumulative run time of a flashlight. The Alpha also has a low battery warning (light shifts to low and strobes once per second) that will activate at 3.2V. The light will be delivering more than 10% brightness at this time, but further discharge from this state may permanently damage the battery. The Alpha's run time is measured until the low voltage warning activates, not until 10% of original brightness.

Beam Distance: The distance in meters where the flashlight produces a light intensity equal to the illumination provided by a full moon on a clear night (.25lux). The value is calculated (based on peak beam intensity) because it cannot be effectively measured outdoors due to things like differing atmospheric conditions.

Peak Beam Intensity:Measured in candela, this is the brightest area of the beam measured at 1m...typically at the center. The candela is a unit of measure that replaces candlepower. This measurement should not be confused with light output (lumens). This value is used to calculate the maximum beam distance.

Impact Resistance:A light must survive a drop onto concrete from this height. In order to pass the test, the sample must be dropped on all 6 sides and the light tested for function after each drop. Cosmetic damage is not a factor in this test. This does not mean the light is guaranteed to repeated drops "in the real world" but rather that (on average) it is likely to survive.

Water Resistance:Measured in meters, this rating breaks down into three categories: water resistant IPX4 (splashing water), water proof IPX7 (submerged @ 1m for 30 min), and submersible IPX8 (submerged @ > 1m for 4 hours). Most hand-held flashlights have IPX4 or IPX7 ratings.
MC18-B (Cree MCE LED)
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COOL WHITE (6500K) |
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NEUTRAL WHITE (4500K) |


About the Cree MCE:
The MCE features 4 LED dies clustered onto one chip. This makes a very powerful light, but because of the large surface area, is best suited to "flood" applications. Generally speaking, the larger the emitter area, the "floodier" the beam.
The MCE is an older technology that the XML, but for a small hand-held light I think it's a superior LED. The XML is brighter, but it just can't beat the MCE for beam quality and color accuracy. It also costs 3X as much as the XML and is one reason flashlight manufacturers are eagerly embracing the newer XML. I'd be happy to put that extra $10 in my pocket, but it just doesn't make a better flashlight.

The MCE beam profile:
A "good" beam profile means a smooth transition from hotspot to spill and no artifacts (shadows) anywhere in the beam. The MCE, coupled with the Ledil Boom reflector produces and ideal beam profile. In fact the "perfection" of the beam profile is one of the most frequently celebrated characteristics of the Alpha.
This type of "flood" beam is ideal for general purpose and indoor use. When researching lights, most people focus on lumens (brightness) and throw (distance). This might be fun, but it doesn't necessarily make the most usable flashlight. If you had to choose between a top fuel dragster and a BMW M3 as a daily driver, which one would you pick?
A floody light is better for 80% of general use and a throwy beam...the other 20%. For my money, I spend it on the 80% use case. The Alpha is intended to be the best flashlight, not the brightest.

Comparing high, medium and low modes:
Most people think of mode selection as brightness selection. However, I suggest that you also think of it as a battery management feature. Medium runs for more than 5 hours and still puts out over 170 lumens.
On low (and in person) the low mode is plenty bright for indoor navigation and is effective outdoors to about 10 feet. High mode is ridiculously bright, especially indoors. Most of the time it's too bright...but it's there when you need it.

Color temperature and color rendering (mouse over the image to alternate):
Most people think that LEDs produce a very cold blue or purplish light. This is true of low quality LEDs you find in inexpensive lights. My lights do NOT produce a blue/purple light because I request specific "tint bins" from my supplier. This also means the LEDs I use are considerably more expensive.
The scene above is lit ONLY with the MC18-B. There is no ambient light. The camera white balance is set to "daylight" mode.
Cool White (6500K)
The MCE produces an extremely crisp cool-white beam in the 6500K tint. The color accuracy is superior to the XML. If you are in the market for a perfect beam profile and lots of lumens, choose the cool MCE.
Neutral White (4500K) "MAKER'S CHOICE"
The neutral MCE is absolutely gorgeous. I said it, gorgeous. It provides excellent color rendering while chucking out a darkness-punishing number of lumens.
My theory is, over thousands of years our human visual systems have adapted to take advantage of the only light source available after dark...fire. Even a typical incandescent bulb produces the same color light as a candle.
It's only since the advent of the LED that we can produce daylight 6500K...at night...and my experience says that our brains have a harder time with object recognition and eye strain when using cool light at night.
XM18-B (Cree XML LED)
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COOL WHITE (6500K) |
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NEUTRAL WHITE (4500K) |


About the Cree XML:
The XML is Cree's newest, most efficient, and most powerful LED. It features a single large LED die (as opposed the the 4 dies of the MCE) and has a smaller overall surface area. This means, coupled with the same Boom reflector, the XML will have a slightly brighter and more intense hot spot compared to the MCE.
The XML's efficiency has two drawbacks. First, increased heat. More efficiency means the LED can draw maximum current from the battery for a longer period of time...this translates to more heat. This also means the XML will drain your battery faster than the MCE.
Im practice, the XML is best suited to use cases that require short bursts of light rather than long continuous operation.

The XML beam profile:(the image above is grey-scale to highlight variations in intensity)
A "good" beam profile means a smooth transition from hotspot to spill and no artifacts (shadows) anywhere in the beam. The XML (with Boom reflector) produces an excellent beam profile, but not as smooth as the MCE. The XML also has a center spot that is a significantly different color than the spill. This "tint shift" is observed in every XML-based light I've seen.
The XML does produce a noticeably more intense hot spot, due primarily to the smaller surface area of the die. I would still consider this a "flood" type light but it's got little more punch than the MCE.
A floody light is better for 80% of general use and a throwy beam...the other 20%. For my money, I spend it on the 80% use case. The Alpha is intended to be the best flashlight, not the brightest.

Comparing high, medium and low modes:
Most people think of mode selection as brightness selection. However, I suggest that you also think of it as a battery management feature. Medium runs for more than 3 hours and still puts out over 230 lumens.
On low (and in person) the low mode is plenty bright for indoor navigation and is effective outdoors to about 10 feet. High mode is ridiculously bright, especially indoors. Most of the time it's too bright...but it's there when you need it.

Color temperature and color rendering (mouse over the image to alternate):
Most people think that LEDs produce a very cold blue or purplish light. This is true of low quality LEDs you find in inexpensive lights. My lights do NOT produce a blue/purple light because I request specific "tint bins" from my supplier. This also means the LEDs I use are considerably more expensive.
The scene above is lit ONLY with the XM18-B. There is no ambient light. The camera white balance is set to "daylight" mode.
Cool White (6500K)
So, color rendering in cool white tint...did I mention the XML is really bright? If you want good color rendering, the XML is not for you. I'm not sure if anyone else will say this...but the color rendering of the XML is (in my opinion) really poor.
p class="text">This is because the XML has a significant "tint shift" from the center of the beam to the edge. The center spot is the correct tint, surround by a yellow/green corona, and then tapering out to blue/purple at the edges. All XMLs exhibit this shift and it's most noticeable in the cool tints.Yes, you are detecting a hint of green. I don't want it to be there...but it is. This is a "1C" bin XML which is the "best" white tint bin that is readily available...and it's still green...just barely.
Neutral White (4500K)
The neutral XML is actually quite good in terms of color rendering and tint. However, you still get the "tint shift" at the edges of the beam. In practice it's less pronounced than with the cool white XML. If you need a little more oomf than the MCE can provide, I'm actually happy to recommend the neutral XML...if you can accept 50% less run time and way more heat. Neutral LEDs are not as bright as their cooler brethren, but the slightly warm tint is better suited to our night vision.
My theory is, over thousands of years our human visual systems have adapted to take advantage of the only light source available after dark...fire. Even a typical incandescent bulb produces the same color light as a candle.
It's only since the advent of the LED that we can produce daylight 6500K...at night...and my experience says that our brains have a harder time with object recognition and eye strain when using cool light at night.
NC18-B (Nichia 219 High CRI LED)
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COOL WHITE (6500K) |


About the Nichia 219:
The Nichia 219 High CRI (Color Rendering Index) is specifically designed to deliver accurate color rendering to the human visual system. It is the most powerful High CRI LED on the market. On a scale of 1-100 it scores a 93+. The LED tint is neutral white and comes in a CCT (Correlated Color Temperature) of 4500K.
Unlike the more powerful cousins, the NC18-B uses a 1.4 Amp (vs. 2.8A) driver that provides double the run-time and can be operated indefinitely without concern for excessive heat build up.
This light is designed specifically for professional use. The NC18-B is an ideal choice for people whose lives and/or jobs depend on superior color rendering accuracy. A few examples include outdoor chefs, fashion designers, interior designers, doctors, EMT's, photographers, wildlife biologists, film makers, aircraft mechanics, airline pilots, building inspectors, contractors, crime scene investigators, detectives, etc.

The Nichia 219 beam profile(the image above is grey-scale to highlight variations in intensity)
A "good" beam profile means a smooth transition from hotspot to spill and no artifacts (shadows) anywhere in the beam. Again, the Boom reflector and the Nichia 219 produces an excellent profile. The hotspot is quite small because of the small surface area of the 219's die. However, the 219 is driven at 1/2 the current (Amps) compared to the MCE and XML. This means less intensity and fewer overall lumens. I still consider this a "floody" light.
A floody light is better for 80% of general use and a throwy beam...the other 20%. For my money, I spend it on the 80% use case. The Alpha is intended to be the best flashlight, not the brightest.

Comparing high, medium and low modes:
Even though the NC18-B is the least powerful light in my lineup, it's still brighter than 95% of readily available flashlights. The main advantage (besides color rendering) is that this light will run for 2 hours on high, and will never get too hot to hold, because the LED is only driven at 1/2 the current of the MCE or XML.
You can also grill a steak in the back yard and tell what it actually looks like. I don't know if you've ever tried to check your rib eye while wearing a headlamp (extremely cold color) but it makes your hard work look like zombie meat. Fun at halloween but not good when you are trying to tell the difference between medium and medium-rare.
This light is also intended for close-up work where excessive brightness can actually be a handicap.

Neutral White (4500K)Color temperature and color rendering :
The scene is lit ONLY with the NC18-B. There is no ambient light. The camera white balance is set to "daylight" mode.
The Nichia 219 is truly a stunning LED. Once you try it, it will be hard to go back to anything else. Your brain might not be able to tell the difference by reading my words, but your eyes will be amazed every time you turn this light on. If you demand the best color accuracy and don't care about insane output, this is an excellent choice.
While this is an unusual color temperature for an LED, you'll become accustomed to the different tint in a couple of days. These beamshots look a little "brown" but in person, you can tell the color accuracy and vibrance is quite high. If you are considering the Nichia 219 High CRI; congratulations, you're officially a flashlight geek :)
ALPHA FLASHLIGHT LED OPTIONS AND PERFORMANCE
All Prometheus Lights ratings are based on ANSI FL1 Standards
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MCE 6500K (cool) |
800+L |
1hr:30m 4hr:00m 15hr:00m |
118m | 3500 cd | 2m | 100m |
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MCE 4500K (neutral) |
700+L |
1hr:30m 4hr:00m 15hr:00m |
109m | 2900 cd | 2m | 100m | |
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XML 6500K (cool) |
900+L |
1hr:00m 3hr:30m 11hr:00m |
158m | 6200 cd | 2m | 100m |
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XML 4500K (neutral) |
800+L |
1hr:00m 3hr:30m 11hr:00m |
127m | 4000 cd | 2m | 100m | |
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Nichia 219C HCRI 4000K (neutral) |
500+L |
1hr:00m 3hr:30m 11hr:00m |
96m | 2300 cd | 2m | 100m |
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"LED Options" | A quick note about visual appearance... Every custom flashlight is designed, machined, finished, assembled, and tested in my shop. We use state of the art CNC machines, but a significant amount of hand finishing and assembly goes into each light. As a natural result, each light exhibits some cosmetic variation from one to another. Each light has its own character. I do not intentionally remove "machining marks" from the lights because I like to retain some evidence of the process. I actually think machining marks are beautiful because they explain how the light was made. Each light has an experience and history even before it arrives in your mailbox, and some show it more than others. During production, a light might receive a small nick, ding, or scuff. Aluminum is incredibly soft and it's very difficult to get a light through the dozens of manufacturing steps without a blemish of some sort. Sometimes a metal chip will get stuck between the part and the vise and leave a little dent. Even the paper transport cartons will scratch a polished or sand blasted finish before it's been plated. When all the machining and finishing work is done, these lights are electroless nickel plated by a local plating company (sometimes dings occur here). This coating is extremely hard and wear resistant and will protect the light from now on, but at this stage any imperfections have been permanently "sealed" into the finish. The point of all this is you should not expect to receive a light that is 100% cosmetically perfect. That's just not how low volume manufacturing works. If you can't accept this degree of uncertainty, you should stick with mass-produced brand ;). |
Battery | Single 18650 lithium-ion (4.2V) | |
Cree MCE led (cool wht) | (Flux bin "M")(Tint Bin "WC" 6500K) | |
Cree MCE led (neutral wht) | (Flux bin "K")(Tint Bin "4A" 4500K) | |
Cree XML2 led (cool wht) | (Flux bin "U2")(Tint Bin "1C" 6500K) | |
Cree XML2 led (neutral wht) | (Flux bin "T5")(Tint Bin "4C" 4500K) | |
Nichia 219C High-CRI led | (NVSL219C R9050)(4000K) | |
MCE output (cool wht) | ~800+ lumens OTF (minimum) | |
MCE output (neutral wht) | ~700+ lumens OTF (minimum) | |
XML output (cool wht) | ~900+ lumens OTF (minimum) | |
XML output (neutral wht) | ~800+ lumens OTF (minimum) | |
Nichia 219 output | ~500+ lumens OTF (minimum) | |
3.4A regulated driver | "Icarus" Proprietary Driver (4.2V input) Programmable | |
driver UI | Fully User Programmable | |
run times (est.) | Burst = 60min, High =84min, Medium =480min, Low = 2800min![]() |
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reflector | Ledil Boom MC-S (Spot)(Angle = FWHM 20°) ![]() |
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window (lens) | 98% UCL glass (2 side AR coated) ![]() |
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thermal interface | Bergquist Bond-Ply 100 ![]() |
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clicky switch | McClicky "forward" click switch (it's famous!) | |
switch boot | Molded silicone | |
wire | Mil-spec silver plated 24 AWG, teflon coated | |
solder | Silver Solder (RoHS compliant) ![]() |
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body material | 6061-T6 aluminum | |
Coating | Electroless Nickel (Hardness: 48-50 Rc) ![]() |
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driver mount (Blue-Label) | C101 Oxy-free electronic copper (H02 99% pure) | |
driver mount (Ready-Made) | 6061-T6 aluminum (EN plated) | |
o-rings (Blue-Label) | Mil-Spec Fluorosilicone (70 Durometer Shore A) ![]() |
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o-rings (Ready-Made) | Buna-N "Nitrile" (50 Durometer Shore A) | |
threads | Body-to-head (1x28) body-to-tail (7/8x28) | |
lubricant | StClaire Nano-Oil (10 Wt.) ![]() |
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dimensions | 1.2" x 5.75" (body dia. is 1") | |
weight | 4.79oz (136.1g) No Battery | |
ANSI thead tolerance (Blue-Label) | Class III A/B | |
ANSI thead tolerance (Ready-Made) | Class II A/B | |
depth rating | 300 feet for 5 hours (tested!) ![]() |

The Alpha Series is very small and very powerful.