Thanks for the reply, can’t wait till I get mine. :+1:
Is there a way to order a new lense for my Q8? It is broken from 1.5 meter fall.
It is not listed but you can ask for it on the Sofirn aliexpress website, they will probably sell it.
And kaidomain has one that fits too, supposedly the AR coating is better than the stock Q8: http://kaidomain.com/p/S027343.55mm-x-3mm-Multi-Layer-AR-Coated-Lens
Thanks djozz for the link.
+1 thanks for the link, ordered! 
Yep. The Kaidomain AR lens is better, giving up to 7-8% more brightness and making less tint shift for some reason, and when looking at the sides, there is such a cool blue effect on the lens.
Downside? The tint goes from 4790k to about 4930k, making it slightly cooler to the eyes.
Also, here is the link for the lens without an AR coating if you don’t like it:
https://fasttech.com/products/1606/10001022/3944404-55mm-glass-lens-for-led-flashlights-diy
Good info, thank you. :+1:
No “downside” in my book… only a positive.
Is anyone else having issues with the anodizing on the threads? My most used Q8 can’t reliably lock out now. Like all my other lights, Super Lube is used on the threads, and a few of those lights have been used many times more. Fortunately Narsil has an electronic lockout.
No problem on any of mine. I used SuperLube too btw.
Of course this was coming at some point. A solution can be to electrically insulate the driver board from the body, it is quite easy: the driver rests on a all-anodised shelf, the only electrical contact is via the 2 screws. If you cut away the brass circuitry plating around the screws (both sides of the driver board), the driver is fully insulated and mechanical lock-out should work again (and now forever).
Nice idea. Plastic washers should work too and only require minor countersinking around the holes. At least that’s temporary in case an unacceptable output drops happens.
Are there still plans for a Q16?
Probably not. That was mostly an idea of the Miller, but he’s not very active anymore on the formum so I don’t think anybody is trying to pursue that.
Technically, the idea of a Q16 already exists, although only for the LEDs and modders, if we replace the stock XPLs with Luxeon MZs or XHP50.2s, since these are 4 die single package LEDs, meaning 4x4=16=Q16.
Thanks for the link, ordered 2!
No, the Q8 team does not really exists anymore. That said, what is left of us still have some mail contact with the Q8 maker and they are planning (with permission of the Q8 team but without our initiative in the design anymore) to make new versions of the Q8.
Can you say what kind of changes they’re planning? I’d love a tripod mount in the center of the tailcap so I could use an AOD-L diffuser and hang it light a lightbulb. I’d also appreciate more legit Cree emitters if the current can keep up, even to the extreme of going with an optic like the M43 and reducing the length of the head. Unfortunately that raises their cost when I suspect they’re trying to reduce it.
I know of just one plan and I’m not sure if they will be happy if I post that here at this early stage. It is nowhere as extreme though as changing the length of the head and optics.
As for forum-originating design wishes, any design alteration needs some ‘BLF-consensus’ to back it up before getting them to the manufacturer , in other words discussion time on the forum and a team that manages the discussion. And it needs the manufacturer to be willing to do as we please. With the manufacturer having their own ideas and Q8 team in retirement atm I do not see that happening.
The only involvement we have now is that the manufacturer actually informs us of new plans and asks the opinion of (what is leftover of) the Q8 team.
I’m still surprised they haven’t simply offered it with a cool white emitter. This seems like a very easy option for them to do.
I don’t think there’s anything they can do to improve the user interface or driver. Unless they want to make it cheaper and less powerful. :confounded: