Thanks for the review, SoCal. I really like what I’ve been seeing from Sofirn. They sent me a SF36 to review (here) and I thought it was a nice light. I ordered their C8 host from their Aliexpress store about a month back, should be coming in soon. I like my Convoy C8’s, but I see a couple advantages with what I’m expecting from Sofirn’s C8:
Anodizing - sometimes I feel like Convoy’s matte is just too matte. Sofirn’s seems very nice.
AR lens - some, but not all Convoys come with AR. I like that it’s included with Sofirn’s.
Body tube - nice, something a little different than the standard gnurling
Tailcap - I like that the cap is formed into the saddle shape. I find it a bit easier to press, and it shows off a lit tailcap more when viewed from the side.
I can’t wait for my host to come in and start playing with it!
I am new here and this is my first post. Please be patient with me!
I have made following observation on the C8A:
If you power the 1700 lumens rated Sofirn C8A with the mystery cell provided by Sofirn it is a little bit dominated by a 900 lumens rated Thorfire C8S powered by a LG high drain cell. If you put the LG high drain cell into the Sofirn C8A and the Sofirn cell into the Thorfire C8S the Thorfire gets 100% destroyed by the Sofirn.
Also with the Sofirn cell the Sofirn C8A only gets lukewarm after 3min while with the LG high drain cell it can almost burn your hand after 3min. The multimeter shows that the C8A pulls more amps from a LG high train cell which translates into much more lumens and heat. With the LG cell the Sofirn C8A delivers more than 1750 lumens considering the warmer light color.
Thanks! So I am not crazy and the “Sofirn mystery cell” indeed limits the C8A. The Panasonic NCR18650GA must be a beast of a protected cell if it still manages to get the maximum out of the Sofirn C8A!
Interesting that you find Sofirn battery less powerful than LG HG2, since many here reported that under the wrap is Samsung 30Q.
Maybe they offering standard cell with C8A, and High drain only with C8F since it have triple emitter…
Btw my C8T XP-l hi after all wires changed to 20awg now pushing 1550 lumens after 30 sec and over 1600 at start !
Amazing performance with close to 100Kcd
It was. The cell that came with my C8 trip is differently wrapped, but didn’t look too closely. If it’s 3400mAH, it might be a panny-B of sanny-A under the wrap, but my first Sofirn cells measured a tad over 2800mAH like a 30Q would. Quite nice.
Unfortunately, only a few companies seem to commit to do it right, like KeepPower (I still don't like some of their rewraps) and LiitoKala (goof with the yet untested Lii-40A). I also like the fact it usually is very easy to identify the actual cell OEM with them.
Yeah the GA is my cell of choice for any 18650 application where it will fit. I always get great results with it. I also gave away my trusty B cells.
I never even bother with mystery batteries. I just bin them straight away. I may very well have gotten rid of perfectly good cells but I already have plenty of cells so it doesn’t bother me.
Can lower kcd = longer throw? I always thought it was the opposite…
Isn’t the calculated distance (FL-1 specification) derived from the peak beam intensity/candela rating? (Higher kcd = longer throw)
Distance (m) = square root of (kcd divided by 0.25)
.
Also apparently the C8T’s factory distance spec has mysteriously doubled since Barkuti’s review of it…
+Official Factory Specs shown in Barkuti’s review
C8A….11500cd 200m distance
C8T……9500cd 250m distance
I’m just curious, how much throw would the Sofirn C8A be?
The XP-L2 of the C8A would throw much further than the older Convoy C8 with XM-L2; but will it be able to out-throw a stock Convoy C8 XP-L Hi?
The Sofirn C8A has a rated max current of 4.5A versus the 2.8A of the stock Convoy C8 XP-L Hi, so lumens-wise, definitely the C8A wins, but in terms of “throwing” how would it compare?
Actually with a fresh-off-the-charger Sony VTC6, I measured nearly 6A (using UT210E ammeter + copper wire) on Turbo mode for the C8A.
With my entry-level DMM, the tailcap current registered 4.5A (which is the manufacturer spec).
but after quickly comparing the KD C8.2 (with the XHP 50.2), my latest C8S Sofirn (host with Lexel’s Bistro driver using the SST-40, and tonight (for the first time) my NEW C8A:
The C8S custom job throws better than I expected (no de-dome) and has a nice beam with side light to spare
The KD has a WIDE beam with lots of lumens and very nice coverage, but can’t quite keep up with the others for throw
The C8A has about the same throw as the C8S custom host (big surprise!) and a more narrow beam of course
And the C8A is running on about 5+ amps (Vs. the SST in the C8S custom running closer to 8 amps) with darn near the same throw and output! (again, I’m kinda blown away tonight by this C8A!) If I didn’t know better, I’d guess I had a C8T in my hands when it reached out there an honest 200+ yards tonight (on a good 30Q topped off).
My C8S host build was about $11 (host kit) + $4 SST40 + $15 Bistro driver- so $30. And IF I slice the SST40 it will probably throw further than the C8A de-domed, but as it is- this C8A is comparing nicely to these other lights— but right at 1/2 the price), I’m wondering how many C8As might be in my future?
I am learning more about throw and I’ve just started in on shaving domes (XP-L2s, XPLs, SST40s) for these and some C8F triples I’m working on. Again more time is indeed needed (and I’ll make a more thorough report when I get done with these builds). But this C8A is really impressive in every way to me this evening!
Not too shabby for a factory light right out of the box! :+1:
