TK's Emisar D4V2 review

This looks absolutely awesome. I have ordered one in exactly the same colour scheme as this one, and I can’t wait for it to arrive!

I love how solidly-made my D4S feels, and this I am sure will be no different.

Do you happen to have picture of the clip TK?.. Not sure If you’re referring to the one that ships with the V1 or a new design. Kindly correct me if I misunderstood. Thanks for the review!

Thanks! I asked Neal to upgrade my order for the clip. I think yesterday it wasnt available.

Great job Toykeeper, a lot of questions and worries I had have been answered.

That’s actually good when using the light with (winter) gloves and/or in wet conditions. I sold my FF ROT66 literally only because I couldn’t operate the switch even in thin winter gloves.

It’s only a bit sad the D4 is no longer the ultimate lumen-$ ratio light with a UI that’s easy and accesible for everyone, not only for flashlight nerds. I used to recommend this light among urban explorers as the best addition to a headlamp, but I don’t know whether I’ll still can do that.

Besides, It would be useful Anduril would have true memory mode, not the selective MM it has currently and is very confusing.

btw, does unscrewing the tailcap result in the light resetting to 1x7135 mode ad in the V1?

The D4V2 clip is the same as the most recent D4V1 clip. It’s the one shown on Intl-Outdoor.

The D4 originally had no clip at all though, which is why I modified a SF L2 clip to fit. It took a while before Hank found a decent clip which fit the D4.

Why is that?

It has two styles of mode memory now… automatic and manual:

In automatic memory mode (default), this is how it works:

  • 1 click from off: return to the last level the user ramped to
  • Loosen/tighten tailcap, click: go to 1x7135 brightness (~140 lm)

In manual memory mode, the user can select a specific brightness and then always start at that level. Ramp to the level you want to memorize, then click 5 times to save it. Afterward, this is how it works:

  • 1 click from off: go to the memorized level
  • Loosen/tighten tailcap, click: go to the memorized level
  • 5 clicks while on (but hold the last click for a moment): go back to automatic memory

Basically… automatic memorizes the level every time the user does a ramp action, but forgets during a battery change. Manual memorizes the level only when explicitly told to, and it still remembers after a battery change.

I’m not sure what “true memory” means though. Is it one of the two methods described here?

There is also a way to make it memorize several levels. The stepped ramp has a configurable floor, ceiling, and number of steps. So if you want a reliable way to get to a certain level (or a few), adjust those values to produce the desired steps. If exact values are needed, there’s a tool in the firmware repository called “steps.py” which helps with this process.

Question, can I configure things as follows.

2 regular modes, with the light always defaulting to a certain one.

1 special mode that’s activated by a longpress when switching the light on.
Often that’s turbo but I could imagine it to be moonlight when used as bedside light.

Ordered a sand one with XP-L HI 5D and all the accessories as soon as I saw that the product page was live. Not cheap. I can’t think of any other light that I have ever been able to buy so quickly without any guilt. Not even the FW3C, though it’s a close second to the D4V2 in terms of how much I wanted it.

I think subconsciously, the reason I got a sand D4V2 with SS bezel is to give me a reason to buy a matching D18 down the line…

The prescence of green or cyan would have made it a hard choice however. I’ve already got a green D4S just waiting to be paired with something.

Thanks TK! I thought there was a new design vs the most recent clip in the D4V1.

You might want to read the interface section of this review for details on how the UI works.

Or perhaps click the Link in my signature for information about making and flashing firmware, if you want more extensive customizations. That’s an option too.

Is it easy to put in a FW3A style button that doesn’t stick out?

Ok, thanks. I’ll just wait for a light with another UI.

Very very nice review my friend:) but I don't see the new clip you mentioned??

Man I keep telling myself I dont need one of these after acquiring two D4s with Anduril in the last month, but between the new aux lights and the other ergonomic enhancements im having a hard time holding that feeling off.

If you want the light to default to a specific brightness with 1 click from off, it can do that.

If you want it to also have a shortcut to moon or some other low level with a hold from off, it can do that.

It also has a shortcut to a user-configured high level, using 2 clicks from off.

… and a bunch of other stuff. There are a lot of modes and options, and the question above makes it sound like you’re unfamiliar with it… so I recommend looking at the online manual to learn more.

Brands like Emisar restore my faith in Chinese products. He has made everything better without cutting any corners. And for a very reasonable price considering all the improvements.
I will buy one for sure, although probably closer to xmas.

Hank included a picture of the D4V2 with a clip on his page. As TK said, it’s the same clip that is offered with the D4V1.

So can I now set a fixed level for one click on? Say always at the top regulated level.

He made this better by literally cutting corners. :stuck_out_tongue:

Yes. Go to the level you want, then click 5 times to enable manual memory and save the current level.