I review flashlights and other gear at https://zakreviews.com
Changelog:
Wurkkos FC11 replaced with FC11C
Acebeam E70 Mini removed
Skilhunt EC200 and EC200S added
Sofirn SP40A removed
Acebeam L35 updated to 2.0
Thrunite TC20 v2 removed
Emisar D3AA added
Convoy C8+ updated
Convoy M21F replaces M21C
Convoy M3C removed
@Showroom7561 @flashlight There have been Olight models on this list before. There aren’t any currently due to the company’s heavy use of proprietary batteries. Their LED selections in many models also leave something to be desired.
@EmperorHenry The MH25 Pro is a much fatter light that doesn’t fill the same role. Direct competition for the MH12 Pro would be more along the lines of the Fenix PD36R v2 and Acebeam T35.
Reddit user fnksb pointed out that the measured current, runtime, and expected battery capacity didn’t quite add up for the 14500s. I tested both my Vapcell H10s on my analyzing charger and got 737 mAh and 797 mAh, which is considerably lower than the 924 mAh figure I had been using. I’ve recalculated efficiency numbers based on a battery capacity of 797 mAh and also reran the M1 mode runtime test.
I got a bit longer runtime this time around and of course a little higher efficiency in every mode. My overall analysis remains the same though: boost/linear is a little disappointing and I’d much rather see boost/buck or boost-only using a 6V LED like the Nichia B35AM. So far, I think only the Emisar D3AA takes the boost-only approach to the AA/14500 problem.
@solrize Oops, that was meant to be a reply, not its own post.
@dual_sport_dork I think something similar happens any time people hyper-focus on a single attribute of their gear. The brightest headlamp is as unlikely to be a community favorite as the lightest because maximizing any one attribute has costs to others.
It’s just an odd quirk that a community sprang up around minimizing weight as its core principle. “I want a good X that’s lightweight” makes more sense to me than “I want a lightweight X that’s good”.
@Habahnow @flashlight The AA Zebralights used to cost less and support 14500. The current models don’t support 14500, which is a major downside now that we have 14500 batteries with a capacity as high as 1250 mAh (4.6 Wh). That’s about 50% more capacity than the best NiMH AAs and even exceeds disposable lithium (except at very low loads).
@Habahnow @flashlight There’s really no close competition. The Acebeam H16 and Manker E02 series are superficially similar, but don’t have stable output or onboard charging. The E02 also doesn’t appear to have the best track record for reliability.
@dual_sport_dork I definitely have trouble relating to the ultralight crowd. I’d be more inclined to take an 18650 headlamp and an 18650 powerbank so I could swap cells between them than to recharge a headlamp from a powerbank.
@helenslunch @flashlight check the publication date.
@BearOfaTime @flashlight not everyone is stylish enough for the hatlight!
@solrize There are two entries for the SP36. The first one is meant for an audience that wouldn’t know what Anduril is; the second does mention it.
The LT1 Mini looks like it pulls from the Sofirn parts bin, but isn’t just one light. Much of the body comes from the IF22A, but the tailcap looks like the IF25A, the diffuser is on the SC03, and I think the button cover is from the LT1.
Changes aren’t huge this time around:
Remove SC32 (high-CRI option discontinued)
Remove SP31 v2 (discontinued)
Remove Zebralight H53c N (overpriced)
Add H200 and H200 Mini
Acebeam L35 becomes 2.0
Wurkkos TS10 becomes 2.0
E70 (21700) removed (high-CRI option discontinued, and the low-CRI version isn’t that special)
@Dhrystone It’s a characteristic of any white light source. You’ll find CRI listed on many household light bulbs as well.
Additional testing has proven that I cannot accurately measure current with my ammeter in series at 6A, and the actual current with the tailcap installed is probably considerably higher. I have removed that number from the table.
@solrize Current measurements are in the runtime table. Like I said, I think the output (and therefore efficiency) measurements may be a little optimistic. It does have a boost converter.
I agree a powerbank function would be a great addition here. It would be the perfect larger travel light if it had that. The tailcap magnet is easy to remove.
@solrize They’re not sense resistors; they’re just resistors. There are no active electronics in this light. Changing a resistor should change the output.
Looks like a typo caused excluded the graphs, which I’ve now fixed. I think they answer the other question: output depends on battery voltage in both modes.
@solrize Sofirn definitely sold a 10180 light. I don’t know if it was identical to the Trustfire, but it had a removable battery and high-CRI option (SST-20, I think).
@kanakana2 It will throttle without fan cooling at this level.
More changes:
Replaced Sofirn IF22A with Wurkkos TD01C. The regulated buck driver is much more efficient and doesn’t dim as the battery drains in medium modes. It also has more throw.
Added Zebralight SC700d HI.
Re-added Reylight Pineapple Mini.
Added Skilhunt EC200S Mini.
@flashlight