Review New Convoy C8+ Desert Tan: weird beam?

I received this new Convoy c8+ today after 3 weeks, bought it from Aliexpress Convoy store. This is basically an old C8 inside with different outside design and and new colour. The new design look much better than the old one in my opinion.

Specs from Convoy:
Reflector : Smooth
LED : CREE XPL HI
Battery : 18650 lithium battery (protected or unprotected), battery is not included
Diameter of head : 44.5mm
Length : 142mm
Diameter of body : 25.2mm
Weight : 145g

Led choices:
XPL HI V2-1A 6500-7000K
XPL HI U6-3A 5000-5200K
XPL HI U6-4C 4200-4500K
XPL HI U4-7A 3000-3300k

This light use 8*7135 driver with 12 mode groups.




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AR coated lens



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New knurling is more aggressive than the old convoy C8


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Improved tailcap design, maybe less stable tail standing but easier to press.

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Same smooth reflectors

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Compared with other Convoys

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Beam shots



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This flashlight produces a beam with a visible dark spot in the middle at close range. I dont have any other big smooth refelector with XPL-HI flashlight so i’m not sure if this beam pattern in close range is normal, but i couldn’t find any defective in this light. Please let me know your opinions about this problem.
Thanks

I was using a c8 XPL-hi today, it does not have that donut.

Donut more or less diminished at the stated distances.

:person_facepalming:

Throwers make a donut at short range when properly focused.
So what you think is a failure MIGHT be a good sign.
Does the donut disappear at, let’s say, 2 meters ?

So the emitter is 4cm away from the bezel?

Right...

About 3.6-3.7cm after second glance. Didn't remove the reflector, just laid my ruler and gauge with my eyes.

Oops!

That does make sense.

Please excuse my earlier sarcastic remark.

My C8+ arrived yesterday.
The light has a very nice curling and head Design.

And……yes! IT hast a donuthole on a distance at 80cm.

BUT: This is a thrower with an HI LED, i think nobody is using this light on a 80cm distance!

The SS bezel looks great on this light. Later i make a picture with this.

Best wishes
Steve- from Germany- with a bad english xD

That’s a nice looking flashlight right there. Now I want one. Not sure if I should get this new c8 or the emisar d1 ive been wanting also

This is my first flashlight with Xpl-hi and big smooth reflector, so i’m just not sure this donut beam is normal, I have a convoy s2 with xpl-hi and smooth reflector, it doesn’t have this donut beam, and hotspot is even. This C8+ donut beam does disappear at longer than 1m range but the hotspot is not even as of the s2. Anyway this light is supposed to be used at long range and it is very good at this

I don’t have the Convoy C8, but regarding XP-L Hi and donut holes… I’d like to mention on my Astrolux S2, by default with the LED plastic centering ring installed, it will produce a donut hole shape (when at closer ranges); but if I remove the plastic centering ring, the donut hole then disappears (or becomes more faint). Not sure if the same might happen on the C8.

I’ll try to take some pictures when I have time…

This is exactly what i thought because i noticed the led in c8+ is deeper under the reflector than in my convoy S2, but i didn’t tried to remove the centering gasket. After your comment, I tried to remove the gasket, and guess what, NO MORE DONUT BEAM!! and the hotspot is more even, and a little more thow (i guess). Thanks for your suggestion :+1: :beer:

In my C8 with dedomed XP-G2, should not behave much different from a XP-L Hi, the donut hole is completely gone at 50cm, the hotspot is nice an smooth then.
Small video:

Minus the centering ring , are you risking a short?

I tried and no short happen. And if it did not happen at first, there is no more risk because both the pcb and reflector are tight and secure.

very nice demonstration video, you can try to remove the centering gasket to eliminate the donut beam and get a more even hotspot

My C8 XPL HI has a donut hole at very short distances. Not donut hole visible once you’re 50cm or more from the wall.

Just curious, is there a middle ground perhaps where the centering ring can be shaved enough to remove the hole but still function as intended?

i think we can sand it to the right thickness, i will try and update the result

No no no. The hole should be there at short distances, the beam has not formed yet, you actually see the hole in the reflector where the led sits. My C8 from the video has a perfectly focussed led.