For what is shown in the video, 50k cd is really all you’d need in a dark hunting environment. If you think you’d prefer a more intense hotspot, go for 100k. You don’t really need to overkill it. 100k cd is going to be great at 200 metres with your dark adapted eyes, and very bright at 100 metres. The rest of the light can go into creating a larger hotspot.
However, you also do not need too large a hotspot, like what a Olight X7 or X7R does with a triple XHP-70 in a 60mm or so diameter head, as 9000-12000 lumens does you no good if the hotspot is going to be hitting the ground close to you and spoiling your night vision. That wastes power, creates more heat than is necessarily useful and could be used, cuts runtime etc. Actually, even 1500 lumens does you no good, your eyes’ pupils are very good at such adaptation.
The Convoy L6 and Sofirn Q8 are both 100k cd lights, with the Sofirn Q8 going to be having a slightly bigger hotspot diameter.
All these lights are actually more similar than different in terms of performance. All it boils down is price, UI, form factor (length etc) and whether or not it is going to take a beating in your exact usage? (which we wouldn’t know in detail, even though you mentioned kayaking and hunting).
And also user preference, some folks really will not accept budgetlight brands esp for stuff like hunting/kayaking.
I’d actually stick to a known cd and known hotspot size, and then get something with a ramping mode unless you are sure that the fixed levels can cut it in your usage. The lower end output needs serious fine tuning so that it’s also useful for very short, short and medium distances. That’s in addition to the lumens + cd ratings.
The zoomable Fenix listed above is worthy to look into, if it fits into your budget.
Oh btw, the Convoy L6 and C8s all are great lights of course, but i am not sure if the absence of a lit power button is going to negatively affect OP’s usage in the wilderness and while kayaking where he might be leaving the light around in the bushes/grass and really don’t have time nor the hands to be trying to feel around to find his light.
This could be crucial to him, while for the rest of us flashaholics who don’t do wilderness might not get into such situations.
The Q8s has a lit button.
Actually quite a number of other lights mentioned also do not have a lit power button. Though one could argue that that is not an issue in reality during usage if the light has a firefly mode (so you need not turn the light off).
Is it bad that I want all of these lights mentioned? LOL
I do want something durable and definitely waterproof. That said, I wont be beating it up too bad but I might drop it here and there.
Currently I’m looking at these:
Astrolux MF01
Fenix FD65
Haikelite MT03
Convoy L6 4000k
Acebeam K30
BLF Q8 (due to color temp)
All but the Convoy has a tripod mount which isn’t a huge deal. I think it will fit in a clamp mount. Price isn’t a huge factor here as all of these are affordable….I actually thought of purchasing 2-3 (not counting the Fenix or Acebeam)
That’s not a huge deal as it will be mounted on my kayak mostly.
I think the Haikelite MT03’s hotspot diameter might be a little too big for your usage. Not talking about the absolute throw distance but rather it hitting the ground/water, esp since you are gonna be kayaking.
Maybe get both the Convoy L6 and the BLF Q8? Actually if you don’t mind hearing me out, may I suggest the BLF Q8 and Sofirn Q8?
The soda can form factor really makes practical usage sense, cutting the flashlight length dramatically but still maintaining hand-holdable diameter. I have over 50 flashlights, very big to very small, very long to very short, and those in between.
In fact these soda cans are still pocketable in case you are gonna take it out from the Kayak mount, just a bit on the heavy side so when you walk you’d feel the mass moving around. Also they use 18650s, so the batts are interchangeable. The Convoy L6 uses 26650s. The L6 and Sofirn Q8 would come in handy should you need 200+ metres illumination, which could be rare in your case but not impossible i guess?
When the lights are that good, you’d not only mount it on the kayak mostly……as you progress farther along the path of a flashaholic other than just for hunting and kayaking use. And in those cases, you’d want to pocket the light in one way or another (jacket, jeans, vest, coat etc).
Trust me, most of us have been there done that. I have been in the hobby for like 17 years now, though i took a short break and “came back” recently.
The Sofirn Q8 is a 100k cd cool white version of the BLF Q8. Hotspot area of the Sofirn Q8 is going to be around half of the BLF Q8. Both are very good price, the Sofirn can probably be had for just a few dollars over usd 39.95.
If you think having 2 different variants of Q8s is crazy, then the L6 would do also.
I have similar outdoor uses in the wilds of Alaska and here are my picks to add to the good responses you have received.
BLF Q8 : Waterproof. Has four batteries – you won’t need to carry spares. Good throw and just the right amount of spill to light the periphery. Very bright (up to 5,000 lumen). Weight: About 1-1/3 pounds with batteries. Has ramping UI. Lit button. Has a tripod screw hole.
Sofirm C8F with 21700 battery: The latest version. Waterproof. It is smaller and a bit floodier than the Q8 but has plenty of throw and brightness (up to 3,500 lumen). Weight: About 1/2 pound with battery. Has ramping UI – although not as default. Lit button. For run times equaling the Q8, you will want to carry a spare 21700 battery or two.
The MT03 is a very nice FLOOD ONLY light, with very little throw. I think what you want is the MT09R with the XHP70.2. That is a monster of a light that both throws and flood. It is about three times the brightness of the lights in your list, making about 15k “real” lumens.
Thanks for the info! I actually would want some spill in front on the water so it can light up obstacles underneath. I’ll be mounting it about a foot or so up off the kayak too. Right now I’m leaning toward the BLF Q8 and Convoy L6 just because they’re cheap. Then the Fenix TK75 or the FD65.
Thanks! I like the looks of the C8F but the run times are a little low. I keep going back to the BLF Q8
Yeah, if Sofirn Q8 were offered in 5000K or less, it would be the better choice, I think. But the BLF Q8 is certainly not disappointing either, and since the Sofirn Q8 is only offered in Cool White, it loses in practicality IMHO.
By the way i’d have to point one important thing out.
All the lumens and throw specs listed in here would be be available in TURBO mode only.
That means in small and light lights (what we call pocket rockets), on the extremely powerful lights listed here, max output would be available for a very short 30-60 seconds burst at most. Double that in winter perhaps? Recovery times are also not gonna take less than 5 minutes, unless you splash it with water.
On less powerful lights, eg the Convoy L6, that effect is going to be less noticeable, you might get 3 minutes in Turbo before ramp down due to temp regulation or your hands give up. Since you’ll be mounting it on your kayak it’d be via regulation. If there is no temp regulation or it isn’t working well, you might have a dead light soon after forgetting to turn it down after a few times.
Take for example the Convoy L6 and Haikelite MT09R, both are of the same weight. One is like 20k lumens with each XHP70.2 driven to close to 7k lumens. The other is a single XHP 70.2 driven to just under 4k lumens. In reality, after the initial turbo burst on the MT09R, you’d need to wait out for quite a while for it to cool down first before attempting the burst. You’d need to search the reviews and see how long it’d take for it to cool down say 15 deg C before it’s good to attempt another turbo burst.
