Wow . Would had taken me an eternity to write . I’m waiting for my 4th d4v2 and still are procrastinating on using my brand new flashing kit . I’m still in the awe phase . Currently testing with the 18350 tube and it’s fantastic . I ’m using the 10623 too but with the xpl-hi .
Have fun .
I have just one D4V2 with the raised ring. A couple observations:
- The ring was not removable. I can remove the flat rings fairly easily with the tip of the nail file from a Victorinox mini used as a lever between the button boot and the ring. But this technique did not work at all with the raised ring.
- I found the upper edge of the raised ring to feel a bit sharp. It’s not enough that it would cause any injury, but it felt uncomfortable to me.
- I used sandpaper to grind down the upper edge of the boot to make it flatter. It’s still high enough to completely shroud the rubber. Entire grinding job was easy. Took about 15 minutes and no disassembly was needed.
Welcome to BLF!
Thank you for your valuable detailed and well organized review.
I got mine modded with the "throw optic" and W2 emitters, and I am amazed at both the power and throw from this instant ultra classic light.
Thank you! This is my first forum thread (I’ve never been much of a participant in any forum), so I appreciate the welcome and encouraging words!
There is a throw optic? Which one is that? And how does it perform? That might be a useful/fun option to have occasionally. I almost bought the D1 in addition to the D4V2, but mostly just as a novelty to play with like a lightsaber. I decided instead to wait and see if there will be a version 2.
Heh, I did spend a few days drafting it, and I made quite a few edits since posting it. I don’t have much else to do lately, but also I enjoy writing in general, and writing product reviews in particular, when I have the right motivation. I always appreciate a detailed product review that covers the finer points of a product that most people probably aren’t picky enough to care about, so I like to do that for others in the hope that someone like me will find it and be glad I wrote it.
[Hmm, these replies aren’t making clear to whom I am responding. This was in response to Lightenzaza.]
Ah, I see how this works. I need to hit the Quote button instead of the Reply button so that the original message appears in my reply. I’m new at this.
Did you get the ss bezel ?
Vinh at SkyLumen offers a slightly throwier optic for the D4 (and maybe other quads?). I don’t think it is produced by Carclo as the one used in the D4 is listed as their option with the tightest beam. Or perhaps he raises/lowers the height the optics sit at to change focus and increase throw?
Out of curiosity, why did you buy four of them? Are you trying out different emitters, or are they for use in different locations, or are you just addicted 
? I am new to the enthusiast flashlight world and I learned about “flashaholics” who collect large numbers of flashlights. I’ll have to be careful myself not to go too far with this. I’ve always loved flashlights, but only got serious about them this year (well, the Fenix LD12 from 2013 was semi-serious; it was my first non-WalMart-grade flashlight). Fortunately, my interest in collecting things mostly phased out a couple decades ago, so I should be ok.
Yes I did. I figured I might as well get the bling, since I’m treating myself! I like the elegant look of it. I also got the magnet in the tailcap (which I like, but I didn’t have anything new to say about it for the review), and I got the belt clip, but I haven’t used it.
Why do you ask?
Took me only a few hours after receiving my alu d4v2 that i wanted the brass version . The ti version was a natural next and then the colored ones were a must . This must look crazy . Craftmanship is very nice . The design and smallness is calling me . The ui is my preferred one to date. Using the right batteries you can have an impressive turbo . The 18350 tube create an interesting substitute . The aux lights are nice . The switch is good . And the price is ok .
Because the look is much better with it, with the raised ring as a recall .
I see. The Ti does look nice. And I really like Anduril, too. It’s a lot of fun, and easy to learn. It looked complicated when I read about it, but I had a feeling I would get the hang of it quickly, and I did. I’m a programmer and computer techie, so I’m pretty good with this sort of thing, and ToyKeeper did a great job designing it.
I should have paid more attention to your signature. That answers my question! #1, #3, and #4 in your collection were ones I considered before the D4V2, and Matt Smith’s FW3A review on YouTube was my introduction to BLF and the world of flashlight enthusiasts!
Since you’re a collector, and own the FW3A, can you tell me if the somewhat rough beam profile with the rays protruding from the hot spot is common to compact flashlights using an optic rather than a reflector? Is that something more experienced buyers would have expected? I actually read one user review that mentioned that, but nobody else has, so I’m guessing it’s either to be expected, or most people don’t care. How is the FW3A’s beam?
The beam of my fw3a is more round then the d4v2 with regular optics . In fact it’s almost perfect circle . But this affects only your white walling activities ; corners won’t be obvious in regular usages .
It is common in triples/quads with clear, throwy optics; and to a lesser extent in lights with triple/quads using reflectors too. The FW-series has a much smoother beam because the stock optics are frosted. With clear, narrow-spot optics they will have artifacts in the beam - at close range - as well.
The D4V2 comes with a Carclo 10622 optic. It features a beautiful beam pattern, but not quite as much throw.
Carclo also has the 10621 optic which is throwier, but has an uglier beam pattern with more rings. The 10621 quad is basically the same optic shape as the popular Carclo 10507 for triples and produces a similar beam pattern. My guess is Vinh is swapping in the 10621.
I’ll be damned, always though the D4 came with the narrow-spot clear.
My (minor) gripe about the Emisar D4v2 (and D4S, etc) is the way the lanyard hole is open to the back. Tailstanding the light requires the lanyard to be pulled away from the tail in a two-handed operation, otherwise the light will invariably sit on the cord and be unstable. A lanyard hole accessible from the side, like on this Skilhunt, is a better solution.
Good pont. The side-positioned lanyard opening probably would make tailstanding a bit easier. I tailstand the flashlight frequently and I noticed the same issue a few times. Usually I can deal with it one-handed by holding the flashlight with my first few fingers and using my pinky to sweep the lanyard out to the side as I set the flashlight down. But it occasionally gives me trouble.
But, yeah, not at all a problem. Maybe just something for Hank to consider for future flashlights.