Well the technical stuff on the inside I can understand can take some time, but is even the outward design finished ?
I mean… this thread is about a group buy, it would be strange to start it if not atleast the outward design is finished how it will look etc… I can understand some small changes and details might be changed… just like with the E07 has changed little bit…
I agree its better to take time then to rush things…
If I see no outward design in pictures in before 25th may I will buy the E07.
But this group buy was made to early… and not enough information about the actual product either.
The very existence of this thread is hurting the E07 sales for sure… and I guess that is the actual purpose of it, to buy some time…
so yes picture of the actual otuward design would be good rather sooner then later… until then this flashlight seem to exist more in the mind then in reality.
I understand delays and production problems. But it clearly appears Astrolux prematurely released the GB details of both this and the MF01S specifically to steal prospective customers from buying the direct competitor products the D18 and E07. What’s worse is that they initially launched both saying the first one (mini) would start pre orders in 6 weeks (April) and the second one (MF01S) in 10 weeks (May). Now the cats out of the bag and it’s clear that it’s going to be months longer than previously advised for either product.
That’s an unethical business tactic.
Is there any other manufacturer that drops lights months before they’re ready just because they’re direct competitors to other lights and then completely under delivers on the ETA to production/sales?
It kind of feels like Astrolux purposefully lied to everyone here with the only intention of inhibiting sales to Emisar & Firelies.
Maybe I’m wrong and this is just how Astrolux operates as a company? Was the MF04 group buy released 5-6 months before the group buy actually began? Also, more importantly: if it was, did they advise the group buy would start 3-4 months sooner than it actually did?
I’m not trying to drop a hammer on Astrolux. I’ve subscribed to both their MF03 & MF05 “prototype” or maybe one day project threads. Those to me is exactly how these lights should’ve been presented. Obviously with more serious indication that they’re likely to drop in 2019. But saying orders will start in 6 weeks and the details of the driver aren’t even going to be started for 2 weeks… That’s a little ridiculous.
If they choose to tell us pre-order sales will begin by a certain date and they absolutely blow that projection by double or even triple that length of time… they should expect the backlash don’t you think? Especially when it’s plausible it was done as a tactic rather than a mistake
Totally agree. Every company does this. For example, Samsung is the most notorious for this kind of business tactics in the smart phone world. Galaxy phones, historically, gets the most intentional “leaks” throughout the year with mind blowing features and improvements that are almost never seen in the final product. I for one have often fell sucker to these “leaks” and held off on buying another brand’s newly released phones in order to wait for the Samsung Galaxy phone only to be disappointed when it comes out but I still end up buying it because I’ve waited that long and it is still the newest phone on the market. After all those years, I learn to not trust any Samsung “leaks” but other brands like Apple, Huawei, Google have been pretty reliable. Anyways, this is all business tactics not out of the ordinary.
There have been delays on both lights, especially the MF01S was original planned with a 1 resistor Aux board and it was also considered 4S Buck driver as well as 2S DD driver,
now they went to 1S/4P driver and removed battery carrier system to shorten the light and get rid of the high carrier weight
I am not happy with this situation, but its the same with other chineese companies, first they rush things and then start to change things after you were done with the design process
Cause I am not very optimistic it will be realased any time soon…also I think Fireflies deserve some support also…
and the e07 is such good price so I could always upgrade later this year if something better would be released…
but me wants one… lol haven’t they ever heard of impulse buying! It works much better when you don’t get 3-5 months to re-evaluate your impulse purchasing!
That’s the problem. Don’t hold the carrot ten feet away when the apple is only two. Emisar just delivers. No gimmicks. No teasing. I love my Astrolux but I could do without the “look over here!” tactic. Sofirn at least appears to have more communication, that and a great track record. Don’t get me wrong, I want these super proto’s put into production but sharing a little more as they develop will go a long way in strengthening their customer base. For instance, where is the update on the color options? Etc.
and the firmware is much different. It has only some output levels. Driver is not direct drive, so this flashligh is not very bright. Similar brightnes as Astrolux S41.
Oh thats a pity, that means this flashlight will not lego with the other MF-Series flashlights, to use it as double head flashlight or use one battery tube with many heads.
I think they want to shrink the flashlight to compete with the Emisar D18, especialy with the length of this flashlight.
With this change the proportions between MF01S and MF01 Mini will differ a bit more because of the same battery-tube length and different diameter.
but me wants one… lol haven’t they ever heard of impulse buying! It works much better when you don’t get 3-5 months to re-evaluate your impulse purchasing!
Hope there is a NW to go with.
