FW3A, a TLF/BLF EDC flashlight - SST-20 available, coupon codes public

I received the two FW3A, standard dark gray aluminum and the copper. The copper is drop dead gorgeous! The finish is very shiny, almost mirror like. It is the most beautiful copper light I’ve seen yet. Below are my test results:

Copper SST-20 4000K w/ stock Carclo and glass lens
lumens: 1,974
CCT: 3972
DUV: –0.0012
CRI: 95.2
R9: 83.8
Rf: 93
Rg: 102

Copper SST-20 4000K w/ UCL lens
lumens: 2,051
CCT: 3960
DUV: –0.0024
CRI: 95.6
R9: 86.0
Rf: 93
Rg: 103

Gray aluminum with stock non-Carclo optics (no glass lens)
lumens: 1,819
CCT: 3898K
DUV: –0.0025
CRI: 95.8
R9: 86.9
Rf: 93
Rg: 103

Gray aluminum with Carclo 10509 optics (no glass lens)
lumens: 1,767
CCT: 3982K
DUV: –0.0031
CRI: 96.2
R9: 88.6
Rf: 93
Rg: 103

Gray aluminum with Carclo 10509 optics (w/ UCL glass lens)
lumens: 1,802
CCT: 3904K
DUV: –0.0029
CRI: 96.3
R9: 87.7
Rf: 93
Rg: 103

Gray aluminum with Carclo 10509 optics (w/ UCL glass lens) at low output (first blink)
lumens: 99
CCT: 4052K
DUV: 0.0014
CRI: 96.4
R9: 93.4
Rf: 89
Rg: 98

E07 SST-20 4000K FB4 tint bin for comparison:
CCT: 3822K
DUV: 0.0028
CRI: 93.7
R9: 76.5
Rf: 93
Rg: 101

The tint is really, seriously, great on my SST-20. I think all tint junkies would love it, and I do too. I’m just underwhelmed by the lumens difference vs the XPL-HI. I knew this, but tried anyway. I honestly prefer the XPLs.

Yea the tint on this SST-20 4000k tint bin (likely FD2) is surprisingly good on higher output modes considering how this emitter (FB4 tint bin) is known for ugly green tint. On turbo, it looks as good as some of the Cree 5D and 5A tint lights I own. But the majority of the 5A/5D lights are rosier on high output and less green at low output. But given the high CRI and R9, I would choose this over 5A/5D for an EDC flooder like the FW3A.

so the tint on sst20 is better then nichia tint ?

No. SST-20 FD2 is about 0.0028 duv at low outputs showing hints of green, whereas 219B is slightly below BBL even at low output. At high output, the 219B 4000K and 4500K ranges from –0.004 to –0.009 DUV giving it a more white/rosy appearance whereas the SST-20 FD2 is only about –0.002 to –0.003 at max on the FW3A.

What about the Nicia 219C 4000K?

ah okay, i bought the sst20 anways as i like it more the emitter then nichia, excited to get this in copper either way.

SKV only comparing turbo to turbo? Throw in some more regulated modes

SKV89, what hardware/software are you using to get that awesome data?

Give the 10507 optic a go. I was very impressed with the throw and clear spot of the 3000K SST-20’s that I swapped into my FW3A. It really makes up for the lost lumens and it doesn’t make that weird yellow spot in the middle of the beam like the XP-L HI’s do.

I suspect not for this light but has anyone ever tried a focus a dedomed emitter better in a 10507? Like getting the optic to sit just a fraction of a mm lower

Your test seems to imply that adding a UCL glass lens increased the lumen output of the light? That doesn’t seem possible to me.

Also how’s the fit with the UCL lens? I assume you got the 22.6 x 1.9?

Setting aside the fact he used a mode that’s FET driven (meaning that alone could cause variation) I got similar results when I did no lens vs UCL.

I suspect the integrating sphere is getting more light bounced back into the sensor when you use a glass lens vs nothing.

Weird. It looks like you’ve tried a bunch of lenses. Which one would you recommend?

Which size ucl lens fits the fw3a? I don’t have calipers to check the dimensions.

I think it’s 22.61 x 1.90 mm

I just realize you are talking about the nichia 219C as Lumintop desn’t offer 219B option, which is what I was comparing to. The SST-20 FD2 is definitely better than any 219C I’ve seen. The 219C is greenish just like the SST-20 FB4 tint bin. The only rosy 219C are the “E” bin ones that Clemence sold in the past but I haven’t seen one in person.

Actually the 4000k 219c that come’s with the FW3A is pretty rosy, I have both 219c and the 4000k SST-20 version.

The 219c def alot more rosey and looks to be slightly whiter, higher kelvin possibly.

But I still perfer the SST-20, cause stays cooler and throws further and also has a pretty nice tint, like some one mentioned before its almost like a slightly whiter Halogen bulb tint.

Both variations have good tints.

I added a low output mode. MUCH more green on low output. This tint on this emitter varies more than the average emitter relative to current.

Texas_Ace lumen sphere calibrated with Maukka calibration lights for lumen measurements
Sekonic C-800-U for photometric data. There are much cheaper alternatives out there but I think those require connecting to a computer but I might be wrong.

See Contactr’s response. Also I started with fully charged batteries, after multiple tests, the voltage drops which will also affect output. Heat will also reduce output. UCL glass lens will not increase output over no lens but they are suppose to be the best lens available with the claimed 98-99% light transmission.

I found out about the UCL lens from Contactr’s post. He posted the dimensions. This dimension also fits the Wuben TO46R and TO10R. Dropped the DUV in my TO46R modded with Kaidomain SST-20 3000K by roughly 0.001 to 0.0015 in all output levels resulting in more negative DUV and nicer rosier tint.

Did you compare the 219c and SST-20 on turbo and 219C is rosier? If so, that is absolutely amazing as I think the 219C has higher output also but lower CRI and R9 value. I wonder if you just got lucky with the tint lottery or did Lumintop source the “E” bin 219C. I haven’t heard any reports on the 219C tint in this light besides this. If they turn out nice, I might have to buy one.