Thorfire recently sent me the super powerful BLF Q8 and I’ve had a chance to use this light and give you my thoughts.
Thorfire is known for making high quality and super affordable lights and in a joint project with the fine people here on Budget Light Forums, they have created an affordable super powerful “soda can” style light.
What’s in the box?
The Thorfire packing is nothing fancy, but it has everything you need.
1 x BLF Q8 4X XP-L 5000LM Professional Super Bright LED Flashlight
2 x Flashlight Body Tube O-ring
1 x Flashlight Head Lens O-ring
1 x Switch cover
1 x English Manual
First Impressions:
Like many of the Thorfire lights I own, it looks and feels like a high quality, well constructed light. For some reason I thought it would be bigger, but it’s really a compact design considering its 5000 lumens and holds 4 18650 batteries (not included). Wow is it bright … I wasn’t sure what 5000 lumens would look like, but it can really light up your world. One of the coolest features is the ramping up or down of the lights brightness, which is part of the default mode operation. I like the ramping, but if you don’t you can customize the operation of this light to fit your needs.
Features:
- Compact and lightweight
- 5000 Lumens
- Utilizes 4 XP-L LEDs
- Light Temperature 4750K - 5000k
- Smooth reflectors
- Uses four 18650 button top batteries
- Run time 1500 hrs on 2 lumen mode/40 min on 5000 lumen mode
- Lighted power switch
- Power indicator in side switch
- IPX-8 Waterproof
- HA III military grade hard-anodized
- Constructed from aerospace aluminum alloy
- Deep cut diamond knurling
- Stainless steel bezel
- Can tail stand
- Threaded for tripod mount
Size
This is often referred to as a “soda can” light. I’ve taken a photo of the Q8 with other lights to give you a size reference. For the power it holds it really is a compact light.
The Q8 ulitizes 4 XP-L LEDs and 4 18650 batteries
The Beam
Just to give you an idea of how bright and nice this beam is I’ve taken a few photos.
This is lighting a silo at 110 yards.
This is the same silo at 170 yards
Operation:
The mode operation of this light is highly customizable. You can program this light to fit your needs.
Here is the cart from Thorfire to give you an example of what you can do.
Additional Information:
Since this was a joint project with Thorfire and BLF there is a lot of great information on this light. Many have done amazing amount of work to explain the flashlight and the operational software: Here are some links you might find helpful.
Links:
Thorfire Official Page: powerful flashlight
The User Interface: Q8, PMS SEND TO THOSE WITH ISSUES BLF soda can light - #2 by The_Miller - BLF Special Edition Products - BudgetLightForum.com
Mode Cheat Sheet: New BLF GT Narsil M Cheat Sheet for v1.2 NEW VERSION - Flashlight Modding and DIY Parts - BudgetLightForum.com
Full Disclosure: I was provided a sample for review. Please know I have given my honest thoughts on this product.