This Excellent, Explosive Powerhouse is Unbeeeelievable
There are 40 or so people here that can understand why Foy is absolutely thrilled with this little bazooka. In a model of how group buys should be conducted, our own E1320 thought he would offer to do a driver swap/upgrade on the popular UltraFire UF-2100. Expecting a handful of guys to respond to this kind gesture, E was immediately bombarded with overwhelming demand. When the dust settled, Erik had a very tired soldering gun and about 41 of us lucky forum members got the most powerful flashlight this form factor has ever seen. This custom 5-mode UF-2100 is not just Foyapproved, it's . . .
Eapproved
Bottom line: Possibly the brightest 18mm-reflector torch available (over 800 lumens) the UltraFire UF-2100 as imagined by E, is a true flashaholic's flashlight with explosive performance. The driver swap does away with stupid disco modes in favor of an inspired, custom 5-mode UI with a .01-.02 moonlight and a thundering 3.5 amp turbo. Beautifully spaced, the Nanjg 105C transforms the UF-2100 from a nice flashlight value into a serious, high performance pocket-rocket. The price? An amazing $27 CONUS. No BS, no excuses, everybody was Johnny-on-the-spot with the Paypal and Erik put a one-of-a-kind flashlight in everyboy's hand in record time. Pay attention folks, this is how it's done on BLF.
What I like:
- UI
- small size
- over 800 lumens
- the E guarantee
What I do not like:
- tint (UniqueFire)
- threads
- heat issues
- rolls too much
E1320 Modified UltraFire UF-2100 Flashlight Group Buy (ended)
$24 as built by E1320. Original light available from Kaidomain, currently for $15.32 http://www.kaidomain.com/product/details.S020108
Cree XM-L/T6 emitter
designed for a single 18650 lithium-ion rechargeable battery
working voltage: 2.8 - 6.0 volts
custom programmed Nanjg 105C board
18mm SMO reflector (UltraFire) OP reflector (UniqueFire)
aluminum construction
black anodization
stainless steel crenulated bezel
non-tail-standing, reverse-clicky tail cap switch with two scallop-cut lanyard holes and 14mm GITD boot (UltraFire, UniqueFire has black boot)
5-mode user interface with mode memory: moonlight (1 lumen) low (60 lumens) medium (250 lumens) high (500 lumens) and turbo (850 lumens)
coated glass
Options:
Solarforce clip: $5
3C: $10
5C: $11
7B: $10
Tail cap draw with one unprotected Tenergy 18650/2600 mAh: UltraFire (with optional 3.5 amp turbo)
moonlight: .01-.02 amp (.01-.02 with AW/IMR)
low: .09 (.09 with AW/IMR)
medium: .65 (.74 with AW/IMR)
high: 1.54 (1.67 with AW/IMR)
turbo: 3.40 (3.46 with AW/IMR)
Tail cap draw with one unprotected Tenergy 18650/2600 mAh: UniqueFire
moonlight: .04 amp
low: .11
medium: .65
high: 1.35
turbo: 2.81
run time: UniqueFire on turbo (2.80 amps) with unprotected Tenergy 18650 charged to 4.20 volts
time | Foyometer |
:00 | 116 |
:10 | 108 |
:20 | 107 |
:30 | 104 |
:40 | 96 |
:50 | 84 |
1:00 | 91 |
1:10 | 72 |
battery at 3.51 volts: 1:10 run time
run time: UltraFire on high (1.50-1.65 amp) with unprotected Tenergy 18650 charged to 4.19 volts
time | Foyometer |
:00 | 83 |
:10 | 80 |
:20 | 76 |
:30 | 71 |
:40 | 75 |
:50 | 73 |
1:00 | 74 |
1:10 | 72 |
1:20 | 73 |
1:30 | 69 |
1:40 | 67 |
1:45 | 61 |
battery at 3.6 volts: 1:45 run time
What a shpment of 40-odd flashlights looks like.
I ordered two flashlights and E sent one of each "brand," an UltraFire and a UniqueFire. The UniqueFire is the fake, assuming the UltraFire is not. There are exterior differences, although the finish on both isn't particularly impressive. The anodization looks and feels too much like paint and the knurling on both is not significant, maybe slightly less so on the UltraFire.
The UF-2100 was originally designed as a tail-stander, with two side-cut holes to allow tail standing with lanyard use. As built, the boot on both lights protrudes too far to tail stand, the GITD boot on the UltraFire sticks out a tad more than the UniqueFire.
I sometimes like a nifty graphic but generally, most flashlights look better with nothing printed on them at all. I think that is especially true with these little gems.
From the department of nobody cares what Foy thinks: I don't like the word "Cree" on any torch.
The UF-2100's best asset is probably its size. It's hardly bigger around than a MiniMag and is shorter. I like the comparison because these custom UF-2100's are to a MiniMag what a Chevy Rat is to a three cylinder Metro. I'm serious; the unknowing will comment when you power up this bad boy in a dark place. It won't be dark any more.
The most noticeable difference is probably the crenulated bezel. It's a little deeper and shinier on the UltraFire but the bezel threads are visible. Foy prefers less aggressive and smoother bezel on the UniqueFire.
The knurling on the UltraFire looks a lot smoother, and it is. The difference is less significant to the touch, however.
The UltraFire looks rather handsome in this shot with our two trouble-maker cats, Marx (left) and Ted (right.) Despite their complacent mood here, their capacity for bedlam is instant and enormous.
The UltraFire at left has an AW/IMR battery. The UniqueFire (right) has a protected Xtar 18700 that works in this light courtesy a springless tail cap switch . . .
The UltraFire switch is more conventional and has a plastic locking ring.
The threads on both lights are nothing to write home about. They feel thin and rough. (UltraFire shown above)
UniqueFire.
The Nanjg 105C driver, as programmed by E really makes the UF-2100 sing. Quite literally, it turns out; many people have reported their UF-2100's making a noise. Foy can't hear it but Mrs. Foy describes the sound from the UniqueFire as a very slight static, like when you turn the TV off. Neither of us can hear the UltraFire and it should be noted that my UltraFire is the 3.5 amp version while the UniqueFire is the 2.8. (UltraFire/3.5 shown above)
UniqueFire 2.8.
Which brings us to this light's raison d'etre and I'm going to use the well known UltraFire XM-L from Manafont (sku 5720) as a benchmark. Keep in mind, this drop-in has a significantly larger reflector and pulls upwards of four amps on high.
All beam shots were taken with a 1/4 second shutter speed @ f2.7.
This is my grey Solarforce L2P with the UF XM-L drop-in.
UniqueFire with protected Xtar 18700. It has a significant green tint on the outside edge of the beam but the center spot and corona are not nearly as green. Nevertheless, I love the beam profile with this SMO but hate the tint.
UltraFire with AW/IMR. I normally prefer an SMO but the OP on my UltraFire makes a wall of light like I've never seen. My bad aim makes these beam shots somewhat misleading so I also include some ceiling bounce shots.
L2P
UniqueFire
UltraFire
As you can see, the UF-2100 is easily the equal of one of the brightest P60 drop-ins available. Its terrific small size is also a liability when driven as hard as this light is. There is no mass and even with the 2.8 amp version, turbo should only be used for relatively short periods. My 3.5 amp UltraFire does indeed feel like fire in turbo mode, very quickly. The head reached 130º in less than three minutes.
The beauty of this arrangement of course is that 500 lumens on high can be used almost without worry. I did my run time test with the UltraFire on high and when I occasionally held the head in my fist to wick away heat, it ran 1:45 non-stop, barely reaching 100º. Nice to have a "military" burst available when you need it.
This is an incredible flashlight, to say the least. The UltraFire UF-2100 as defined by Erik, puts big power in a small package. The versatility of a torch capable of a discrete one lumen and 850 lumens is as rare as it is impressive. Equally amazing is the way this whole group buy went down. It was a fun experience for all that ended with a sensational flashlight for everybody.
Only on BLF, my friends. Never forget that.
Foy