sofirn aa lights (sf10/sf12/sf14/etc.)

all on eneloops

i am thinking of ordering sp10b but if its brightness with eneloop is the same as sf10 maybe i give up…i am not a fan of side switch as well and many are saying they’re flimsy on sofirn…sf10 is even more waterproof being ipx8…and it’s half the cost of sp10b…on paper, i can’t say what’s the upgrade from sf10 to sp10b…?

The upgrade of SF10 is SF14: reverse switch on tail, 3 modes, no memory (always start on low), no strobes or SOS, XP-G2 Neutral white, provides a “long” distance illumination range (at least on 14500 batteries, near 60 mts), no visible PWM.

The SF10 is a nice host, but the driver and UI is not the best I’ve seen (according to my preferences, of course). If you can mod it, go for it, it worths a try, as host!

BTW, I’ll be grabbing a SP10A to replace my damaged “old” SP10B :smiley: AliExpress anniversary is something that can’t be missed :partying_face:

to make things more complicated i have seen around something like sf10A? how about that :slight_smile: i get mine couple of days ago so i think i have sf10A…i’ve seen some youtube clips where sf10 doesn’t have pocket clip, does have 4 modes instead of 5, and declared as 100 lumens on nimh…mine manual says 180 lumens with nimh…so, go figure…

btw, i don’t know what the package says but mine sf10 is neutral white as far as i can tell…

Kind of implied, but yeah.

Looks samesame as the Thorfire TK4A, which I got a pair of (even one that go boom, but fixed). Quite nice.

I got a pair of the ’11s in the hopper, want to compare S vs T and see how they stack up. B’harni knows I got enough AA alkaleaks to burn off…

SF10’s, despite the drawbacks (for us flashaholics) stated above, make a nice gift to non-flashlight people. Super simple to use, always start on high (at least the ones I got)

To add, the sf10 is also kinda thick and heavy compared to the others

I was looking at the Jaxman E3 Nichia 4000K 90CRI …until I read this tonight:

:neutral_face:

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So now this Sofirn SF14 is looking good, except I also need around 4000K, hard to resist for $9.52 though

https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/Sofirn-New-SP14-Mini-Portable-LED-Flashlight-AA-Cree-XP-G2-EDC-Pocket-Light-Torch-Portable/2933049_32829677829.html?spm=2114.12010606.layer-43txss.26.5b5c16cdfGujW9&scm=1007.14677.92112.0&scm-url=1007.14677.92112.0&pvid=ea89fe1d-ef15-4194-bbaa-b7a40355c06d

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OTOH, the Jaxman E3 uses a 17mm driver…Hmmm decisions decisions

Anyone know the dimensions length/diameter of the Sofirn SF14?

Not sure why that isn’t shown on their listing, unless I’m not seeing it.

Got my first SP10a in yesterday. My wife now has it (big-time muggle). I got to play with it about an hour before she go it though. It runs pretty good on a AA alkaline (compared to my fancy UR14500P I also tested in it). The double click turbo is COOL… I like that you have to know to double click to get to it— otherwise, it doesn’t come up in rotation (again thinking muggle use here).

I looked at a few of the others above, but with the features, UI and price point of this Sp10(a or b), I’m just going to buy more of them. I donno exactly why, but this UI just feels good timing wise. The lock-out is also a great option for the pocket/bag (love the double flash letting you know it’s locked out). Just a cool UI for the extra few bucks over the other offers IMO. AFAIK, the the 10a and 10b is the same light now-days (except for the color of the host). I am waiting on a BLUE SP10(b) still. :sunglasses:

I did whip out my old set of AA NiMH batteries thinking I’d use them: “2700mah” batteries (from 2010— WOW! they were high capacity back then :stuck_out_tongue: ) Of course they were all DOA (now landfill).

I looked into a few replacement options for AA batteries in NiMH (as I have TWO, four bank battery chargers with nothing to charge now) and didn’t see anything that “wowed” me. Then I saw the “Soshine” AA (in the 14500— with a decent review here at BLF) for about the same price as the “better” NiMH batteries I found. Cool I thought.

Newby question: are the eneloops REALLY worth it for these AA lights? Seems like there are also some very good options from Camelion, etc. (and even the Amazon AAs)… thoughts? — 14500s or (superbadass) NiMHs???

What sayeth the users of (too) many AA lights?

Okay, so you’re confirming that the As and Bs have essentially the same UI.

The reason I liked the A for the gf is threefold.

First, she doesn’t see a need for true firefly mode (you really gotta be in total blackness and be fully-dark-adapted for it to not be completely useless), so it’s a waste to put it into rotation unless it’s actually of value to you.

Second, it’s kinda dangerous, that unless you look at the LED (vs shining at a table, wall, even opposing hand, in any kind of light), you’d think it’s off when it’s actually still on.

Third, “turbo” (ie, just plain high) is quite useful, and doesn’t overheat the light any. So it’s not so great to “hide” it with a doubleclick.

The older A is much better for her because she has L/M/H right there at her fingertips, in rotation, no special clicking necessary.

Now, for me, yeah, I do use firefly, and quite often, so I’m okay with having it in rotation, ie, only F/L/M. But also for me, being that H is quite useful, too, it’s nice to be able to doubleclick to get it whether on or off.

So it depends on the “audience” which UI is better, but it was quite nice to have the choice between A or B in the same light.

Me, I’d be okay with 5/30/150 or a similar range (whether alkaleaks or 14500; more important about the ratio). So moonlight instead of firefly, and low being not so huge a jump. Or maybe 2/10/50/150, something like that, for more “gears”.

Alkaleaks do just that, leak. And they’ll ruin your light the first chance they get. They’re hateful little things.

If you don’t want to spring for eneloops, hie thyself to Ikea and get their LADDA cells. Same innards, just rewrapped under the Ikea banner. ’Though I’m surprised they don’t just give you eneloops and wrappers and make you rewrap them yourself.

According to Amazon

Part Number SF14
Item Weight 1.44 ounces
Product Dimensions 3.8 x 0.7 x 0.8 inches

[quote]
So it depends on the “audience” which UI is better, but it was quite nice to have the choice between A or B in the same light.

[quote]

I THINK the original “A” version is no longer… my (wife’s) BLACK SP10a I got in yesterday DEFINITELY has the new UI with the firefly and hidden turbo. My understand is that they shifted the UI in the rev “B” to this new interface and just called the BLACK host light the “A” and the colored hosts (Blue and Red) the “B” now. But yes… confirmed the new UI in my black SP10A.

If I lived near an Ikea I would drive there tomorrow— but any alternative (online) options are also of interest. —Hey, I live in the middle of “NOWHERE” Kansas. My mailman and I show pictures of our family to each other and know where the best coffee is found (the only coffee in the county).

I will delete the alki-leakers as soon as I find me some good AAs for sure! Good tip!!! :+1:

The SP10A name must have stuck because they had stock after changing the UI, and the colored ones must have started manufacturing after

That is the way I recall reading about it here a while back. So there could be old stock in some other reseller’s stock, but it’s gone now at Sofirn’s outlets. Btw: mine came from Sofirn’s AE store- I like working with Qidong. He lets me switch C8F tails to C8A clicky switches (when I ask him nicely… and am willing to wait even longer to get them). Cool dude anyway.

Thanks, I should have thought to look on amazon.

Was getting frustrated after reading 3 reviews on it here and only one has a measurement, but only the length! (96.1 measured)
Still can’t believe it’s not in the aliexpress listing.

And then of course amazon only lists inches, so I had to convert:

Length: …….96.5 mm
Head: ………20.3 mm
Tail?: ……….17.8 mm (or maybe this is the middle tube?)

Looking more at the SF14, the mode looks great! NO strobe :heart_eyes: , just LMH… hum, might have to get a few of these for my “mugs” (and wife) to use— get my SF10A back!!!

blue sp10b ordered! just for a change after sf10a :slight_smile:

and it’s already on its way to me, woohoo! they were sending it only couple of hours after my order….good job sofirn so far….

In my review I made some measurements and weighting of the SP10A and Sf14: DOUBLE 1 AND ½ "REVIEW": Sofirn SP10A and Sofirn SF14 *[added night / distance shots]

BTW, just ordered a “new” SP10A and a driver for my SP10B host :smiley:

Dang… my wife is going to kill me. Maybe I’ll let her keep that SP10A after-all… since I ordered THREE more today! :sunglasses:

Now I HAVE to go to Ikea- need batteries for all these lights! :person_facepalming: