Archon M30A
Summary:
Name | Archon M30A aka Xiware M30A |
Battery | 3xAA |
Modes | 5; Low Medium High Strobe SOS |
Switch | magnetic control ring |
Led | XPG-R5 |
Lens | Glass |
Tailstand | Yes |
Date ordered | December 2012 |
From | Wallbuys.com |
Current Price | $45 , or $35 in G.B. on Walbuys.com |
DIMENSIONS / WEIGHT
- Length:.............136mm
- Head (outer).......49mm
- Head (inner).......40mm
- Depth reflector....40mm
- Weight:...........200gram
- with batteries..275gram
PROS:
- Fits well in my hand
- Runs on common AA batteries
- Magnetic control ring
- Tail stands
- Symbols help with mode selection (my SWM M10A doesnt have this)
- Comes with a nice retail box, and lanyard
- Well-constructed battery carrier
CONS:
- The anodizing on the threads is questionable (same as my Xiware L20C, some anodizing is missing)
- Noticeable WPM
- Manual is in Chinese only
- Mag.cont.ring has no knurling, and therefore slippery
OUTPUT and WPM:
Because I owned the Xiware L20C I was guessing the output of this fella will be a little on the conservative side.
I haven`t been using my DMM much lately, so the readings might be a bit off.
LOW: 0.09A
MED: 0.3A
HIGH: 0.9A
Compared to the SWM M10A and Klarus P2A (which I had on hand, that are unmodified XPG lights), The Low on the M30A is around 30-40 Lumens, a little brighter than the P2A (which starts off at around 30 lumens)
Hi is a bit brighter than the Klarus P2A on Hi, so I am guessing between 250-300lumens.
The PWM is noticeable in Low and Med, but I couldnt see it in Hi-mode.
It`s not really low. It`s the same as with the Xiware/Archon L20c
Beam profile:
Especially in Low and Med, the light has a little green hue.. not bad though..Just like other XPG`s.
It also has a ring right around the hot spot. Somehow this is a side effect of the lens that is used in this light.
When I take off the lens, it doesnt have this ring, when I put the lens on, it has the ring again..
OPERATION:
1. The magnetic control ring
I really like it!
It goes almost as smooth as my SWM M10A, but the thing I like more about this M30A is that you can actually see in which mode it is.
The SWM uses a Clicky switch in combination with the control ring, but this Archon only uses the Magnetic Control ring. So it starts in OFF, then LOW, them MED then HI, then STROBE, then SOS.
So you never have to see the strobe or SOS, if you don`t want to.
The light fits really well in my hands, and changing modes is possible with 1 hand!
The thing that might be an issue is that the control ring itself is a little slippery. So if you are using it in a cold environment, wearing thick gloves, this might be an issue.
That could be improved... better grip on the control ring!
The bezel and the side of the head have some sharp edges. Its not cutting sharp though! Just a little.
Changing batteries is also no issue, because of the well-made battery carrier, this is a big PLUS.
BUILD QUALITY
The build quality is very good.
Itis the same quality as the Xiware L20C I briefly reviewed here a while ago.
Because Xiware and Archon are the same thing, there is actually no difference in build quality.
The whole flashlight feels a little slippery, with not very aggressive knurling.
This could be a CON.
It`s definitely a step up from the KD C8 for example, and many ultrafires I`ve seen and handled.
It feels Quality!
The battery carrier:
You get access to the battery carrier by unscrewing the lower part from the head.
Usually that means you need to unscrew the tail cap.
Because there is NO tail cap, the body can be unscrewed just below the Mag control ring.
It`s not one of those plastic things you can buy at KD or elsewher, where almost everything is plastic.
This one is made well, and doesn`t look cheapy.
Reflector:
It`s aluminum, 40mm wide and 40mm deep... Smooth.... It`s a "thrower".
Lens:
It`s made of glass, but gives a narrow ring around the hotspot.
Taking off the lens helps to remove this ring.
Taking off the white disc around the emitter doesn`t help.
The lens itself came really dirty!! please see my pics.
Not a problem for me at all, but for not flashaholics this might be a throw off.
SOME PICTURES:
This is how the box arrived from wallbuys.. good packed with lots of bubble wrapping.
This is the Archon retail box. It`s definitely a nice touch!
In the box
The Led is well centered
And OPEN
This is not a cheap cheap cheap happy plastic battery carrier..
But a nice nice nice quality one.
Lovely Disney Eneloop batteries installed!!!
Square threads...maybe you can see that some anodizing is coming off around the edges of the threads.
The driver
This is how the lens came.. it looks like condensation.. maybe becuase the light was just delivered, and its cold outside? anyway.. i was pretty easy to clean. It was on the in- and outside of the lens.
As it seems, a 20mm star. So that`s easily replaceable.
And this is from the other side, below the driver.. see the hole!? little odd seems like.. Contra productive?
But anyway, there is enough room to add more heatsink.
BEAMSHOTS
This gives you the idea about the "ring" I was talking about!
This is a comparison shot between the Klarus P2A on High..on the right
and the Archon M30A on the left... Somehow the P2A looks brigher!?
My first impression was the opposite.
Summary:
I liked this Archon light upon first sight. The thing that bothered me a bit was the dirty lens it came with.. not a problem really, but still.
The output is not bad, but definitely a bit on the lower side of the scale compared to the XML light that are now widely aavailable.
The mag control ring is a really nice feature, the only downside to that is the knurling on the ring.. there is almost non.
Not a bad light! Nor the best!
I would definitely recommend this to a non-flashaholic. For $30 or lower.
Is it worth $45? Uhmmmm I wouldn`t pay that much.
Is it worth $35? I would have a second thought
Is it worth $30? I would consider buying 1 for that price.
Is it worth $25? Yes, definitely.
Is it worth $20? Abso-lumatic freakin yes!