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Crelant has long been a leader in producing large high-end lights that excel in long-distance throw. Their popular 7G5 has seen many upgrades over the years (see my review of the 7G5CS U3), and now they've stuck a bigger emitter in it: the Cree MT-G2. The MT-G emitter has long been known for it's extremely high output (at the cost of some efficiency, compared to an XM-L), and now that Cree's upgraded it to the MT-G2, Crelant has found it worthy of inclusion in the 7G5 line as the Crelant 7G5MT T-Rex.
Thanks to Crelant and MD Lightsource for providing the 7G5MT for review.
I'll be reviewing the 7G5MT in two sections: first, I'll discuss the light objectively (the facts about the light itself), then I'll discuss the light subjectively (my impressions about the light's performance when used for specific applications). If you have any other specific applications you'd like the light tested for, let me know and I'll see what I can do.
Video Review
Below is a video review of the 7G5MT. Due to my old image hosting site closing down, I've got new restrictions on image uploads and have replaced the "Construction" section of my reviews with a more detailed video review.
This video is available in 1080p HD, but defaults to a lower quality. To select the playback quality click the settings button (looks like a gear) after you've started the video.
Objective
Manufacturer's Specifications
Price: 130 USD
Dimensions
User Interface
The user interface of the 7G5MT is very similar to that of other recent Crelant models, with some slight modification.
The 7G5MT has two switches: the electronic side switch and the rear mechanical switch. The rear switch controls only on/off, and the side switch controls the output level.
The rear switch is a very simple design, slightly different from industry norm (though there are certainly other lights that have used it). It's a simple pushbutton switch, where when the button is pushed then power is sent to the light, and when it's not pushed there is a physical gap that prevents the light from turning on. Screwing the switch cap all the way down forces the switch to be held against it's contact point. So, you can push the switch for a momentary on that will turn back off when you release pressure, or you can screw the cap down for constant on until you loosen the cap (or go into standby mode). Also, you loosen or tighten the cap to bring the switch further from or closer to it's contact point, effectively increasing or decreasing the pressure it takes to push the button. Loosening the cap enough will lockout the light, so that the light cannot be accidentally activated by pushing the button.
Once the rear switch is engaged, the light is controlled by the side switch. The light always comes on in Max output mode. It has two user-adjustable preset settings, and standby mode. Once the light is on, clicking the side switch once will advance you through the cycle Preset 1 -> Preset 2 -> Standby (Off). Preset 1 defaults to Max output, Preset 2 defaults to about 5% max output. Clicking the switch twice quickly will activate Strobe mode, and doing that again will activate SOS mode.
The two preset modes have infinite variability, which can be set by the user. When in one of the preset modes, press the side switch and hold down, and the light will begin to ramp down in brightness until it gets to it's minimum (about .5 lumens), then will ramp back up to max output. At any time you can release the switch, and that will set the preset mode to that brightness. Both Preset 1 and Preset 2 can be set to any brightness you want, and these presets will be remembered for as long as the rear switch is engaged. When the rear switch is released, they will revert to their default settings of Max and ~5%. So, if you want the 7G5MT to remember your presets, go into Standby mode when you need the light off instead of turning it off by the rear switch. If you plan to store the light for a while without using it, turn off the light by loosening the tail cap and remember that your presets will revert to their default settings.
Action Shots
You can click on any of these shots to see them full size.
Light in Hand
BeamSlice
MugShot
White Wall (Min, Preset Medium, Max)
ISO 100, f/3.3, 1/20"
Indoor Shots (Min, Preset Medium, Max)
ISO 100, f/3.3, 1"
Outdoor Shots (Min, Preset Medium, Max)
ISO 100, f/3.3, 2.5"
Long-Range Shots (Max)
ISO 100, f/3.3, 5"
Performance
Submersion: I submersed the 7G5MT under a foot of water for about an hour, clicking the switch several times. I found no evidence of water entering or damaging the light.
Heat: The T-Rex get's pretty hot if you let it sit on a table after about 20 minutes, but if you are holding it near the head the whole time it doesn't get much more than warm.
PWM: I cannot detect any use of pulse-width modulation, even during the output ramping.
Drop: I dropped the 7G5MT from about a meter onto various surfaces (including grass, carpet, dirt, and hard wood), and found no cosmetic or functional damage.
Reverse Polarity Protection: Crelant makes no claim that I can find for reverse polarity protection, and the springs on both sides will ensure physical contact, so I recommend being careful to insert batteries correctly.
Over-Discharge Protection: Being made to accept CR123's as well, the 7G5MT will run a battery all the way down, so be sure your Li-Ions have built-in protection circuits, and the significant decrease in max brightness is your cue to recharge them (see runtime graph).
Spectral Analysis
All light that we see as white is actually made up of several different colors put together. The relative intensities of the different colors in the mix are what determine the tint of the white we see. For example, cool white LED's have a lot of blue, and warm white LED's have more red or yellow. This measurement was done on a home made spectrometer. The plot below the picture is corrected for the spectral sensitivity of the human eye. Note: the peak in the 900nm region doesn't really exist, it's a piece of the second-order spectrum that's showing up here because of the high intensity of the light source.
Output and Runtime
ANSI FL-1 runtime ratings are the time it takes for a light to fall to 10% of it's original output (counting from 30 seconds after turning the light on).
The vertical axis of the graphs below represents a relative brightness measurement using a home made light box. The horizontal axis is time in hours:minutes:seconds. Runtimes are stated in hours:minutes:seconds. These graphs may be truncated to show detail.
Mode Comparison
Max
Preset Medium
I apologize for the gap in the data, my equipment shut down for a time during the test. However, you can imagine the general trend of a line filling in that gap without too much trouble
.
Throwing Distance
ANSI FL-1 standard for stating a light's throwing distance is the distance at which the peak beam intensity (usually at the center of the beam) is 0.25 lux. I calculate throwing distance and candela (lux at 1 meter) by measuring peak beam intensity at five different distances and using the formula lux*distance^2=constant.
Peak Beam Intensity: 22,913cd
Throw Distance: 303m
Note, this is significantly better than spec given by Crelant (180m).
Subjective Review
Quick break down:
+ Very warm tint
+ One of the brightest single-emitter lights available
+ Great output range (.5 to 1346 lumens!)
+ Two infinitely variable user-selectable output modes
+ Side switch, as necessary for this shape of light
+ Looks impressive
+ Accepts both lithium-ion and lithium batteries
+ Is called the "T-Rex"
+ A 7G5 iteration with flood
+ Large heat fins
- Very little regulation
- Doesn't hit the claimed 1860 lumens
- Less throw than similar lights (and previous 7G5 iterations)
So, if you're familiar with Crelant's 7G5 series, you'll know that the original 7G5 was "king of throw" in it's day, being one of the best reflector-based lights for long distance throwing, and subsequent 7G5 models followed that pattern. With the 7G5MT, Crelant has deviated from that by subbing in a Cree MT-G2 emitter instead of an XM-L or XM-L2. The MT-G2 emitter has a larger surface area, so it puts out more light overall, but is farther from being the "ideal point source". As a larger emitter, the MT-G2 would require a larger reflector to focus it to the same degree as the smaller XM-L, so by using a larger emitter with the same size reflector, the 7G5MT becomes a more floody light. Whether this is a positive or a negative for you depends on your intended use for the light. The previous version the 7G5CS U3, has a lower overall output, but throws to about 575m, compared to the 7G5MT's 303m. So, if you want max throw, you'll want to pick a different light, but if you like a good balance of throw and flood, the 7G5MT can do that very well.
The 7G5MT uses the same sort of UI as other recent Crelants, with two output modes that are user-selectable from an infinitely variable range. The method of choosing the output is a bit cumbersome compared to modern control-ring lights, because it requires you to hold down on the button and wait as it cycles through the whole range. This means the best way I've found to use it is to pre-select the outputs you'll need before you begin your task, and go into Standby mode instead of turning off the light using the rear switch. The only exception for this has been for tasks where I would rather have brief bursts of full output, so I use the tail switch instead and don't worry about adjusting the presets. The ramping of the infinite variability is pretty smooth for the most part, and it does pause at the min and max output which is extremly useful (I've had similar lights that didn't stop at the bottom, which makes it very hard to get low outputs). I like that the flashy modes are hidden, and I haven't activated by accident. I've really liked the UI of the 7G5MT, and I don't really see much I'd do differently short of adding a control ring.
I also really appreciate the feel of the T-Rex. It's got a good weight, and it fits just right in my hand, with the rubber grip ring in the rear being in just the right spot to keep it from sliding out of my grip. The rear switch also has that feel that says "this will last a long time". A light this size needs a side switch in order to be carried comfortably for a longer amount of time, and this has one.
My biggest complaint about the 7G5MT is that it isn't regulated, and doesn't reach the numbers Crelant claims for max output. Even if Crelant was going by "emitter lumens" or, heaven forbid, Cree's output vs. current charts, my measurements are far enough from what was claimed that I actually checked on a second unit (and got the same numbers). Of course my measurement is going to be less accurate here than for mid-range lights, so I'll give them a bit of leeway, but it was just a bit disappointing. That being said, it's still the brightest single-emitter LED light I've reviewed, and practically the extra lumens really aren't necessary.
It's also worth mentioning that the tint on the T-Rex was amazing, and so much so that I wondered if I had been sent some sort of warm version (which might also explain the lack of lumens). It accepts both lithium and lithium ion batteries, so you can pick up some CR123's if you need to, which isn't true for all lights in this class. The large heat fins do a great job of moving heat away from the emitter and into the air, which is crucial at these output levels. And, it's called the T-Rex.
So, overall the 7G5MT is a very impressive light, and I'd rank it as a leader in the 2x18650 class. It does fill a special niche there, being single emitter and plunger-style but still a bit floody, so as I said, if you want a slightly floodier light this is great, otherwise check out something like the 7G5CS. The UI is about as good as it gets without a control ring, and the build quality is great. If you don't mind the lack of regulation, the T-Rex is a very good pick.
Long Term Impressions
I'll fill this part in after carrying the light for a while. If nothing get's added here, either I find nothing else worth noting about the light, or I end up not using it often.
Don't forget to click "Like" after the page loads!
Crelant has long been a leader in producing large high-end lights that excel in long-distance throw. Their popular 7G5 has seen many upgrades over the years (see my review of the 7G5CS U3), and now they've stuck a bigger emitter in it: the Cree MT-G2. The MT-G emitter has long been known for it's extremely high output (at the cost of some efficiency, compared to an XM-L), and now that Cree's upgraded it to the MT-G2, Crelant has found it worthy of inclusion in the 7G5 line as the Crelant 7G5MT T-Rex.
Thanks to Crelant and MD Lightsource for providing the 7G5MT for review.
I'll be reviewing the 7G5MT in two sections: first, I'll discuss the light objectively (the facts about the light itself), then I'll discuss the light subjectively (my impressions about the light's performance when used for specific applications). If you have any other specific applications you'd like the light tested for, let me know and I'll see what I can do.
Video Review
Below is a video review of the 7G5MT. Due to my old image hosting site closing down, I've got new restrictions on image uploads and have replaced the "Construction" section of my reviews with a more detailed video review.
This video is available in 1080p HD, but defaults to a lower quality. To select the playback quality click the settings button (looks like a gear) after you've started the video.
Objective
Manufacturer's Specifications
Price: 130 USD
Dimensions
User Interface
The user interface of the 7G5MT is very similar to that of other recent Crelant models, with some slight modification.
The 7G5MT has two switches: the electronic side switch and the rear mechanical switch. The rear switch controls only on/off, and the side switch controls the output level.
The rear switch is a very simple design, slightly different from industry norm (though there are certainly other lights that have used it). It's a simple pushbutton switch, where when the button is pushed then power is sent to the light, and when it's not pushed there is a physical gap that prevents the light from turning on. Screwing the switch cap all the way down forces the switch to be held against it's contact point. So, you can push the switch for a momentary on that will turn back off when you release pressure, or you can screw the cap down for constant on until you loosen the cap (or go into standby mode). Also, you loosen or tighten the cap to bring the switch further from or closer to it's contact point, effectively increasing or decreasing the pressure it takes to push the button. Loosening the cap enough will lockout the light, so that the light cannot be accidentally activated by pushing the button.
Once the rear switch is engaged, the light is controlled by the side switch. The light always comes on in Max output mode. It has two user-adjustable preset settings, and standby mode. Once the light is on, clicking the side switch once will advance you through the cycle Preset 1 -> Preset 2 -> Standby (Off). Preset 1 defaults to Max output, Preset 2 defaults to about 5% max output. Clicking the switch twice quickly will activate Strobe mode, and doing that again will activate SOS mode.
The two preset modes have infinite variability, which can be set by the user. When in one of the preset modes, press the side switch and hold down, and the light will begin to ramp down in brightness until it gets to it's minimum (about .5 lumens), then will ramp back up to max output. At any time you can release the switch, and that will set the preset mode to that brightness. Both Preset 1 and Preset 2 can be set to any brightness you want, and these presets will be remembered for as long as the rear switch is engaged. When the rear switch is released, they will revert to their default settings of Max and ~5%. So, if you want the 7G5MT to remember your presets, go into Standby mode when you need the light off instead of turning it off by the rear switch. If you plan to store the light for a while without using it, turn off the light by loosening the tail cap and remember that your presets will revert to their default settings.
Action Shots
You can click on any of these shots to see them full size.
Light in Hand
BeamSlice
MugShot
White Wall (Min, Preset Medium, Max)
ISO 100, f/3.3, 1/20"
Indoor Shots (Min, Preset Medium, Max)
ISO 100, f/3.3, 1"
Outdoor Shots (Min, Preset Medium, Max)
ISO 100, f/3.3, 2.5"
Long-Range Shots (Max)
ISO 100, f/3.3, 5"
Performance
Submersion: I submersed the 7G5MT under a foot of water for about an hour, clicking the switch several times. I found no evidence of water entering or damaging the light.
Heat: The T-Rex get's pretty hot if you let it sit on a table after about 20 minutes, but if you are holding it near the head the whole time it doesn't get much more than warm.
PWM: I cannot detect any use of pulse-width modulation, even during the output ramping.
Drop: I dropped the 7G5MT from about a meter onto various surfaces (including grass, carpet, dirt, and hard wood), and found no cosmetic or functional damage.
Reverse Polarity Protection: Crelant makes no claim that I can find for reverse polarity protection, and the springs on both sides will ensure physical contact, so I recommend being careful to insert batteries correctly.
Over-Discharge Protection: Being made to accept CR123's as well, the 7G5MT will run a battery all the way down, so be sure your Li-Ions have built-in protection circuits, and the significant decrease in max brightness is your cue to recharge them (see runtime graph).
Spectral Analysis
All light that we see as white is actually made up of several different colors put together. The relative intensities of the different colors in the mix are what determine the tint of the white we see. For example, cool white LED's have a lot of blue, and warm white LED's have more red or yellow. This measurement was done on a home made spectrometer. The plot below the picture is corrected for the spectral sensitivity of the human eye. Note: the peak in the 900nm region doesn't really exist, it's a piece of the second-order spectrum that's showing up here because of the high intensity of the light source.
Output and Runtime
ANSI FL-1 runtime ratings are the time it takes for a light to fall to 10% of it's original output (counting from 30 seconds after turning the light on).
The vertical axis of the graphs below represents a relative brightness measurement using a home made light box. The horizontal axis is time in hours:minutes:seconds. Runtimes are stated in hours:minutes:seconds. These graphs may be truncated to show detail.
Mode Comparison
Max
Preset Medium
I apologize for the gap in the data, my equipment shut down for a time during the test. However, you can imagine the general trend of a line filling in that gap without too much trouble
.Throwing Distance
ANSI FL-1 standard for stating a light's throwing distance is the distance at which the peak beam intensity (usually at the center of the beam) is 0.25 lux. I calculate throwing distance and candela (lux at 1 meter) by measuring peak beam intensity at five different distances and using the formula lux*distance^2=constant.
Peak Beam Intensity: 22,913cd
Throw Distance: 303m
Note, this is significantly better than spec given by Crelant (180m).
Subjective Review
Quick break down:
+ Very warm tint
+ One of the brightest single-emitter lights available
+ Great output range (.5 to 1346 lumens!)
+ Two infinitely variable user-selectable output modes
+ Side switch, as necessary for this shape of light
+ Looks impressive
+ Accepts both lithium-ion and lithium batteries
+ Is called the "T-Rex"
+ A 7G5 iteration with flood
+ Large heat fins
- Very little regulation
- Doesn't hit the claimed 1860 lumens
- Less throw than similar lights (and previous 7G5 iterations)
So, if you're familiar with Crelant's 7G5 series, you'll know that the original 7G5 was "king of throw" in it's day, being one of the best reflector-based lights for long distance throwing, and subsequent 7G5 models followed that pattern. With the 7G5MT, Crelant has deviated from that by subbing in a Cree MT-G2 emitter instead of an XM-L or XM-L2. The MT-G2 emitter has a larger surface area, so it puts out more light overall, but is farther from being the "ideal point source". As a larger emitter, the MT-G2 would require a larger reflector to focus it to the same degree as the smaller XM-L, so by using a larger emitter with the same size reflector, the 7G5MT becomes a more floody light. Whether this is a positive or a negative for you depends on your intended use for the light. The previous version the 7G5CS U3, has a lower overall output, but throws to about 575m, compared to the 7G5MT's 303m. So, if you want max throw, you'll want to pick a different light, but if you like a good balance of throw and flood, the 7G5MT can do that very well.
The 7G5MT uses the same sort of UI as other recent Crelants, with two output modes that are user-selectable from an infinitely variable range. The method of choosing the output is a bit cumbersome compared to modern control-ring lights, because it requires you to hold down on the button and wait as it cycles through the whole range. This means the best way I've found to use it is to pre-select the outputs you'll need before you begin your task, and go into Standby mode instead of turning off the light using the rear switch. The only exception for this has been for tasks where I would rather have brief bursts of full output, so I use the tail switch instead and don't worry about adjusting the presets. The ramping of the infinite variability is pretty smooth for the most part, and it does pause at the min and max output which is extremly useful (I've had similar lights that didn't stop at the bottom, which makes it very hard to get low outputs). I like that the flashy modes are hidden, and I haven't activated by accident. I've really liked the UI of the 7G5MT, and I don't really see much I'd do differently short of adding a control ring.
I also really appreciate the feel of the T-Rex. It's got a good weight, and it fits just right in my hand, with the rubber grip ring in the rear being in just the right spot to keep it from sliding out of my grip. The rear switch also has that feel that says "this will last a long time". A light this size needs a side switch in order to be carried comfortably for a longer amount of time, and this has one.
My biggest complaint about the 7G5MT is that it isn't regulated, and doesn't reach the numbers Crelant claims for max output. Even if Crelant was going by "emitter lumens" or, heaven forbid, Cree's output vs. current charts, my measurements are far enough from what was claimed that I actually checked on a second unit (and got the same numbers). Of course my measurement is going to be less accurate here than for mid-range lights, so I'll give them a bit of leeway, but it was just a bit disappointing. That being said, it's still the brightest single-emitter LED light I've reviewed, and practically the extra lumens really aren't necessary.
It's also worth mentioning that the tint on the T-Rex was amazing, and so much so that I wondered if I had been sent some sort of warm version (which might also explain the lack of lumens). It accepts both lithium and lithium ion batteries, so you can pick up some CR123's if you need to, which isn't true for all lights in this class. The large heat fins do a great job of moving heat away from the emitter and into the air, which is crucial at these output levels. And, it's called the T-Rex.
So, overall the 7G5MT is a very impressive light, and I'd rank it as a leader in the 2x18650 class. It does fill a special niche there, being single emitter and plunger-style but still a bit floody, so as I said, if you want a slightly floodier light this is great, otherwise check out something like the 7G5CS. The UI is about as good as it gets without a control ring, and the build quality is great. If you don't mind the lack of regulation, the T-Rex is a very good pick.
Long Term Impressions
I'll fill this part in after carrying the light for a while. If nothing get's added here, either I find nothing else worth noting about the light, or I end up not using it often.
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