 EDITED June 2 2003
With fresh batteries, the Photon 2 is bright as, or even brighter than the ARC-AAA. Because of the size and weight, it does not get in the way when clipped on to key holders etc. You just squeeze the body to activate so it can be lit quickly. Simply slide the switch for continuous use.
The Photon 2 does not have a circuit to keep the brightness at a certain
level like the Arc-AAA and will gradually dim after using it for a while.
When you open the body, you will notice that the internal mechanism is
extremely simple (it is so simple that you may start to wonder about the
pricing). It is designed so the LED 'leg' makes contact directly with the
battery. Not even a single resistor is used. Though I sometimes mistakenly
drop it into water, thanks to the simple mechanism, drying and changing
batteries will make it work again. I once experienced flickering in the
light and found that the LED 'leg' was rusty. Again, just removing the
rust solved this. Though this should be done completely at your own risk, changing the LED is easier than other lights.
You should be careful when replacing batteries and during maintenance, though. You must remove the screw holding the body together and this screw is small. Also, the switch for continuous use is not just small but also transparent and easily lost. For this reason, there is a high risk that you will lose parts when trying to replace drained batteries in a car or outdoors. The job is recommended to be done carefully indoors under sufficient light.
Another concern is that because the LED protrudes from the body, it is easy to look directly at it. The light will come close to the face for close-up work, so depending on the angle, this may be annoying.
Among the many keychain type lights, the Photon 2 is superior for it's
size and weight. Though the Nichia LED makes them quite bright, unfortunately
they are rather over priced in Japan.
(This review was written based on the Photon2. It does not apply to the Photon3)
Note: Presently at April 2002, the Photon 3 has been released in this series.
You seem to be able to change several light patterns (e.g. blinking signals
to call for help etc.) with the Photon 3. The water resistance has also
improved.
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