It’s strange that mf04 has a larger hotspot and gives more range
I would go with mf04… mf04s xhp70.2 have a bit green tint.
As a matter of fact, my mf04s died… i think its the driver, carrier, or led… all of them…
The photographs you show for comparison were made during a clear night (there are stars in the sky background of the picture). If same models were used for comparison just with emitter CCT differences, these photos are truly convincing for clear sky/air conditions.
However, you could show photographs showing these beams hitting targets through light to moderate fog as well.
My personal experience, that when I use flashlights in mist/light to moderate fog, cooler CCT flashlights are casting a more disturbing beam into the air, making unnecessary glare, and reducing perceived contrast at the illuminated target.
Probably I need to experience with this topic for myself more, but I do find warmer tints useful in those cases. (I edited/corrected my previous post)
With maximum respect to your knowledge and experience, I feel these above a little bit offensive and unnecessarily arrogant.
Pretty sure he was just using hyperbole and speaking anecdotally there. It’s common for people in the states to have an acerbic, satirical, sarcastic wit however they usually mean nothing offensive by it. Just see it for what it is.
I havent email yet… i sent two email about my broken imalent ms12… ( with the video proof ). i never got any email…
I am sending email to banggood about the mf04s now.
Adam, facetious is the word… I put the big smiling smiley face to show I was saying that tongue-in-cheek. We all have our opinions based on our individual needs and preferences of course.
And it was indeed a misty high humidity night when I took those pictures, the misty cold rain I was standing in had me somewhat worried about the 60 mph traffic on the road right behind me. The cloud cover broke just to the North of my position which is why the stars are visible in the background. I was using a 200mm lens to bring the water tower closer as I was parked in an entry driveway and set up at a barbed wire fence several hundred yards away, the starry sky is also pulled in closer in appearance than it actually was.
We get a lot of weird weather, once I was driving into town in sunlight and literally in the middle of train tracks I had to cross it was raining heavily, the tracks divided a blue sky day from a bleary rainy day. From where we are I can usually see a storm system rolling in from 30 miles away in 3 directions.
Believe me, when I take a $5,000 plus camera out in the rain for pictures of a flashlight beam I do Not take it lightly!
That’s right. Maybe I am a bit too obsessed with non-CW flashlights - but not for nothing 
I believe you now
By the way, does somebody have good MF04 vs MF04s beamshots to compare? (And MF02 vs MF02s).
It would be good to compare them regarding tint-shift.
Maukka measured huge/ugly tint-shift on the MF02s, and I am curious, how does it show up in a tighter beam (MF04s)?
Indeed, cool white = brighter = more throw BUT your pictures aren’t a demonstration because most of the time, in usual condition, you are holding the flashlight you are using and a thrower like the MF4(s) in cool white, because of scatered light, it makes a stronger white halo right forward your eyes sight and you won’t see the objects very far, illuminated with a dimmer light than the white halo.
Neutral white or warm white are dimmer, throw a bit less but let you see much better what is behind a much dimmer halo when you are holding the flashlight.
In your pictures, as you are away from the flashlights, the view is not blocked by the halo of the scatered light.
Personally, I am done with XHP35 HIs.
I have these lights~ 
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MF02S
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MF02
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MF04S
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MF04
^^ those pics tell it all.
I notice that on my MF02S there is a large dark spot in the center of the hot spot that is even visible when pointing it to a white wall. I often see it when pointing it to trees. Not the best beam in the world, but ok.
i love how balance between both options, look like he can’t make decision now 
to me the mf04s is more pratical, it provides reasonable lumen and can throw far enough for most of people
Thank you for the comparison pictures, lusan_senna
For me, the XHP35 seems to be clearly better. Personally, I think, the green ring in the corona on both XHP70.2 model variants is disturbing.
Meanwhile, I picked the ‘poor man’s Imalent R90C’ (a.k.a. HaikeLite MT09R XHP35 HI) in 5000K CCT to see, how it can throw. I expect that working similarly, like an Astrolux MF02S, but without the ugly beam tint changes (or with much less).
I could not set my mind up for an Astrolux MF04, but it is still tempting.
You forgot to say which one is the NW and the CW beam. It is supposed that the stronger beam was the CW, right?
lusan_senna , thank you very much.
It is very hard to choose.
I really like the power of MF04S, but I also like the throw of MF04. I do not have money for both.
MF04S- $ 169 with 30% discount
MF04 - $ 175 with 20% discount
You gave me the thought of the autonomy and the turbo mode. XHP35 is better at autonomy.
If I found 30% discount for MF04 I would buy it. I’m thinking of having the strongest thrower, and on the way to buy a powerful flood.
Thorfire s70s I sold it (70$)
I was once in the same predicament, Buying one of each as I could afford it. One of each is a temporary fix and a little bulky on the portability side of things. The Imalent R90C has 880kcd and ~20k lumens, depending on who you ask. Yes it’s Imalent but there are no complaints; someome has a broken MF04S above. The R90C has more lumens than both of those others put together and noticeably more throw than the S. It’s like an MF04S with the throw and lumens you wanted, and rather than the MF04 small hotspots. You’ll actually have some efficacy of the object you’re lighting up and it’s more impressive to everyone, they’ll admit it, except the guy who bought both Astrolux lol. You may want wait for a sale it’ll go down to the low 200s.
I buy MF04 NW
131.4$ + shipping insurance (4.38$) Very good price.
We did not have enough money for a R90C. I know it was a better choice, but I’m happy with the current election. 
You will really like the light
One advantage of the MF04 vs the MF04s is better battery life, and far throw even at lower levels, which can be very helpful regarding runtime brightness and longevity.
Good choice… I also recommend mf04 over mf04s. The beam on the mf04 is amazing…