(Hit the Full Screen button to enlarge the photos)

The 2013 Bike lights are here and we have four methods of testing and quantifying each light:

1) Photographing them in a controlled environment using a good camera in manual mode, identical settings.

2) Measuring the ambient lux in a controlled room with the light and meter pointed at the ceiling.

3) Measuring the lumen output of each light using a certified and calibrated integrating sphere.

4) Riding each light on the trail and giving riding impressions.

This is section 1 of the review and it displays the beam pattern photos for each light. We photographed the lights in the same location setting with the same camera settings. The photos were taken in the back yard that is approximately 25 yards long. These photos feature many objects and a distinct background to analyze detail and beam pattern.

The camera settings we used are the following:
  • Camera: Olympus OM-D
  • Setting: Full manual
  • ISO: 200
  • Exposure: 1.6 seconds
  • Aperture: F4.0
  • Focus: Manual
  • White Balance: Daylight
  • Quality: Jpeg High

Backyard beam photo gallery - Please note that the thumbnails are square and don't show the width of the beam pattern. Click on the thumbnail to see the wide photo.


Related Links
All Mtbr Lights Shootout Articles »
2013 Bike Lights Shootout »
2013 Tunnel Beam Pattern Comparisons »
2013 Backyard Beam Pattern Comparisons »
2013 Mtbr Lux measurements »
2013 Mtbr Lumen Tests »
2012 Bike Lights Shootout »
Mtbr Lights Reviews »
Mtbr Lights Forum »

Next Page - Mtbr Lab Measurements

The light output measurement is performed by placing a Lux light meter beside the light. Both are pointed at the ceiling (five feet above) of a dark room. This measurement uses the ambient light produced by the bike light. We found this to be the most effective and repeatable measure of each light.

Pointing the light directly at the meter produced varying readings depending on exactly where the light beam was centered. Also, it was highly dependent on how focused the beam pattern was. Thus we chose the ambient light measurement test as the most effective for evaluating these lights.

Mtbr Lux Graph



Mtbr Lux Data - Mtbr Lux per $ is Mtbr Lux divided by price to indicate brightness per dollar. Higher values mean a brighter light for the money.



Light Meter and light are pointed in the ceiling of a controlled room to measure ambient light.

img_2724.jpg

Related Links
All Mtbr Lights Shootout Articles »
2013 Bike Lights Shootout »
2013 Tunnel Beam Pattern Comparisons »
2013 Backyard Beam Pattern Comparisons »
2013 Mtbr Lux measurements »
2013 Mtbr Lumen Tests »
2012 Bike Lights Shootout »
Mtbr Lights Reviews »
Mtbr Lights Forum »