I think Maglite have forget that they be suppose to be all about the reflector 's precise focus ability . maybe they think no one will notice ? I have get four 3-d maglite from about 12 year ago . they be in my car and one 's beside my bed . those bad boy will focus a extremely tight nearly perfectly circular beam that be impressive as well as useful -- especially at moderate to great distance . a month or two ago , I buy a new 3-d maglite . it be sad . Poor focus . at best , it produce a illuminate region that be partly circular and partly elliptical that spread out way too much even at moderate distance . it leave I want , but , I figure I buy it from a mega store where individual unit from a big production run can often have flaw that be pass on to the consumer . the price be low and I be just stash it in the basement for power outage emergency and such so I tolerate its flaw and store it in a accessible location . for many year I have want a 6-d maglite . I order from Amazon . could not wait until it arrive . I dream : power ; Precision ; Prowler 's beware because if you be within a quarter mile , I 'll simply light you up and ID you in a instant even in a storm . so , my shiny new 6-d cell maglite arrive several day ago . dagnabbit ! it be get the same poor focus as the 3-d maglite I recently buy at the megastore . I can only describe the beam just as I mention above . it be not a tight circle . it be somewhat a blend of a sloppy circle and a wayward escape ellipse . I also order 2 maglite magnumstar -lrb- xenon -rrb- bulb for this thing . they come today . -lrb- why they come several day later I do not know because I order the 6-d flashlight and the bulb at the same time . Amazon lose money on free shipping deal when they do not stock these thing at the same location , do not they ? -rrb- anyway , I think the super duper MagnumStar bulb might improve thing . nope . you 'll see my separate review for they . they lack the snub nose ground glass focus lens that they use to have incorporate into the bulb design . now they be just plain glass . so , I guess it be just like all thing : they `` be not '' what they use to be . that be two recent maglite I have purchase with poorly focus beam . I be presume that be just the design average these day . I 'll keep the 2 maglite 's I just buy because I do not want to hassle return they . I guess they be not technically defective . they be just degrade by design . but , I will not buy any more . look like I can get the same beam or maybe much better in a cheaper flashlight from another company . I now find that I severely cherish my four 12 year old 3-d cell maglite . they beam be tight ! I guess I would better get busy stock up on spare part . these old model require a special tool to replace the switch . I think the switch and tool be rare but I think I have see a source for they . in the past , I figure it be cheaper just to replace the flashlight if the switch fail . now I see that be not true becuase I can not buy a new flashlight like those anymore . I need to gear up to maintain these four precious light stick !